Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-30
RATT-POWER CD.
LITIGATION SETTLED
OUTSIDE Of COURT

ress for several months between the
Pratt interests and the Washington
Land company, said to be a subsidi-
airy of the Georgia Railway and
Power company involving extern
sive hydro electric development
along the Coosawattee river in Muir
ray and Gilmer counties, has been
settled out of court, it was an
nounced Thursday, and the deVe[
opment will, it is said, be carried out
in such manner as to coordinate
the projects of the Pratt Interests
and the power company.
The series of transactions lead
ing up to the settlement constitute
one of the most interesting chap
ters in the history of big business
affairs in Georgia. Some years ago
n. P. Pratt, formerly head of the
Pratt Laboratories and one of the
best known figures In the engineer
ing and industrial field, began ac-
quiring lands along the Coosawattee
river, which flows down through Gill
mer county and into a section lying
between the two branches Of the
Louisville and Nashville railroad.
Realizing the possibilities of the
river for the development of hydro
electric power and the building up
of a great industrial district In
north Georgia, the Pratt interests,
it is said, finally secured all but
about 460 acres of the land necessary
to provide adequate storage and
drainage area for the projected dam
and power house just below Flat
creek on the Coosawattee.
Meeting difficulties in acquiring
this needed tract, the Pratt inter-
ests instituted condemnation pro-
;ceedings in the Blue Ridge circuit
of the superior court before Judge
d. w. Blair against the Washington
Land company, which held title to
the property.
1t was set up by the Pratt inter-
ests in this suit that the company
had acquired title to the property
after condemnation proceedings ha1
been begun. Judge Blair decided in
favor of the Pratt interests and the
power company carried the case to
the higher courts, where it has been
pending.
Assent to Judges Decision
Under the terms of the compro-
mise agreement just reached, how
ever, a court order has been pre-
pared and signed by the parties at
issue, withdrawing the matter from
the courts.
The Georgia Railway and Power
company, it is said, had contemplate
ed developments further down the
CoOsaw attee river on what is known
as the Carter property just over the
Murray county line, and had &C
quired certain acreage along the
river at that point.
Rec emily, however, it is said, Mfr.
Pratt purchased about 1000 acres of
the Carter property at an admins
traitors sale, paying $4,000 after
spirited bidding against the power
company representatives. The &C.
QUESTION of this property by the
Pratt interests, is said to have put
an effectual stop to any project the
power company might have for the
development of the COosaWattee.
and recognizing this situation, both
parties to the controversy entered
negotiations looking to a compro-
mise.
The power company, it is said,
purchased the Carter property from
the Pratt interests at a price of
$1S4,000 and at the same time turn
ed over to Mr.. Pratt the AGO acres
formerly held by the Washington
Land company in the development
of it's hydro electric plans.
Thus, it is said, the Pratt inter-
ests now own the lands for about
Is miles along the Coosawattee and
for about six miles along its prin-
cipal tributary, MOuntaintOwn creek
while the power company owns the
properties from Flat creek south
ward for a distance of perhaps seven
miles.
Three Power Plants Probable
While definite plans have not been
made for the development of the Coo
swattee system, it is thought by EN-
gineers that certainly two and pos
sible three hydro electric plants will
be necessary. OF these, it is said the
Pratt interests propose to construct
one and the power company will
probably put up the others. En-
gineers in the employ of Mr.. Pratt
are now completing all details of a
survey of the properties.
According to Mr. Pratt. the drain
age area and precipitation OF the
CoOsawattee system is about twice
that of the Tallulak system, anu the
hydro-e electric development near Flat
creek will have a fall of 253 feet,
while the development on the power
company property further down the
river will have a fall of 312 feet.
The CoOsawatte developments.
when completed. are expected to de
velop 12O. 600 horsepower. involve a
total cost of about $4,000 600. and
provide electric power for distribu
ton over a wide area in north Geor-
Gia and to make possible the estab-
of industrial centers At
points where such enterprises are
now effectualiy barred.
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