The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., June 9, 1911, page 2
SCRAPPING FOR WATER POWER
Goldendale, Wash. -- The Northwestern Electric company
and interests allied with the Lyle townsite company have two crews at work
on the Big Klickitat for the purpose of holding down power rights which they
claim. Some time ago the Northwestern Electric company made a deal for the
interests of Sam Hill and certain Spokane capitalists on the Big Klickitat,
and at the suggestion of their engineer obtained rights on one side of the
Klickitat river that belonged to Emma Dave, an Indian woman. Later interests
allied with the Lyle townsite company thought to be the Pacific Power &
Light Co., made power reservations on the opposite side of the Big Klickitat
from the holdings of the Northwestern company. Condemnation proceedings have
been filed in court by the Northwestern company for the interests of Hill
and the Spokane parties, and at the same time the Lyle townsite company started
condemnation proceedings against the Indian woman, asking that the deed of
Emma David to the Northwestern Electric company be set aside.
These power sites are at the rapids of the Big Klickitat,
where the fall is about 120 feet. It is likely the legal fight is on in earnest,
as each company is trying to fulfill all requirements of the law to obtain
a hold on this valuable water power. The Big Klickitat, according to government
reports, has more power in it than any other stream in the state excepting
the Columbia river. A great deal of this power has been withdrawn. It was
the alleged intention of the Northwestern company to install a 5000 horsepower
plant for the first unit. -- Journal.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer