Almost A Missoula Dam
Almost a Hellgate Dam 1895
The people of Missoula will be glad to learn, as they will from the Missoulian’s local columns of today, of the presence in their midst of Mr. H M. Byllesby, president and general manager of the Northwestern General Electric company. Mr. Byllesby is the promoter of the proposed dam across the Missoula river at the mouth of Hell Gate canyon. Mr. Byllesby’s visit is timely. The result of his observations will be awaited with genuine interest by the entire community.
There are those who are inclined to question the sincerity and impugn the integrity of the central figures in the proposed dam. This is an injustice. It is not for any man to sit in judgement upon a project of such magnitude simply because practical results have not been obtained in a single day. We are told the work will involve the expenditure of $150,000. The conditions of the money market are not such that large sums of money can be had for the mere asking.
But we believe the dam will be built. The electric company has advertised for bids, which have been submitted and are now under advisement. It is conceded by the officials that the present quarters are entirely inadequate; that the lighting service is bad, very bad. A new location must be found, a new plant constructed, and other improvements made. That is one of the crying necessities of the hour. What is more natural than that they should proceed with the work at the earliest possible moment? To Missoula such an enterprise would mean much. The power of the proposed new dam could be utilized in operating mills, electric railroads, and also as the motive force of new manufacturing enterprises which may be conveniently located in the vicinity of the dam. As electric power is more economical than steam, the creation of this new power would be better for Missoula than would be the opening of a gold mine in the heart of the city. Just think what a boon to local labor would be the employment of several hundred men for over a year on a single enterprise. The great cost of the work would be labor, and the bulk of the money would be distributed in this city. It would tend to increase and emphasize the advantages of our favored city as a manufacturing center. The beginning of work upon the proposed Missoula river dam would mark the beginning of a new period of growth for the metropolis of Western Montana which would surpass anything that had preceded it. Give Missoula the dam, Mr. Byllesby, and she will do the rest.
The above editorial appeared in the Daily Missoulian on June 30, 1895.