The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1919-05-30
BIG POWER
PROJECT
Develop Immense Electric
Power Plant Near
Oroville

| The building Of a dam in the Sim
lilkameen gorge three and half miles
vast of Oroville and the installation
of an electric plant capable of produc-
ing 5000 horse power by the Okanog-
an Valley Power company, Is q project
that will involve the expenditure OF
|$150.000 within the coming year. Pre-
liminary work on the dam Is already
under way and in a story given to the
Spokesman-Review, Mr. Enloe, presi-
dent of the company. announces that
pouring of the concrete will start
August 1st.
This is one of the biggest pieces OF
development in this part of the state
and will have profound influence
| Throughout this section in promoting
operations on larger scale than ever.
Sufficient power will be furnished
not only for mining but for all COM
mercial uses throughout this part of
the Okanogan valley.
The extent and character of the
work contemplated by the Okanogan
Valley Light and Power company is
uNoS' sICu IL tnC RcNicW db lOllOW6.
Mining companies having proper
ties in districts about Oroville will
have sufficient power for their opera
tions in another year when the ex-
panision of the Okanogan Valley Pow
Ter company will have been we'll ad-
vanced. While the extension of it's
system is designed chiefly for the
development of agricultural and mu-
ntcipal enterprises of the Okanogan
valley the power company will be in
la position to supply energy to the
mining companies who have sought
more power for years.
An expenditure of $150,000 on a
dam and machinery for its first unit
is contemplated by the Okanogan
Power company. which now has an
investment of $350,0O0, according to
Eugene Enloe. president, yesterday
The generation Of 1000 horse power 10
anticipated of the first unit and Of
< 5000 more from the second, a tota, OF
5000.
"The dam will be situated at a
point on the Similkameen river three
and half miles above Oroville," said
Mr.. Enloe. 1T will be $50 feet long
and 60 feet high and will be built
above the falls, which have q height
of 23 feet. The total head will be 80
feet. Water will be backed up for two
miles"
Equipment Is being assembled for
the work and the pouring of cement
will be started on August l. Employ
ment will be given to 35 to 40 men.
THE primary use of the power gen.
Grated will be for irrigation along the
Okanogan and Columbia rivers. We
hope it will be available next seas
on.
THE project covers the Okanogan
valley from Oroville to Mansfield in
the Big Bend country, in which there
are 110 miles of transmission. The
demand for power is greater than the
supply The plant projected is to sup
plement the power being developed
near Pateros and to displace the plant
in operation at Oroville.
I'VE are supplying 200 horse power
to the mines and have equipment for
400 horse power in motors connected.
Mine operators in the vicinity Of Oro-
vile aver that they could operate at
the current price of silver II the power
Is economical and reliable Some Of
them aver that they engaged in op-
erations when silver was but a little
ovevr SO cents an ounce in price as
compared with the current rate of
more than 81. We hope to be of some
assistance in stimulating the mine
work.
Great development is proceeding
IN the Oroville country. An expendi-
ture of $1,000,000 has been made for
Irrigation by the government alone.
Another area of 10000 acres Is being
cultivated this year and produced a
crop of alfalfa last year"