1970-10-13-sc-p4-start-of-long-lake-dam-end-la-pray-bridge

October 13, 1970 Spokane Daily Chronicle Page 4:

SPOKANE 60 Years Ago

From Spokane Daily Chronicle Oct. 15, 1910.

With the purchase of the power site owned by the Big Bend Water Power company, four miles below the Lapray bridge, and the power site owned by H. L. Moody and associates, above the famous bridge, the Washington Water Power company is preparing to build the largest electrical plant on the Spokane river—generating more horsepower than the Spokane water power and steam plant, the Post Falls and Little Falls plant combined.

The various deals for acquiring these advantageous power sites and the necessary riparian rights to back the Spokane river from the Big Bend site have been under way for weeks and the deal for the Big Bend 400 acres, the key to the situation, was consummated within the last few days. The Big Bend Water Power company, which is in control of the Spaldings—E. P. Spalding, vice president and general manager, and Mrs, A. M. P. Spalding, secretary and treasurer—sold the 400 acres controlling the dam site for a consideration stated to be in the neighborhood of $250,000, The Lapray bridge (near the confluence of Chamokane creek and the Spokane River), one of the most famous landmarks on the Spokane river, will be inundated under 40 feet or more of water, according to stated development plans.