The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-04-09
AN IMPORTANT PROJECT
That Will Add Greatly to the
Power Production Of the
Sinilkameen River.
A DAM TO Be CONSTRUCTED
And a System Installed that VIII
Develope Eight Thousand
Horse Power.

Oroville possesses a number of ad
&vantages that gives her a great pres
tige over less fortunatelJ situated com
&nunities, any one of which in itself
would be sufficient to insure the ulti-
mate building up of a city of consider.
liable magnitude and Importance, but
what must be considered its strongest
&factor in insuring future and stable
#growth is it's immense and almost in
Hcomparable water power, Il power OF
#greas magnitude, only an infnitesma
3portion of which now being utilized
&flowing unchecked upon the western
s3boundary of the town. This capacity
(fOr power production is the Similka-
@pleen river, a brawling, rapid stream
bf large volume that erosion, the work
pf ages, has SO compas>"d in a channel
between beettling cliffs as TO make it
easy of CONTROL and which, under such
]aeontrol. in time will be made TO de
*yelop electric power sufficient to sup
H1ply any demand that may be made for
hat modern energy, Already, at the
alls of the Smlkameen, only some
= pur miles up liver, a plant has been
Installed and is in operation, but he
tween the falls and the town there is
considerable fall in the river, the
eater course is narrow with perpen-
icular banks of stone, barriers ia the
hape of dams can, and one day well,
r constructed, thus enormously .iny
reasing the power developed by the
atural falls.
"a 1t is stated that this provision for
decreased power can and will he ac-
<Dmplished and the indications are
s]Nhat the day Of accomplishment is not
TN distant, it is generally known that
archaeological engineer of prominence
and reputation visited. investigated
ord secured water right and dam
otght on the Simikameen river, last
at the point where the railroad
ffidge across the chasm. This gentle
Nan came here as representative
IA capital, to investigate, makc meas
yrements, draw plans and speciiica-
IONS and report. Considerable time
nd money were expended in this work,
nd when it was completed the en-
neer had proliles and a report to sub
nit that was convincing as to the feas-
lbillty OF the project, and to the lm-
portance and desirabiIity of the under
liking as an investment. The work
las done by an artist in his professions
+ md every detail of his report was of
such an encouraging nature that fail
ure of success is TO remote to be con
eidered.
@ While the writer has not had access
70 these reports, and hence knows of
the contents only in a general way, it
Is understood that the proposition is to
put in concrete dam at the narrow
est point in the river, which is at the
railroad bridge. 1t is calculated that
n,ch a dam as is in contemplation will
% velop 5000 horse power. The plant
would he installed in 20O0-horsc power
units, the production to be increased
70 correspond with the growing de-
mand. A dam at the point selected
Would not in any way interfere with
4he plant at the falls, and as the river
ohurns down through narrow, rocky
Korge from the falls to the point select
cd Tor the dam there is no land to be
damaged 10y overflow from back water.
Tic placing of the dam will ncccSsi-
Mte the elevation Of the railroad
pridge, but arrangements have been
made with the railroad company to
nake the change. Such is an outline
Qf the plans to he adopted As suggested
by the examining engineer, and it i,
be lieved that the work will he carried
so't during the present year
ss# Nothing that money could be invest
So in the way of a private enterprise
3 would he felt so Immediately a. a ben
ldt in Oroville. The contcmpativc cN-
fpenditure is &500,00O large portion
Eoi which will go to labor But il is
Dot the benefit derived from the sim
pc prosseSs of building that will prove
NJ greatest good the place, for pow
er plant OF such capacity as Is figured
on means perpetual adyantanlaae
pi great moment In conjunction WlJh
the Older established plant it would