Harnessing Snoqualmie Falls for City Power
A bold proposal emerges to channel the power of Snoqualmie Falls to electrify Seattle's streetcars and lighting systems.
Charles M. Fox of Seattle outlined a significant infrastructure proposal to utilize the energy of Snoqualmie Falls. Experts estimate that the site could generate between 10,000 and 15,000 horsepower, which would be sufficient to power Seattle’s street railway system and electric lighting plants. The plan suggests that with an investment of one million dollars, the city could harness this natural resource to support industrial growth and municipal infrastructure, potentially saving the city the same amount in annual costs.
“A million dollars is sufficient to chain the lost power over the falls, and this amount will be saved every year.”
The quest for cheap, renewable hydroelectric power has been a defining feature of Seattle’s civic identity for over a century. This 1894 proposal anticipated the large-scale electrification that would eventually power the Puget Sound region, transforming it into a modern industrial hub.
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