The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-03-12
A GRAND WATER POWER
That Is To Be a Great Factor
In Upbuilding Oroville : !
and the Valley.
1T IS THE s|M|LKAMEEN FALLS
A Property That Is Without a
Rival for Power Production
In the Northwest.

Hon. A. f. Faine, of New Straits
vile, Ohio, who is financially inter-
ested in the enterprise, has recently
issued prospectus entitled "Facts
concerning the Similkameen Power
Company, Oroville, Washington The
occasion for this publication is that
Mr.. Faine has been appointed fiscal
agent for the company, and the object
is to raise additional funds to be used
in increasing the efficiency of the
present electric power plant to meet
the growing demands for the product
of that plant. The facts" are an inn
provement upon the statements that
are usually embraced in a document OF
this kind, for they are facts indeed, the
unadulturated truth, as those who are
familiar with the property exploited,
and the country that is to be benefited by
the great water power, and from which
the same is to draw its support, can
fully affirm with clear conscience.
Indeed, in looking over this pros
pectus, it can be said that the author
has been extremely modest in his
statements, and if there is any fault to
be found it is in the moderation of the
claims set forth as to the importance
and eventual earning capacity of the
water power the company controls,
and the resources of the surrounding
country that are dependant for devel
opment largely upon this electric pow
er system. In the proposition that he
lays before investors Mr.. Faine has
much to say relative TO the richness OF
the country, both as to it's mineral and
horticultural possibilities, and the re-
markable brightness of the future that
is to be early realized. The writer
met Mr.. Faine few years ago, and
was impressed with his clear, logical
and intelligent manner of discussing
subjects of local and general interest,
and his succinct and convincing reas-
Oning. A man of education, polished
by contact with the world and the
bright minds that accomplish things,
he was able to calmly and critically
examine into and weigh the conditions
and prospects as they exist in this new
country, in the crudity of partial de-
velopment and draw his own deduc-
tiOnS, and such conclusions as were not
influenced by the frenzy of the self
interested boomer, or distorted by
those who would exaggerate in order to
reap personal gain by awakening an
ticipations from which there would be
little hope of realization.
OrOville is particularly and directly
interested in the enlarging and per-
fecting of the plant of the Similka-
meen Power company, and the bring
ing it up to the highest stage of its
capacity of power production. There
are number of water powers in east
ern Washington, two of which far sur
pass all others in the extent of the
power that can be produced, and the
ease in which it can be handled, and
they are the falls of the Spokane and
the Similkameen falls, which this com
pany controls. The former has been
the chief factor in building up city
OF great magnitude, city that has
really just commenced filling the i'm
portant place among the great metrop-
oils of the country, and which is des-
tined to become the largest inland city
in America We do not hope that the
latter will make Oroville place OF
equal Importance with Spokane, but it
Will contribute toward building up at
this point city that will be no mean
rival to the best cities in Washington.
The writer has stood upon the banks
OF the Spokane river and gazed upon
the magnificent cataract, when it was
unmarried by the hands of man, before
its latent force was utilized to turn the
wheels of industry, and make radiant
after nightfall great city, supplying
in abundance that system of strange,
wonderful, and as yet far from thoro'lv
understood force, electricity, that has
revolutionized the commercial and
manufacturing world. 1t was beau
tltul scene to contemplate, and as he
many times stood and gazed he dreamed
OF the Transformation in the surround
lng country, then but sparsely inhab-
ltantS, that has since taken place. He