The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-11-05

related, the Similkameen Power com.
pany had constructed and operatins
plant, and had, by departmental do.
oisioh OF September 80, 1913, been Ar.
.oloeu the right to present applica.
1,oh lor the site under the act ot
repruary 10, 1901. This suggestion
was promptly accepted and acted mn.
on on py tne company, which, on October
a. 49, prior to the final rejection
VI lts scrip application, advised tbe
department of its intention to file on
appilcation for power permit stat.
ing that 1t was then engaged in nre-
pairing data preliminary to the annIi.
cation ~ 'ne appii-
Inc act of February Is. 1901
supra, authorizes the secretary of the
interior to permit the use of nubiiC
iands FOR generation and distribution
Oh electrical power. With this Act
Defore 1t, and upon full consideration
VI the equities of the Similkameen
company, the department invited the
ming by that company of an appli-
cation for permit and the COMPANY
was dlllgent in prosecuting prelimin-
ary investigations and SURVEYS and in
ming its application for permit The
ohanogan POWER company did not file
its appNcatlOn until after the action
uescrlDed, has no equities, and does
not occupy any legal status emitting
IT to be preferred over the Similka.
nleen company. The irrigation dis
trlcts primary purpose is the recla-
nation OF arid lands, and this, in a
large measure, at least, is accomp-
llsned by the gravity canals already
constructed. The development and
distribution of power by the district
would aid irrigation only so far as
applied to the pumping of water to
lands above the gravity canal, and
this same result may be attained with
power developed by the Similkameen
company at its present plant. Any
power over and above that needed
for irrigation would be utilized by the
towns and cities of the vicinity and
development of nearby mines, a use
OF power rather inconsistent with the
essential purpose of an irrigation dis
trict, though it is claimed that under
recent act of the Washington state
legislature irrigation districts are au-
thorized to engage in power develop
ment. 1t is noted, however, that they
power outside the limits of the dis
trict until all demands and require
ments for water and power for use
in said district are furnished and sup
piled by said district.
BE that as it may, the Similkameen
company Is prior both in time of oc-
cupation and application to the dis
trict, and has superior equities by
rnn Nf{
Opment. The Similkameen company
expresses the intention of developing
the site to it's low water capacity of
approximately 975 horsepower, and at
such an early date as to not only sup
ply all needs Of the vicinity, but to
anticipate future demands.
Accordingly, alter very careful
review Of the entire record, and con-
sideration of the able arguments by
counsel for respective applicants, the
department has reached the conclu-
sion that the Similkameen Power COM
pany is prior in time and right and
superior in equities to the other ap-
plicants, and should be granted the
desired permit. 1t is so ordered, and
the applications of the Okanogan Val
ley Power company and the West
Okanogan Valley Irrigation district
are hereby rejected. Should this de-
cision become final, an appropriate
power permit to the Similkameen
company, under the act of February
Is, 1901, will be prepared with such
provisions as are designed to secure
the public interest, and that company
will be afforded an opportunity to de-
velop the power possibilities or TINS
locality"
30 SWEENEY,
Assistant Secretary.