The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-04-30
To BUILD TEN MILLION
DOLLAR POWER PLANT
Preparing to COnstructgan immense
Plant at the HeadWaterS of the
Youghiogheny River.

a PROJECT or vast magnitude, lnVOlV-
ing the expenditure of millions of dollars
for the development of the water power
of the YoughioghenY river and its
tributaries in Garrett county, MARYLAND,
which has engaged the tireless atten-
ton and we'll directed efforts of Mr.
DeWarren H. Reynolds, of Cumberland
for the past five years is rapidly emerging
from the state of constructive develop
ment wherein the idea itself is conceiv-
ed into an actual engineering possibility
and naturalization. There is now
every likelihood that this great engi-
neering feat with it's attendant. har-
Messing of forty thousand horsepower
and transmission into electricity
longer the dream of the promoter will
soon be undertaken and the physical
advantages developed IN accordance
with existing plans, at cost exceed
ing ten millions of dollars.
Enterprises of such magnificent pro-
summer day dream, nor are the success
sive stages of development otherwise
than fortuitous and burdened with
obstacles. Five years have gone by
since Mr.. Reynolds first associated him
self with party of Eastern capitalists
who enlisted the services of the eminent
engineer and hydraulic expert, Col.
John Bogart, TO report on the feasibility
and probable cost of the Youghiogheny
power project. The report, following
a personal survey by the distinguished
engineer, who was first to harness Nj
agara Falls, and whose brain conceived
and directed the wonderful power de-
velopment on the St Lawrence river,
was such as to encourage the capitalists
and to invite further procedure. The
initial step, that of securing an enabling
act was entrusted to MIR. Reynolds and
he appeared before the General AS
sembly Of 1910 with bill authorizing
the incorporation and charter of the
Youghiogheny Power Company. After
weeks of attendance upon the session
at Annapolis, Mr.. Reynolds bill was
passed, but it was vetoed by the late
Austin l.. Crothers, then Governor of
Maryland, because its provisions con-
fiicted with the rights and privileges of
the newly created Public Service Com
mission of the State. Disappointed. of
course, but not the least disheartened,
Mr.. Reynolds called into active play his
try-try-again spirit and he went before
the succeeding Legislature of 1912 with
another bill Of like tenor, which upon
its passage after further weeks of resi-
dence in Annapolis, gave birth to the
Youghiogheny Water and Electric Pow
er Company and the Youghiogheny Pow
er Company. kindred corporations, with
the same object in view, the develop
ment OF the water power of the Youghio-
gheny river in Garrett county, and
each corporation clothed with ample
authority and power, the charter
vested with such liberal provisions as
to invite prompt acceptance and ac-
ton on the part Of the capitalists in
terested in the proposition.
The company owned 10000 acres
adjacent to these acres are 70 acres
necessary to the development of
the power company. This small area
which had cost the purchaser nomin-
al sum was held at $4,000, an impos-
sible price, hence the need of power to
condemn the land.
In order to enlist foreign capital in
the enterprise it was deemed advisable
to obtain further broadening of the
provisions of the charters of the two
companies by legislative enactment,
hence Mr.. Reynolds was again on the
firing line at Annapolis at the recent
session of the General Assembly. He
secured what he desired as embodied in
his bills and the Governor has attached
his signature to the measures, though
again it was necessary for MI. Rey-
holds to make clear that certain OBJ
iections lodged with the Governor
were not tenable.
Now that the way has been paved
through Mr.. Reynolds in securing
charter that meets all requirements. it
is understood that the total capitaliza-
ton of the two companies. aggregrting
$11, 500, 900, will be subscribed by East
ern and foreign tinanciers and the en-
gineering preliminaries will speedily
proceed. The completion of so vast an
undertaking will add greatly to the
commercial progress and Importance of
Western Maryland. and will be in a
measure monument to the man who
fought the issue through at three sue
cessive sessions of the Legislature and
is more active and aggressive today
than he was at the outset for the crea-
tion IF thia grant anfarnriaa