The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-02-01
MILLIONS MAY
BE SPENT AT
PRIEST RAPIDS
Identification of Milwaukee to
Coast May Mean Big Power
Plant on the Columbia
IRRIGATION ALSO PROBABLE
Federal Legislation to Permit Private
Capital to Proceed with the
Development


Development
When the board of directors of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail-
way voted in New York last week to
electrify 200 miles of the Puget Sound
division from Othello to the Coast,
thew revived the hopes of many resi-
dents of this valley that an early de-
velopment of the power and irrigation
possibilities might be expected.
Since the Milwaukee extended its
lines to the Pacific coast, especially
since the electrifcation of the western.
end of the line was commenced, it has
been consistently rumored that the
Milwaukee railroad interests intended
to use for it's purpose the power pos
sible to be developed at Priest Rapids.
If the development of Priest Rapids
is undertaken it will call for the ex-
penditure Of upwards of $4,000, 900
and will mean more than the electri-
fcation of the Milwaukee as the re-
clamation of thousands of acres Of
fertile lands will undoubtedly be un-
dertaken in connection with the de-.
velopment of hydro-electric power.
The great dam across the river would
make it possible to irrigate great
tracts which are within the Hanford
irrigation project and beyond its linn
its. "@
This development has been contem-
plated for years but it has been de-
layed to await the enactment of ma
tional legislation to permit the de-
velopment to be done by private capi-
tai. Such legislation has been enacted
by both houses of congress and the
matter is now in conference. It is un-
derstood that President Wilson has
submitted compromise that has been
pronounced satisfactory alike to the
power interests and to the govern
ment. :rr. .sa. f.. al.-.
Since the old Hanford Irrigation &
Power company went out Of existence
the ownership of the rights and lands
at Priest Rapids has been pretty much
of mystery. When the assets of the
company were sold at receivers sale
to satisfy judgment obtained in the
federal court, a Boise, Idaho, attorney,
was the highest bidder, paying $780,
900. The same day this attorney an
nounced that his principal was Henry
H. X. Lyons, of Denver. -
Mr.. Lyons never revealed who his
principals were. To representative
of the Yakima Republic who inter.
viewed him in Denver a few days af
ter the sale here, Mr.. Lyons naively
said he was not sure for whom he hat
purchased the property, but admitted
that he had acted only as an agent.
In June following Mr.. Lyons divided
the assets purchased by him. Th'
power plant and site at Priest Rapid
the pumping station at Coyote and tn
transmission lines were transferred t,
the Black Rock Power & Irrigation
Co.; the Consumers Ditch Co. tool
over the delivery of water to the farm
ers and the Agathon Land Co. too
the land and other assets.
~ Secret is Safely Sealed
If there have been any transfer
since that time they have only bee
on the stock books of the companie!
and Lyons, or his principals, hav
those.
High officials of the Milwaukee raj
road have visited the Priest Rapid
section at various times, the company
engineers have every acre of groun
fully plated and have taken all nece:
sary tests and if Mr.. Lyons at the tin
OF the purchase represented the Mi
waukee railroad, or affiliated interest
or they have since acquired those holt
ings, which is generally believed to |
the fact, this announcement is equiv;
lent to saying that millions will |
spent in the far northeasterly part
Yakima county this year and for Sc
eral years to come.
For electrification of the road fro
Harlowton, Mont, to Avery, Idah
power was purchased from the Mo
tana Power Co. and taken from Il
big plants on the Missouri river, ju
below Helena, hooked up with tl