The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1910-07-01
ORONILLE. THE POWER CITY

consummated, the Similkameen Falls
POWER company's plant. 1t turned out
that owing to the provisions of will
LETT by the chief stockholder in the
company the transfer could not be
made. The Harpers returned home
disappointed, the public generally was
disappointed, and that was supposed to
be the end of it.
But happily to relate, and forum
ately for the town, such was not the
case. 1t is true that title to the plant
cannot be transferred, but the next
best thing has happened, lease has
been secured upon it for long term
of years by company at the head of
which is man who is ignorant of the
word fail, and who has an enviable
habit of doing things. After a long
yet most amicable consultation be,
tween the parties interested the lease
was signed, sealed and delivered late
Monday night, and the new operators
and 18th of July
The new organization that has Sc
cured the Similkameen Falls Power
company's plant is the North Wash
lngto Power company, and the active
agency behind the company is j. L..
Harper, the man who has revivifed
Republic, and changed dead mining
camp to one very much alive. The
story, although an interesting one, is
too long to go into extended particu-
lars at this time. Enough to know that
this man Harper, a shrewd, keen. ide-
awake miner, business man and organ
izer, secured control of the old Re-
public mine, once a producer, after
wards sold for million, then aban-
doned as petered out, and opened up
large bodies of high grade ore and
made the property dividend payer.
He did this in the face of adverse ex-
pert reports, and after the company
had permitted the mine to be sold for
taxes.
Mr.. Harper is one of that class that
that accomplishes where others fall
down and fail. He has certainly ac-
complished wonders in the Republic
district. From long residence in the
camp, close observation, familiarity
with the country, and practical eX-
perience as miner he was satisfied
that ore of value and in quantities was
still to be found in the old Republic,
and not only in the Republic but in
other properties that had been to all
intents discarded and discredited. He
did not rest contented with secur-
ing the Republic mine. His astonish-
ing perspicuity in the Republic trans
action rallied to his support men of
large means. He secured the Quilp,
the Surprise, the Lone Pine and other
claims, once famous, but worked more
by stock jobbers than miners.
He does work on large sale, en-
ploying many men, and as he inaugu-
rated new system of operations the
old. paralytic and almost deserted
camp revived. and now promises to be-
come a second Butte. But one thing
Mr.. Harper found lacking, ready and
ample power to carry on the work he
had in contemplation. All the avail
able water power within reach of Re
public had been taken up by others.
Electric power, generated by water,
was what he wanted. He was told of
the Incompatible water power of the
Similkameen river, at Oroyille. He
lost no time sending out representa-
tives to investigate. They found the
power situation here far more favor
able than than had been represented.
Negotiations for purchase followed and
failed. Then the suggestion of lease,
upon exceedingly favorable and salts
factory terms, was put up to MeSSrs.
Work, Harmon and Andrus, largely
interested parties in the old Similka-
meen Falls company. The proposition
was accepted. The North Washington
Power company secured ten years
lease. with first privilege of renewing
at expiration of lease.
MIR. Harper will at once inaugurate
a progressive and constructive system
of operations at the falls. Within 80
days work will commence upon trans
mission line between Oroville and Re-
public, and provision made for the
generation Of sufficient power to per-
form the work that Mr.. Harper expects
to carry on The line will follow the
river to Tonasket, and from thence
along the Loomis-Wa Wauconda-Republic
road to it's destination, a distance of
fully sixty miles. Along the pro-
posed route the new company would
secure a large volume of business, not
only supplying power and light to the
new town of Tonasket, but furnishing
power for irrigation purposes through
the valley. Furthermore, the company
takes over all the business now held by
the old company. and will fill all old
contracts. TO carry out what the com
pany has in contemplation will require
an enlargement of the present plant
and extensive improvements, all of
which will create large pay roll for
this place. incidentally a telephone
line will be carried to Republic, and a
local telephone system may come with
in the province of the company. Let
us hope so anyhow.
This transaction is of the utmost i'm
portance to Oroville, as it gives the
place prestige as the Power City OF
the northwest. 1t is title Oroville is
better entitled to than the people of the
state realize. Between Oroville and
Nighthawk there can be developed
greater water power than for the same
distance on the Spokane river. Within
that ten or twelve miles Of water
course there are sites for at least four
dams that would develop as many
horse power as can be developed at the
falls proper, increasing the present
p)wer possibilities as represented by
the falls four fold. In time the dams
will be constructed, the maximum
power conserved and every unite OF
bower find market. The possibilities
of the Similkameen river as a power
producer are not fully appreciated, and
that power, used at home and trans,
mitted long distances, will be the CHIEF
factor in building up large city al