150 Years 1887-1901 The Dalles THE DECADES OF HISTORY PART THREE OF THE DALLES CHRONICLE'S TEN-PART SERIES. April 27, 2007 Page 7 THIRTY MILES OF POLES BRING POWER FROM WHITE RIVER "The people of The Dalles are jubilant over the coming change there from a dark to a light town," said Charles Walker at the wharf of the White Collar line to a Telegram reporter. "The Dalles has been dark too long," continued Mr. Walker, but now it is making a great forward stride. The Wasco Warehouse & Milling Company, an organization comprising many of our old pioneer stand-bys, such as Dan French and W. Lord, has contracted to light the city after November 1st, and the construction work on the plant is being rushed to completion under the personal supervision of George W. Simons and C.F. Swigert, of the Pacific Bridge Company, Portland. They are developing the power from White River, that rushes into the rapid Deschutes river near Sherar's bridge. "The plant is built very substantially, and equals anything of its kind in California, which state, it is acknowledged leads the world in electrical transmission. "The line from The Dalles to White river has thirty miles of poles set in the most substantial manner, which are capable of holding up ninety miles of the heaviest copper wire." "Great care has to be exercised in the work on account of the high potential voltage, about 22,500, which is the first line of its kind in Oregon. Some pieces of the machinery weigh eight or ten tons and have been hauled by wagon thirty-five miles to the head works." "The plant will cost $40,000 and will be a good thing for The Dalles. It will not only illuminate the town, but will also furnish power for all manufacturing purposes, including a new 1000-barrel-a day flouring mill. It will bring The Dalles to the front." Photo text only - The first electric light plant established in 1888 at Seventh and Union in The Dalles. October 29, 1901 Earline Wasser Incoming and Outgoing messages protected by Trend Micro Pc-cillin program