Old Missoula

Stock Is Formally Signed Over To Senator Clark

A. H. Wethey, General Manager of the Clark Properties Tenders a Big Check and Is Given Possession of the Entire Stock of the Missoula Light and Water Company.

Senator W. A. Clark became the owner of the Missoula Light & Water company’s plant and the real estate holdings of the company yesterday morning. The formal transfer of the business did not take place until 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon, but all of the important papers were signed in the morning.

A. H. Wethey, general manager of the Clark properties in Montana, handed over a large check at the offices of the Missoula Light & Water company to the stockholders of the corporation and he was given the stock of the company. The amount of the purchase price is stated to be more than a million dollars. The first big payment was made yesterday, and the next and final payment will be made in 60 days. The check given by Mr. Wethey contained six large figures, and was doubtless as big a draft as ever was presented at the First National bank of Missoula.

The negotiations yesterday between the representatives of the Missoula Light & Water company and Mr. Wethey were brief. Mr. Wethey simply informed the representatives of the company that Senator Clark had decided to take up the option given some time since, and the deal was closed. Judge J. M. Evans appeared as legal adviser for the Clark interests, and Marshall & Stiff for the light and water company. The deeds and abstracts of the titles to the real property transferred were in readiness, and these were given to Mr. Wethey.

The news of the big deal, which was given exclusively in The Daily Missoulian, caused considerable interest in Missoula yesterday. There was general good feeling, for the reason that it is believed here that Senator Clark will rush to completion the various enterprises now on hand. The big dam at Bonner, which is estimated will generate 5,000 horse power, the irrigation ditches and the street railway system will doubtless be completed as soon as possible. On the whole, it was one of the best pieces of news that the people of Missoula have heard in many a day.

Pleasure Resort.

A prominent official in one of the corporations in which Senator Clark is interested, and who is in a position to know, stated yesterday to a representative of The Daily Missoulian that a big lake would be constructed at Bonner. It is the purpose of those doing the work to build the dam to a height of 28 feet, which will back the waters of the Hell Gate river a distance of two miles and a half and form a large lake. A big pavilion will be built there and a pleasure resort similar to Columbia gardens, at Butte. Boats and pleasure craft of all sorts will be put on the lake, so it is said, and Missoula will have a playground equal to Butte and many other large cities.

Irrigation Project.

Perhaps the most important thing connected with the purchase of the lighting and water systems will be the big irrigation ditches which have been proposed. The 28-foot dam near Bonner will furnish an inexhaustible supply of water for the land that is now practically valueless. It is proposed that a ditch or flume be constructed that will carry water as far as Frenchtown. This will enable the owners of bench lands and other lands down the Missoula valley to irrigate their crops and to bring their farms to a high state of cultivation. The project means that the great tracts of vacant land about Missoula will shortly blossom like a flower garden, and beautiful farms will take the place of barren acres. That the work is to be rushed on the dam and the ditches is evidenced by the fact that the force at the dam will shortly be increased. The work of laying the sills for the foundation of the dam will begin today, and it is expected that other enterprises will be started within the near future.

At first it was planned to build a 12-foot dam which was calculated would furnish about 1,300 horse power. When Senator Clark was in Missoula a short time since he gave orders to make the dam 28 feet in height. This will generate fully 5,000 horse power and furnish an enormous amount of water for irrigation purposes.

No Change in Management.

It is understood that there will be no change in the management of the electric light plant or of the water office. S. R. Inch will continue to act as manager of the electric light department and T. T. McLeod will be manager of the water system. The entire business will be under the general direction of A. H. Wethey, Senator Clark’s manager. It is reported that it is likely at some future time the management of the two departments will be directed by one of Senator Clark’s employes from Butte, but for the present there will be no change.

Mr. Wethey left last night for New York, where he will confer with Senator Clark.

 

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on December 31, 1905.

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The Missoula Light & Power company was formed in 1896. An article from The Missoulian on February 12, 1896 said the following about the Missoula Light & Power company:

Articles of incorporation of the Missoula Light & Power company with a capital stock of $150,000, divided into fifteen hundred shares at a par value of $100 per share. The time of existence of said company shall be 20 years. Amount of capital stock subscribed, $1,400. The incorporators are: James S. Cummings, Chicago; Henry M. Byllesby, St. Paul; Harry W. Turner, Butte; Hal S. Corbett, Missoula; M. R. Rutherford, Missoula; Thos. C. Marshall, Missoula; James W. Forbis, Butte.

 

A Missoula attorney, Thomas C. Marshall, was designated as the president of the Missoula Light & Power corporation in 1896. He was affiliated with A. B. Hammond and represented The Missoula Mercantile Co., the First National Bank, and the Big Blackfoot Milling Co.

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