The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-02-19
The People of this Valley Are Wondering
Whether or Not 1t Is the North Coast
That Is Behind the Recently In
corporated Electric
Company

There is considerable speculation
in this city as to the backing of the
Wenatchee Valley Railway & Power
company. The company has asked
for a franchise from the city to con-
struct an electric railway on Wenat-
chez avenue and the franchise COM
mittee of the council has had several
meetings with the promoters of the
company. 1t is expected that meet
ing of the whole of the council will
be called for Monday evening to con-
slider the franchise and frame up a
report to be submitted to the gen.
eral meeting Tuesday evening. The
incorporators of the company are
John Godfrey, A. ]. Linville, H. A.
Chaplin, Ralph Vermilya, N. w. Ball
and l.. J. Nelson. 1t is not deemed
likely that the council would grant
franchise to the new company I'M
less there is showing of financial
backing, but there is a we'll defined
rumor in this city that the North
Coast railway is behind the local
move for a franchise.
The survey of the North Coast is on
the east side of the river. Most of
the tonnage of the Wenatchee valley
is on the west side of the river and
it is natural to expect the North Coast
railway to make an effort to secure
a portion of this tonnage. A line
running from Wenatchee up the We
natchee river to Leavenworth and
Wenatchee lake would drain the val
ley pretty we'll and it seems to be
in keeping with the policy of the
North Coast to put out feeders for
its main line.
The electric railway system OF
North Yakima, which was promoted
originally by Yakima citizens, fran
chise secured from the city, the road
built out in various directions from
North Yakima, has passed into the
control of the North Coast and 1t is
generally considered that the money
by which this road was built was
originally furnished by the Strahorn
interests.
1t is given out here that should
franchise be granted to the Wenat-
chez Valley Railway & Power COM
pany that an effort will be made to
dispose of sufficient stock to the resi-
dents of the valley to build and
equip the railway up the valley, but
from businesslike view of the stu
alton it is conclusive that there is
not money enough in the valley to
come anywhere near taking care OF
this enterprise and naturally the peo-
pie are anxious to know who is back
ing the local men. The Great North
ern Railroad company secures the
tonnage of the valley anyway and 1t
is not considered likely that this COM
pany would be interested in the con-
struction of the road other than to
hold the field and it does seem to
be the part of good business for the
North Coast in case the line is built
on the east bank of the Columbia, to
run a feeder line through the We
natchee valley. The taking of OPP
lions on the power plants of the We
natchee Electric company, Valley
Power company and the Entiat Light
& Power company would indicate
that the North Coast has use for the
electrical energy in this section which
has so far been developed and it
would seem to be in keeping with the
general plan of this company to tie
up the railway franchises as we'll as
the power plants. From all general
indications Strahorn and the North
Coast are going to play an important
part in the development of this sec
ton and the Great Northern must
consider "Sphinx" Strahorn in the
calculations of the future.