Butts-Jasper County GaArchives News.....Mr. Smith reviews efforts to build Big Ocmulgee Power Dam October 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 May 6, 2011, 8:14 pm Butts County Progress October 1908 MR. SMITH REVIEWS EFFORTS TO BUILD BIG OCMULGEE POWER DAM PAINTS A ROSY PICTURE FOR THE DEVEOPMENT OF THIS SECTION OF THE STATE – PREDICTS CAR LINE THROUGH JACKSON SOON Editor Progress: - In compliance with your request I will give you a short history of the movement to develop power on the Ocmulgee River near Jackson, and also some idea of the purposes for which it is intended the power may be used. When Charlie Beauchamp was mayor of Jackson several years ago, he took up with me the matter of extending the Flovilla and Indian Spring road to Jackson. He secured for me the franchise to run the streets of Jackson and also a lighting franchise. I went in search of the most available waterpower to generate electricity for that purpose. I found it where the dam for the great electric plant is now being located. The first step was the purchase of fifty-eight acres of land, known as the old Thomas place, and next, the purchase from Mr. William Hodges of a mill site just above the Thomas place. In looking at the shoals above and below, and the towering bluff on either side and the immense quantities of fine granite for building purposes, I was amazed at the possibilities. I walked; I looked; I meditated. I said meditatively, “O what Nature has done for mankind here, and we stand and let the shoals murmer at our neglect. Here is a great source of wealth hidden from the world and going to waste.” I declared then and there that the world should know about it. But what then ? It will take millions to develop it. How can you interest them? In discussing the matter of power for Jackson, Mr. S. C. McCandless became interested with me. He bought 95 acres on the Jasper side known as the old Byars place, and opposite the Thomas place on this side. It is on these two places that the abutments for the great dam are located. Mr. McCandless interested with him Mr. Harold Mallett of Jackson, and they together bought all the water rights from the old Byars place to Dempsey’s Ferry (on the Jasper side) a distance of two miles. We decided that the way to interest capital would be to combine all the power from Lamar’s Mill to the head of the river in one company. With that idea in view, I carried Mr. Walter Lamar up and showed him the possibilities. He said: “I am astonished I did not know Butts county had anything like this in it.” I then carried Mr. Samuel Caranes, who owned the next power above Lamar’s and he said it was the finest power he ever saw, but it would take too much money to develop it. The result was we did not get together, because we could not agree as to the valuation of the different powers. About this time Mr. C. C. Howe came south looking for water power. Mr. Lamar referred him to me. I showed him what I had, and explained to him my purpose of development. He said, “You are going to spoil a great thing by a small one. Sell your holding to me and I will help you to make a development from which you can have power cheaper than you can furnish it yourself.” We agreed, and he and Mr. Henry Howe and Mr. Thomas Carling of Macon, bought our holding, and went ahead and made several other purchases up the river. About this time the Atlanta & Macon Interurban Railway Co. was organized, and Mr. Howe brought their attention to our waterpower, and the Bibb Power Company was organized to furnish power for that and other purposes. We then spent about two years in securing other power along the Ocmulgee, Oconee and Flynt rivers. When it was decided to make a development, to begin with this one was considered the best and most available. The Macon & Albany Interurban Railway was also organized and will take power from the plant, also the Macon Street Railway and Lighting, has passed into the hands of this company, and will be furnished power from this plant, as well as the factories, lighting plants, and small manufactories of any and all of the towns within a radius of 30 to forty miles that desire to contract for it. The greatest benefit I see in the future directly to Butts county, is the building of the Interurban Railway from Griffin to Monticello, Mansfield and Social Circle. Connected with the Atlanta & Macon Interurban at Griffin, from Griffin through Jackson to Indian Spring, will be the neck of the funnel. It is intended to connect with the Flovilla & Indian Spring road at the Camp Ground and with the new line now being built at Bibb. At the river it will connect with the boats on “Lake Alcova” and on to Monticello, etc., by track on that side. Now, brother, don’t put on that doubtful smile and pass it by as a joke. If I live a few years longer, I expect to be able to get on an electric car any day at Indian Spring, Jackson or Flovilla, ride to the river, take a boat and picnic at either Newton, Factory Shoals, on Alcova, or Indian Fishery, on Yellow River, or at Mann’s Bridge on South River and return in the afternoon. If you don’t believe it, file this paper and watch and see what calamity is to befall us to prevent it. We will take you on the picnic Mr. Editor. Yours for work to accomplish. – W. F. Smith Butts Progress Week of October 9, 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/butts/newspapers/mrsmithr3036nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb