The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-01-28
PUSH WORK
ON SKACIT,
HE URGES
SeattIe's Chance to Bring
New Industries Depends
on Cheap Power

CITIZENS Of Seattle have by their
tho power business ON a wholesale
scale. and as there Is a shortage OF
power IN Western Washington today
II Is distinctly ~ % Seattle 20 get
behind tho Skaglt river project. II
Industries are TO have cheap and
abundant power. said c. +. Uhden.
engineer In charge OF the municipal
power development on the Skagtt
river. last night.
uhden was speaking 20 members
Of the civic and membership bureaus
Of the Chamber OF Commerce at tho
chamber assembly hall His was the
first OF a series OF lectures on public
questions given under the direction
Of the civic bureau OF the chamber.
DEVELOP In ADVANCE or
INDUSTRIAL REQU lRENiE>TS
Seattle must develop power in ad
vance OF industrial requirements.
said Uhden. who added:
at Is not sufficient 20 state 10 the
industry contemplating locating
here. II you will build We viii make
the development what the indus
try wants us TO do is 90 have the
power on hand just the same as any
clothing merchant has on hand sew.
erai suits OF clothes. or a drygoods
merchant would have on hand dry.
goods ready for sale.
what Is the power situation In
our own state OF Washington East
crn Washington has now. and al.
ways has had. an abundance Of
dy~on-dcmand power. But such IL
not the case In Western Washington.
Z "Aii the plants In this district are
loaded TO their full capacity. When
I say this. | mean that they arc
loaded 10 the capacity that they are
able to carry turnout the year. In
Guiding the low water season.
"NorthweStern Washington IL TAX.
Ing power from British Columbia.
such cities as Bellingham. sedro-
Woollcy. Mount Vernon and Con
crete arc being furnished with Brit
ish Columbia power.
SEATTLE GETS POWER
FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON
seattle Is drawing power from
Eastern Washington. 500 miles away.
and In the last half Of the year 1919
this district drew 10000. 900 kilowatt
hours from Eastern Washington.
which current was brought over here
By the Milwaukee railroads transmits
SION line. Practically all the current
which is used to operate the NIL.
waukec comes from Eastern Wash
ington.
why should we draw power from
CAnada and pay the dividends and
tAxes and interest on their Invest
ments. when we have power. such as
the Skagit river has. only zoe miles
from Seattle, and II II Is developed
IN its entirety VIC will be able TO fur
nish power at price which Is within
reach Of every known industry to-
day.
linden. detailing the present work
which the city Is endeavoring TO
secure funds TO continue. said:
The gorge development. on which
We are now working. win consist
OF a darn 40 feet In height. and
this will back the water four miles
M the river. This lake viii be
connected to the power station by
means OF two tunnels 10000 feet In
length. and this power station VIII
contain six units OF $500 horse
power each. There being no power
available within a reasonable dis
lance Of this development we de
cided TO develop small creek.
called the Newhaiem. where we will
Install 5000 horsepower unit
THE closest point on a railroad
Is Rockport. the present terminus
Of branch OF the Great Northern.
From there we are building our
railroad. the total length Of which.
with the sidings. will be approx.
mately 20 miles. and the cost OF
which will be si.2i5.0oo. This rail-
road Is now more than IS per cent
complete. The first unit. in con
nection with this development. will
require an expenditure Of about So
100 1000. This estimate Is based on
prices six months ago. at which
time we made our estimate