The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-05-31
Organization Of County.

two of the commissioners named in
the act creating the county, met in
the office OF the Bell hotel, Wenat-
chez. G. w. Hoxey, the other COM
missioner, was absent. The two COM
missioners present proceeded to Or
ganize. Mr.. Strong was elected
chairman. J. E. Porter acted as tenn
porary clerk Of the board. Little
business was transacted at this meet
ing. ]. H. Chase was appointed
prosecuting attorney. January 22nd
the two commissioners met in the ].
w. Ferguson building, Wenatchee,
and appointed the following officials:
H. A. Graham, treasurer; F. F. KEEL
Ter, sheriff; L. v. Wells, county
clerk and ex-officio clerk of the
court; C. ]. Trow, auditor; Alexan-
der Pitcher. assessor; John D. At
kinson, superintendent of schools,
and A. A. Tozier, coroner. G. w.
Hoxey failed to qualify, so the COM
missioners appointed Conrad Rose to
fill the vacancy.
The Wenatchee Development Co
donated a brick hotel worth $4,000
to the new county for a court house.
The following letter explains the
public spirited generosity of this
company:
Seattle, Wash, Feb. IA, 1900.
Arthur Gum, Wenatchee..
At a stockholders meeting of the
Wenatchee Development company,
held at Seattle, Feb 13, 1900, it was
voted to convey to Chelan county
lots Is, 16, II and IS, block 90, G.
N. Plat Of Wenatchee, and the brick
hotel building thereon, for purpose
of court house, subject to reversion
to company in case of removal of
county seat from Wenatchee or in
case the property shall cease to be
used at any time for county court
house. THOMAS H. BURKE,
President
This handsome offer was accepted
with due appreciation and the deed
was made over Feb. 10, 1900.
Building of Big Ditch.
Many small irrigating bitches were
built by the early settlers, but it re-
manned for w. T. Clark, with the aid
of other capitalists, to build what is
known as the High Line Ditch, the
largest ditch in the county. 1t COW
ers a greater portion of the Wenat-
chez valley, Columbia flats and quite
body of land on the east side of
the Columbia. This gave the finish
ing touch to all that had preceded
it in the way of improvements. 1t
was built in 1903, just at the begin
ming of the great wave of prosperity
that rolled over the northwest and
caused the Wenatchee country to
leap into fame at once.
Chelan county possesses numerous
resources many of which are yet I'M
developed.
Her rapid streams with their cas-
cade-like falls will at no distant day
furnish power for moving ali the
trains on the Great Northern railway
from the Columbia river to the Sound
and northward to the British line.
The same power will furnish light
for all the towns in the county and
operate all factories erected in the
future. There is no finer water pow
er in the northwest than Chelan
Falls. ]. ]. Hill recognized the value
of this power and secured a right to
it some time ago.
Forests of considerable extent
cover the mountain slopes to the
west The saw mill man is already
in the region doing a profitable bus
mess.
Coal has not yet been discovered
in paying quantities. Outcroppings
of Ignite have been found in differ
ent parts of the county.
There is an inexhaustible supply
of limestone. 1t is found in all the
mountains along the Wenatchee and
Columbia rivers. A small plant for
the manufacture of lime is operated
by the Wilson Bros, near the Column
bia river. Masons say that this lime
is of superior quality and prefer it
to other kinds
A good quality of brown sandstone
is found in the hills surrounding the
town of Wenatchee. 1t has already
been used largely for trimmings and
foundations in many buildings.
Such minerals as gold, silver, cop
per, iron, asbestos, ETC., are known
to exist in the lodges of our noun
tains. Several mines are in opera
ton in different parts of the coun-
ty.
We find the largest mines in tie
mountains surrounding Lake Chelan.
Some very rich copper ore has been
obtained from some of the mines.
No doubt If the means were at hand
for reducing the ore, they would be-
come very valuable, but at present
they are almost inaccessible. The