The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-01-19
Seattle Gets
Skagit
Site
Vast UndeveIoped Power
Handed Over by Uncle
Sam to Seattle
MEANS CHEAP RATES

Electric power 20 cheap In So
attic that u will attract indus
tries from all corners Of the
world.
Cascade mountain streams de.
vcioping twice the horsepower
now utilized at Niagara Falls.
This Ii . dream Of the fu-
ture that became . practical pos
sibIlity today. when word was 70
eeived that Uncle Sam had do
cidei 10 permit the city 10 utilize
the Ruby canyon power site. on
the sLngit river. more than 100
miles north Of Seattle
The Ruby canyon site Is what
WAS erroneously known In Scat
tie n the DiAblo canyon site.
That Secretary Houston. Of the
department Of agriculture, has
definitely DECIDED to hand the
site 10 Seattle for devejopment
wHs assured In . telegram from
Csrporatisn Counsel Hugh Cald-
well 10 I4ght Supsrintendent
Ross.
His action eliminated . keen con.
test OF wits. diplomacy and neGotiat-
Ing with private promoters that
marked the efforts OF the city 10 ac-
auirc additional power-gencratlng
facilities.
Tried 10 Block City
Privately owned sites were offered
90 the city--for millions OF dollars.
The Stone Webster interests had ac-
auired n permit on the Skagit site.
but had failed TO live up to agree
ments. Their representatives tried
energeticaliy to block the city's
move for the site.
The ate acquired from the govern
ment IL granted free--but the city
must Of course develop H. The first
step in this process will cost approx.
imately ss.ooo.ooo
Possibilities OF a vast economic
growth as n result OF n wealth of
cheap power have fallen into Seat.
ties lap. as n result OF the aggres-
siveness of the public servants who
have kept the interests OF the city
owned light department at heart.
Cheap as Niagara
We can have power here as
cheap as II IL at Niagara" Supt.
Ross explained. "A great market
for the power Is in sight. The cleo
tricitv win be transmitted about 100
miles. which Is not too far. Our
project will have a solid granite
dam. which means depreciation will
be practically nothing"
Must Build Tunnel
A great task of building faces the
city.
One OF the tunnels in the project
will itself be ten miles long.
Eventually the site will generate
600 900 horse power. Comprehension
of this energy is possible when II is
considered that. with all the city's
present facilities. only 20. 900 horse
power Is generated. and yet this fur
nishes energy for hundreds OF in.
dustrial concerns and lights thou
sands OF homes.
The formal permit from the gov.
eminent will be issued when the
city accepts bids for development OF
the lower SkaLlt site or mas sig
nified intention of doing the work
by day labor.
Specifications for immediate de-
will be given Monday to
who will submit their fig
ures 10 the board OF public works
Friday. March /.
The present plans provide for de-
velopment of 25. 900 kilowatts by the
first unit. or $4,000 horse power. A
high-power line will be built to the
city. with n sub-station probably I'm
the University district. This will
give Seattle's light plant a vast sup.
ply OF power TO meet the ever grow.
ing appetite OF industries and
homes here.
The site Is two miles below the
junction of George creek and the
Skagit river.
The city will have until May Is to
submit TO the government its plans
for ultimate development OF the up.
per and greater site. which can be
developed up to 100000 horse
power
Construction OF a 10.mile tunnel
or flume from Diablo canyon to the
hydro-electric plant is contemplated