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 ~ ~ Sam's vision of Enderby
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One man with a vision of Enderby's future was a local businessman, Sam Polson. On November 18, 1909, in a letter to the Enderby Press and Walker's Weekly, he presented his extensive and imaginative scheme.

His scheme involved fluming the Spallumcheen (Shuswap) River above the Skookumchuck Rapids near Mabel Lake, then transporting the water along the north side of the valley. This water would be used to irrigate the land between the lake and Enderby. More water would be syphoned off to Larkin or the south end of Armstrong, or even as far south as the north arm of Okanagan Lake, covering the lands on the west side of the railway. The balance of the water would run parallel to the river as far north as Mara for irrigational and domestic uses.

Another part of his plan was to divert water over a one-hundred foot drop one mile east of Enderby. The power that could be harnessed from this man-made waterfall would be used to supply electricity throughout the valley, making it, in his words, "second in activity and beauty to none on this continent, or for that matter on any other continent."

In order to gain government support for the projects, he proposed that Enderby and a large territory around Enderby -- east to Mabel Lake, north to Shuswap Lake, northwest to (and including) Salmon Arm and District, and west to Grande Prairie (now Westwold) -- incorporate with Armstrong. This large district would have a much better chance of getting government support for the project, and would have great borrowing power and influence on development of the territory. A record on the level of the river would also be useful in getting government aid.

The cost of this project would have been phenomenally expensive, which is probably why the plan was never put into action. Mr. Polson, however, thought that the expense would be a "mere drop in the bucket" compared to the derived benefits, and the project would attract more people and money than necessary for completion. He continued to say that the project would not be placing future residents of the area under a heavy debt load, but rather it would "provide them with power to do things, and thus make the whole valley prosperous and flowering."

Kevin Steinwand
ALF School 1989