The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-09-17
MONTANA POWER COMPANY EXTENDING
LINE TO THE C0EUR O'ALENE MINES
RIGHT or WAY CLEARED ALMOST SUMMIT ABOVE MULLAN-
COMPETITION BETWEEN BIG COMPANIES A BENEFIT TO
THE MINING INDUSTRY

Information received this week
seems to remove all doubt as to the
intentions Of the Montana Power COM
many with reference to the Occur
d'Alene mining district. The company
not only intends to extend Its power
lines to the mines, but the preliminary
work Is now actually under way.
few weeks ago 1t was announced in
this paper that surveyors for the pow
er company had appeared above Null
Ian. but as usual with engineers on
lob Of that kind they were non COM
initial as to what they were locating
the line for About that time Thomp-
son Falls paper stated that the COM
nany had surveyors locating power
line IN Cooper creek and over the di-
vide into Mullan and that the line was
for the purpose Of transmitting power
to the Milwaukee and that the power
company would probably abandon the
line 1t had previously located rp Dry
creek to Saltese, Montana. for the
same purpose. 1t was evident that
the power company could not he seek
ing to reach the Milwaukee by way II
Mullan. for that would necessitate
crossing a second divide. 1t was be-
lieyed then that the surveyors iE the
vicinity of Mullan were locating the
right .,f-way for line u furnish cleo
trio power for the Coeur d'Alenc ln'res,
and the information now at hand
seems to establish that fact bey ND
question.
Clearing the Right Of Way.
Parties who arrived from the Mon
tana side Of the divide during the last
few days report camp OF twelve or
fifteen men on Copper creek engaged
in clearing the right OF way for
power line and that these men state
that they are working for the Montana
Power company and that the line for
which right of way is being cleared is
to convey power for the mines at the
Coeur d'Alene district. 1t was esti-
mated by the parties who brought this
information to Wallace that the right
of way had been cleared to within
about mile of the summit at the head
of the south fork Of Copper creek
This would bring the line to the Idaho
side somewhere along the Little North
Fork above Mullan. It was also stated
that survey stakes for power !ine
were found about four miles above
Burke, indicating that branch line Is
contemplated for the Canyon.
Giant powder is being used In clear
ing trees from the right Of way instead
OF ak and saw. A bar Is showed under
the butt among the roots and little
powder inserted in the hole thus made
does the rest. The reports from these
blasts maybe a dozen or more in rapid
succession, conveys a slight Idea OF
what is going on along the French
frontier.
Giant Rivals for Business.
The position Of the Montana Power
company in western Montana Is very
similar to that of the washington
Water Power company In eastern
Washington. Both have acquired title
to the greatest and most available
water power sites in their respective
fields and have utilized them to an
extent that has to great extent driven
out competition. The main mower
plants of the washington company
are at Post Falls. Idaho, Spokane and
several miles below, all on the Spokane
river. The main plants Of the Mon
tana company are at the falls " The
Missouri near Great Falls, and the
plant that is now nearing completion
at Thompson Falls, on the Clark FORK
It is from the last named plant that
the company proposes to enter the
Occur d'Alene district in Idaho.
Washington Company Has Monopoly.
Years ago the Washington octopus
extended one of It's tentacles to the
Coeur d'Alene mines and has held
them with grasp from which there
seemed no escape. Electric energy FOL
driving concentrating mills hoists, all
compressors, underground trollies, ma
chine shops and enumerable other pur-
poses in connection with mining has
become an absolute necessity In mining
operations, and each year has seen the
big :. Washington power company
strengthen It's grip upon the Coeul
d'Alene district and increase thu
enormous revenue 1t draws from tht
mining industry Of Idaho. But tn
monopoly It has so long enjoyed nov
seems nearing an end, for the Montana
octopus which has had its eye on thi'
rich field for long time. is now evil
IDENTIFY extending one Of its tentacle'
across the divide to gather in shar'
of the great and ever Increasing profits
Composition or coilusion?
1t Is announced that the great dan
at Thompson Falls Is almost complet
ed, and also that special efforts are be
ing made to complete the right Of wa!
and erect poles for the wires into thi
district before snow flies. This woul'
indicate that the Montana compan.
VIII lose no time in going after tn
ltt