The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-11-17
At Priest Repids 100000 II. P.-Lar-
geSt Electric Plant in U. S.-Wll
Benefit LeayenwOrth


to the things that will benefit our town,
things that mean growth and prosperity
for Leavenworth. Not only for Leav-
enworth, but all eastern Washington.
The building OF a great electric
power plant at Priest Rapids will un-
questionably bring into use the great
body Of limestone on Chikamin creek
to make nitrate for the government
and fertilizer for the impoverished lands
OF the United States. Leavenworth is
the gateway to the Chikamin creek
marble bed. The building Of the
power plant at Priest Rapids requires
between two and three million dollars
worth of cement. Cement can be
made right here at saving Of large
sum Of money.
II you follow US We will tell you
why the Priest Rapids plant will be
built, and why it will be built in the
next few years.
Priest Rapids is located about eighty
miles south Of Wenatchee, in the Col
umbia river, near where the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad crosses
the Columbia. The rapids comprise a
series OF falls covering distance OF
about nine miles, with a total fall in
the river Of fifty feet. A thoro exami-
nation and calculation Of the power
possibilities has already been made by
competent hydraulic engineers. 1t is
proposed to build dam at the head OF
the rapids fifty feet high, Of steel and
concrete, across the Columbia river.
from which will lead twenty or more
penstocks, constructed OF steel and
concrete, fifteen feet in diameter and
nine miles long, from the dam to the
foot of the rapids, where the greatest
power plant in the United States will
be built. Each penstock will deliver
water power to twenty H. P. turbine
power wheel. The dam will raise the
water fifty feet, and the fifty foot fall in
the rapids will give 100 foot pressure
at the power house for all the water in
the Columbia river. This has been
estimated by competent hydraulic en-
eineers in both government and private
service, to make possible the develop
ment of upwards of 100000 horse
power at Priest Rapids, or 10000 more
horse power than is now developed at
Niagara Falls, on both the American
and Canadian side of the river.
There is scarcely any doubt that the
power possibilities at Priest Rapids ex-
ceeds any other in the United States,
and would rank with the greatest in the
world. It's enormous value was recog-
nized about eight years ago by Mr..
Robert E. Strahorn, railroad builder
and capitalist Of Boston, Mass, and
Spokane. 1t was he who few years
ago built the North Coast road from
Spokane, thru the Yakima valley and
Matches pass, south of Mt. Rainier, to
Portland. He afterwards sold the road
To the Great Northern railroad COM
pany. Mr.. Strshorn about that time
bought the land on both sides OF the
river, giving him complete control OF
Priest Rapids for nine miles. 1t is
said to have cost him a pot OF money
at that time, but is now considered
worth several pots of money. Five
years ago he sold his holdings to New
York and Portland, Ore, capitalists.
Mr.. Howard, president OF the Portland
Street Railway Co., and the Portland
Light and Power Co.. is one OF the
Portland men interested in the project.
Mr.. Henry J. Pierce, Of New York, is
at the head OF an eastern syndicate
which is also interested in the Priest
Rapids land. These men are ready
and willing to invest vast sum 1f
money in the development OF the
Priest Rapid power enterprise, the rea-
SON for which will appear as we 60 on
with the story Of the project. Also
why the undertaking cannot proceed
until some comprehensive federal
water power law is enacted. For more