The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-05-01
OUR ASSET IN WATER POWER.

OUR ASSET IN WATER POWER.
development OF the water power furnished by
the numerous streams of the Pacific Northwest
is now in progress at various points, and a few
years hence will see them utilized for a multitude
OF purposes. We have mentioned the extensive
application now being made in the development
of electrical energy for transportation purposes,
but this is a very simple line to which the latent
power inherent to running water is being directed.
The influx of Eastern people with their stores of
knowledge, experience and capital is seeking 9TH
er channels for the profitable application of their
energies in useful enterprises.
AT Spokane the Washington Water Power Com
pany has begun the development of the wonderful
possibilities involved in the beautiful falls of the
Spokane River. This will be accomplished by
working along lines similar to those now in oper-
alton at Niagara Falls. From a drop of 1874 feet
the water will be conducted in a tunnel under
meath the river bed and carried through the solid
rock to a point farther down the stream. Ulti-
mately four $4,000 horsepower turbines, the larg-
est in the country, will be put in operation to do
many lines of useful work. When completed this
will be the greatest power source of supply in
the country.
At Leavenworth a company of Eastern men
nave located an industry that will utilize some
of the idle water power thereabouts along a differ
ent line of industry. About 1000 horsepower will
be developed from nearby streams and used in
heating greenhouses conducted on a commercial
scale. 1t is estimated to cost $4,000 a year to
heat an acre of greenhouses by coal. The energy
to be used here will heat ten acres of greenhouses
at an immense saving of cost. This will give
mp IlChC " I1Olu HO L OO IuSu dUu+ 6TIll I1o
shipment of a carload or two of greenhouse prod
ucts daily.
At Cabinet Gorge, on the Clarke's Fork in Ida
no, an outlay of So, 900, 900 is to be made to de-
velop 5000 horsepower, the plant to furnish light
and power to towns in Northern Idaho and North
western Montana.
These instances cited show that the Pacific
Northwest stands on the threshold of a new era
of wonderful development. In it water, now idly
falling down hill, will play an important part. For
more than a century the efforts of man to develop
power have been concentrated on the utilization
of coal. Now it is returning to the utilization of
water, the ancient source of power. This has
been accumulated both by the extensive applica-
tons being made of electricity to the wants of
man, and by the facts that have forced the con-
sideration of the conservation of our natural re-
sources, including our fuel supply. Statistics show
that the use of electricity increased about 222 per
cent in the five years from 1900 to 1905 over
it's use in the preceding five years. Formerly the
use of water power was confined to the source of
it's supply; now it is transmissible to points more
or less distant. The vastly increased capacity for
its utilization gives power supply from waterfall
sources the prominence to which it is justly en-
titled. In the possession of these sources of
power, the Pacific Northwest stands pre-eminent.
Their development will be a governing feature in
the Investigation of it's industries. These will
permit the employment of a vast population in
a territory that has been but sparsely settled hith-
erto owing to the circumstances that have re-
tarded it's development. Now, however, the tide
of homeseekers is flowing this way, and the future
is bright for its industries, all of which must be
fed and supplied by the products of a rich and
varied agriculture.
Major w. Bridges Webb, one of the largest grain
merchants of the world, recently visited the Pa
cifc Northwest and on his return to London, Eng,
said to the Pail Mall Gazette: 81 was immensely
struck by the prosperity of the Western farmer.
Grain and fruit have made him rich. There are
of course mines also. The whole West is highly
prosperous and the Western farmer is, in my opin-
ion, the power of the United States" What high
er tribute could be paid to the intelligent, pro-
gressive farmers that have cast their lots in this
land Of onnortunitv7