"IN HOC SIGNO VINCES"It was upon J. Howard's return to Chelan with his wife and son from Spokane that he became busy with the construction of the new power facility. On May 18, 1892 the "Chelan Falls Water Power Company" was organized. In the Chelan Leader, this article appeared:
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES*
Chelan Falls Power to be utilized at once THE MARCH OF PROGRESS The Chelan Falls Water Power Company broke ground for its 6,000 foot flume last week and will be ready to turn wheels, operate Dynamos, furnish city water and irrigate land within forty days, with 190-foot head of power. It has always been a characteristic of Western cities that have amounted to anything that their inhabitants had an abiding faith in their resources and future and got in and worked according to their faith. Of course this applies only to those places which have had a backing that was permanent and that consequently had something to build upon. The professional boomer often gets temporary excitement over a town site at the end of a railroad, where there is nothing special but the railroad site, and, strangely enough, will always find suckers to whom he can unload lots, and as soon as the railroad moves forward, the bottom drops out of the prospective city and the coyote howls a requiem o'er its departed hopes. Those places, which like Spokane and Chelan Falls, compel railroads and capital, cities of the state and nation, notwithstanding the dismal prophecies and croaks of the croaker, the sneer of the skeptical and the envy of less favored but would be centers. Ten years ago numbers of people landed in Spokane, which had not anywhere near the advantages of Chelan Falls in sight, looked it over, said it would never make a city, there was nothing to support it, etc., thought they had snuffed it out by their superior wisdom and boarded the next train for home. But like Topsy it just grew, as A. M. Cannon, J. J. Browne, J. N. Glover and other farseeing men knew it would, because it had the favorable situation, the water power and the resources which sooner or later would demand a metropolis! Only a year ago men were found who freely said "You can never build a city on the river by the falls. Who is there to support it?" More shortsightedness! Yet in one short year a large number of moneyed men have vested the occasion, have seen at once that Chelan Falls held the key to the central Washington situation, was the strategy point in fact, and the results are, as it always is sooner or later in such cases, that hundreds of thousands of dollars are already interested in furthering its development and prosperity, and from nothing one year ago there is now a thriving young city with wholesale and retail business houses, hotels, and residences, and these are merely a starter. Every steamboat and stage brings in capital, population and energy, and Chelan Falls today has the very brightest outlook of any new place in the Northwest. By the time snow flies again the population and business will be at least ten times as great as it is today, large flour mills will be grinding and shipping the wheat of the Big Bend and lumber will here be manufactured for this whole inland empire. Chelan Falls has the natural location, a water power unequaled anywhere and resources contiguous and immediately tributary which cannot be excelled by any city in the Northwest. She has also a population with faith and push and money. In Hoc Signo Vinces. By these signs she will conquer just so surely as that Chicago and Denver and Spokane were created by situation, resources, capital and unfaltering energy. "The Leader" has the pleasure to announce that the Chelan Falls Water Power Company last week broke ground for their immense flume and have now a large force of men, teams, plows and scrapers at work grading the bed upon which the flume is to rest. Already they have made a creditable showing and the work is to be pushed to completion in not to exceed forty days. The water is to be taken from above the head of the gorge, on property owned by the company and the flume itself will be 6,000 feet in length, with a capacity of sixty cubic feet of water per second and a head of 190 feet. The Chelan Falls Manufacturing Company has the contract to furnish the lumber, of which it will require not less than 100,000 feet. Upon its completion, the company will be able not only to furnish all the power required for manufacturing purposes, for city water works and irrigation, but logs for lumber and fuel can be brought through the flume at all times thus avoiding the wear, loss and cost incident to bringing them over the rapids. The flume will enter the city on the bluff at the northwest corner of the platted town site, high enough to throw water over the tallest buildings as well as to irrigate the thousands of acres adjacent, which will make the location an evergreen paradise of lovely homes, surrounded by fruit, flowers and vegetable gardens. Judge J. M. Snow, who might truthfully be said to be the father of this promising city, is in charge of the work and having had over a score of years experience as a civil engineer and being one of the shrewdest, most practical men in the state, it is safe to say that he knows just what he is about, and as the money is on hand to complete the immense improvement, it will be done within the time stated, and the work will be permanent. Elsewhere in this issue will be found outlined other improvements under
way or to begin very soon. It is written that Chelan Falls is the coming
central city and one of the most important municipalities of the state as
surely as the sun continues to shine, and happy is the man who is able to
be in it. The Chelan Leader
PRESIDENT D. W. LITTLE DIESAll was looking bright for success with the Chelan Falls Water Power Company when the death of President David W. Little, who was financing much of the project, happened in May. Mr. Little was just completing the construction of a beautiful lakeside home at Granite Falls. His family had just arrived. His death came as a surprise. From the May 26, 1892 Chelan Leader:
SUDDENLY SUMMONED HENCE
Irreparable Loss to this Community DAVID W. LITTLE IS DEAD A Loving Husband and Father, a Prominent and Public Spirited Citizen, a Highly Honored and Beloved Member of the Community, dies without warning. Early Tuesday morning the mournful intelligence reached this office that David W. Little was dead, having departed his life on Monday evening at 8:30 o'clock at Lake Park, and the whole community was shocked and grieved inexpressibly over the extent and suddenness of the calamity. Mr. Little visited the Falls last Thursday and attended a meeting of the water power company, of which he was president, and at that time he seemed to be in the best of health and spirits and was rejoicing in the carrying forward of cherished plans looking to the rapid development of this whole section. On Friday evening he was taken sick and Dr. Hayley was called to attend him but growing rapidly worse, Dr. Griggs, of this city and Dr. McClaure, who is temporarily stopping at Chelan, were sent for, the three experienced physicians, on or another, remaining constantly with the patient and doing all that science could do to save him up to the hour of his death. Mr. Little is said never to have experienced a severe illness before during his lifetime, being at all times strong and hearty, and it very often occurs in that cases that almost the first attack of sickness proves fatal. The immediate cause of his death was heart failure, no doubt brought on by a wetting he received recently, which was followed by chills and bowel derangements.
Mr. Little visited this vicinity last fall, while on a tour in search of his ideal of a home for himself and family, and found here just what he wanted. He returned again in midwinter, secured a valuable and romantic place a dozen miles up the south shore of Lake Chelan, and making all the arrangements for the building of an elegant residence, he hastened back to Pre-Emption, Ills., to settle up some business matters, returning here with his family during April. He had also invested largely in real estate in this city and at Lake Park and was at the time of his death, president of the Chelan Falls Water Power Company and a member of the real estate firm of "Little and Hammond" at Lake Park. Mr. Little was a man of commanding and magnetic presence, of undisputed honor and integrity, a man whose word was as good as his bond, and so kindly and genial to everyone was he that he had no enemies among upright men, and everyone who had the pleasure of his acquaintance mourns as for brother his untimely decease. The deceased was born at Pre-Emption, Ills. 41 years ago, growing up to a sturdy and industrious manhood as the architect of his own fortunes. He was peculiarly a self made man, and having accumulated a snug fortune, he was just getting ready for its enjoyment when so suddenly stricken down. As evidence of his love for the wonderfully beautifully spot he fondly expected to call home, on Sunday evening last, realizing that the end was drawing near, he requested that he might be buried on a slightly mound back of his new residence at Granite Falls, over looking the lake for miles, and his wishes will be carried out. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife and seven children, also a sister Mrs. Ed Hammond, of Lake Park, all of whom have the entire sympathy of a sorrowing public. Upon the time of going to press (Wednesday A.M.) the arrangements for the funeral were as follows: Funeral services, to be conducted by Rev. Samuel Greene, at 12 o'clock Wednesday, at the residence of Ed Hammond. After the services, the Lake Chelan R.R. and Nav. Co. having kindly placed their steamers at the service of the bereaved family, the body will be placed on the steamer Omaha, which will also carry the members of the family and the pall bearers, while the Belle and Mr. Little's steam yacht will carry all who wish to attend the burial, and will escort the Omaha to Granite Falls, and all that is mortal of David W. Little will find a resting place in the spot he loved so well, where the rippling waters and the sighing pines will chant a perpetual requiem o'er his grave. The Chelan Leader
WITH PEN IN HANDFollowing the services and burial of Mr. Little, J. Howard Watson put his writing talents on paper, which appeared June 2, 1892 in the Chelan Leader.
WITH PEN IN HAND
J. Howard Watson bids farewell to his friend, neighbor and associate. Strange Funeral Cortège Borne to His Burial By Lake Steamers. DAVID W. LITTLE AT REST. A love of the beautiful in Nature, His Last Request, That He Be Interred Within Sound of the Gurgling Waterfall, Over Looking Lake Chelan, Guarded by Towering Mountains, Was Complied With. The remains of President D. W. Little of the Chelan Falls Water Power Company, were laid away Wednesday last at his lake residence, Granite Falls. A lover of nature when living, he sleeps within the sound of the gurgling music of one of the prettiest waterfalls along the lower end of the lake, his grave occupying a spot on an elevation 200 feet above the lake, under the shadow of snow capped mountains and looking out upon a scene of natural beauty, seldom met with. The funeral services were held at the late temporary residence of the deceased at Lake Park and were attended by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances. Rev. Samuel Green, of Seattle, presided and sweet music for the occasion was furnished by a choir selected by Miss Porter, of Chelan. The casket was fairly covered with floral emblems arranged by loving hands from wild flowers gathered from the hillside at Mr. Little's new residence on the lake. A floral boat, made of cut flowers represented the love of the deceased for beautiful Lake Chelan while there were other pieces representing a broken pillar, a floral pillow and numerous wreaths and bouquets. The deceased was a great lover of wild flowers. He never visited his new residence without returning with a new floral specimen, delighted as a child with the beauty the fragrance or the oddity of the new blossom. Always devoted of flowers, the many varieties growing in such profusion on all sides kept him in a state eager expectation and happy contentment. Here, the floral offerings were the choicest emblems in nature's greenhouse. To those who knew the deceased best, it was a fitting tribute, a poetical testimony to a poetical nature. The Pall bearers were Judge J. M. Show, A. F. Nichols, L. MacLean, Capt. Chas. Johnson, S. Edlund, Joseph Darnell, Postmaster Graham and N. A Meservy. Rev. Greene spoke feelingly of the deceased, of his enterprise, his push, and his great love for the beautiful in nature that caused him to leave home, friends and business in Illinois to enjoy the wild beauties of the lake country. He pictured the disappointments of life and lingered touchingly on the great loss to the widow or orphans by the death of Mr. Little.
After the services, the remains taken on board the steamer Belle and piloted by Mr. Little's favorite steam yacht, the Lady of the Lake, to Granite Falls, Mr. Little having made a special request that he be buried with the sound of the falling waters. Both vessels were draped in black and the flag was at half mast. It was a strangely odd funeral cortege, one that impressed those who saw it, and yet how fitting it was!
The site selected for the grave was on the top of a beautiful mound, 200 feet above the lake, directly in front of the falls and overlooking the uncompleted residence and the lake. This was Mr. Little's favorite spot. Here he was wont to climb and linger as his soul drank in the poetry of his surroundings. To him the lake with its clear green tinted water reflected every shadow of the heavens, every cloud speck, every tree, bush or mountain side, was an ever changing panorama an artistic picture at which he never grew tired of gazing. Today a haze of blue perhaps all below are shaded by clouds, or the storm beating in its fury on the distant mountain tops. Here he enjoy the picture as only an artistic nature could enjoy it and here he had made partial arrangements to erect a summer house. But alas. It was destined to be otherwise. Now he sleeps beneath the grassy bluff where he was wont to sit, and the mound of his newly made grave alone marks the spot which he loved so well on account of the beauty of its location. Truly it can be said of Mr. Little that he saw nature as only poets see it and that he loved the lake and his home by the falls for their beauties only. But never has poet slept in a home more beautifully located that that now occupied by David W. Little.
J. Howard Watson
June 2, 1892 The Chelan Leader The death of Mr. Little combined with general hard times of that period caused the project to be abandoned. Another group pursued the project the following year. D. W. Little had become a good friend of J. Howard and was sure to be a good neighbor and business associate had he not died. Mr. Little's death left his wife to raise the large family and continue on without him. Mrs. Little had never been keen on the idea of moving West but she was devoted to her husband and would stay by his side. After his death, she would remain in the Lake Chelan Valley.
"Tho I could not ask for kinder friends, you know there is no place like
home to be in trouble. Why, oh why must this be in a strange land? What
have I done that I must suffer this? And how am I to live here, shut off
from any society or education for the children? But I can not leave the
place he loved so well and leave him here, so I can see no other way but
to stay."
Clara Little
From a letter written to her sister in Illinois. She would look after the finances David left behind. She would raise their children at the Granite Falls home, but would move them into town every winter so that they could attend school. In doing so, she would remove all the furniture from the home and move it down lake. In the spring, everything would be brought back up lake to the Granite Falls home. Mrs. Little would see to it that her children grew to be successful in whatever it was they chose to do; and they were. And she would live to be almost 102 years of age before leaving this earth to be reunited with David.
"With tremendous courage she settled into her pioneer life at Granite
Falls, moving the family and furnishings to a Lakeside home….
The move down lake to Lakeside was undertaken each fall in order
to enroll the children in school…. She was almost 102 years of age
when she passed away."
Roberta Little Simonds
The Chelan Centennial Pioneer Profiles 1902 - 2002 NEXT: The HomesteadCopyright © 2009 by Watsons Resort Inc | ||||||||