Half a Million Dollars Bets on Newport's Future

During the past few weeks engineers in the employ of the Washington Water Power Co. have been frequently seen in Newport and the country west of here. They have been looking over the country with autos, and their mission hereabouts was unknown until Saturday, when the news leaked out that their presence means the building of another high-tension power line into Newport.

The Northern Idaho Montana Power Co., which operates the electric light and power plants at Newport and Sandpoint, has contracted with the Washington Water Power Co. for current to supply these two towns. The contract covers a period of ten years, and to bring the current here it is necessary for the W. W. P. Co. to build a power line from their new station at Little Falls on the Spokane river, west of the city of Spokane, to Newport, a distance of about 70 miles. At Newport a connection will be made with the local system of the Northern Idaho Montana Power Co., and with the latter's power line to Sandpoint to supply that city.

The Northern Idaho Montana Power Co. controls valuable power rights on Priest river, Moyie river above Bonners Ferry and on the Cabinet Gorge of the Clark's Fork river. The company had anticipated starting development of at least one of these powers before this time, but owing to litigation over titles is not at present in position to start development. An opportunity having been given for an advantageous contract with the W. W. P. Co. it was taken advantage of.

The new power line is to be completed by February 1. In the meantime the N. I. M. P. Co. will continue the work of erecting their steam auxiliary plant at Sandpoint, and about August 1 will be in a position to supply Newport from Sandpoint and begin the 24-hour service.

The new power line is to be of the same construction as the line from Newport to Sandpoint, which cost in the neighborhood of $2500 per mile, bringing the cost of the new line up to about $200,000.

The Northern Idaho Montana Power Co. is a subsidiary organization of H. M. Byllesby Co., electrical contractors and engineers of Chicago. This company controls practically all the power and light business between Kalispell, Mont., and Newport. It has also acquired interests in the Wenatchee country, owns the Everett Gas and Electric Co., the Tacoma Gas and Electric Co. and big interests in the Walla Walla and Willamette valley countries.

The Northern Idaho Montana Power Co. has already expended in the neighborhood of $140,000 in Newport, and the building of the line from Sandpoint to this place. Their investment at Sandpoint will be as much more. Add to this the W. W. P. Co. investment of $200,000 and the total investment to supply these two towns with light and power totals a half million dollars. Present conditions do not warrant this expenditure, and it looks mighty good to us who live here to see such large sums of money invested in the future of this territory. It ought to furnish us with an inspiration to boost and work together for development of our resources.