The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-12-14
STILL HAVE HOPE
FOR BIC PROJECT
Immence Il Canyon Water
Power May Yet See
Full Development

| power OF the Pend Oreille river at II
canyon, near Metaline in Pend Oreille
county, is perhaps the one greatest
asset of northeastern Washington
but it lies undeveloped because of
the hostility of big business which
has been able to influence congress
in keeping closed the opportunity to
develop it. Legislation has not been
Forthcoming which will open it for
commercial purposes, and two-cent
electricity for the mines, smelter,
and business use of this territory is
still a vision of the future. Con-
| gressmen from this state have been
divided in their opinions regarding
the wisdom of permitting such a
great enterprise to open, in face of
the already large power plants now
operating to supply eastern Wash
ington, and constant pressure from
many people has not thus far eff
fected any change in the votes of
one of the state senators.
That the L canyon project still is
a possibility, and that its promoters
are still ready to go ahead with it,
are assured by the Newport Miner,
which gave the following account of
the situation in its last weeks issue:
"lhat the H. l.. Cooper Company,
which owns the huge waterpowcr
site at 4 canyon, on the lower Pend
Oreille river, in this county, has not
given up the project, but stands
ready to proceed just as soon as the
needed Legislation gets through CON
gress, is the good news that has
been received by local people who
have endeavored to keep in touch
with the big project.
"'lhe Cooper company, after spend
ing $l50O0O in exploration work and
thoroughly proving the feasibility of
the project, have been held up from
development work by the need of
new Legislation at the hands of con-
gress. The water power bill has
passed both houses of congress, but
in slightly different form, and has
for some time been in the hands of
conference committee of both
branches of congress. 1t is stated
that the committee has approved a
bill that meets the approval of the
president, of the conservationists and
also is satisfactory to the interests
which propose to do the development
work
"fhe new bill is said to properly
| safeguard the interests of both the
| public and the men whose money
| will build the dam and the indus
tries proposed to use its power. 1t
is possible that congressional action
will be secured during the present
session of congress, and in that
event, construction will begin in 1919
"rhe u canyon power project is
the largest in the world, and is cap
able of developing 100000 horse
power. 1t is also Pend Oreille coun-
ty's best bet. The construction of
the dam and the building of the in
dustries to use its power will more
than double the assessable value of
the county and make this the great
est manufacturing district in the
northwest. The whole county will
profit by the utilization of the re-
| hat oh Il
and which will remain dormant until
cheap power and an abundance of
capital are available.
"The slow but sure decline in the
taxable valuation as the cream of
our timber is being removed has al
ready caused many to think with
alarm Of the situation that will come
unless the z canyon project and
manufacturing industries come to fill
the breach. There are many who
have maintained that the develop
ment of the water power should be
made by the government. We be-
lieve that with the rights of the gov
|
rates controlled by the government,
that it is to the best interest of the
county that the water power and the
industries necessary to it's success,
developed by private enterprise, will
be of more immediate and direct
benefit to the county than to wait
for government action. Larger CEN
ters of population, with more infu
ence in congressional circles, would
have the first development under the
government, and the development of
our county would be seriously delay
ed. Senator Poindexter has been the
only representative of this state who
has opposed the water power bill and
it is believed that the bill is now so
safeguarded that he will be for it.
Congressman Dill and the others
have heretofore supported it."