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About The Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 19??-1984 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1936)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. 1936 THE HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON, OREGON. PAGE TWELVE ing plants were made and Henry Ford sent engineers to inspect the Board of Engineers at Washington to Consider Merits of Plan to Extend Navigation of Columbia; Annual possibilities tor automobile works, Savings of Millions Seen for Producers in Inland Empire Area ia the west. The bill had been in (Continued from Page 2) During the 12 year period of ac- troduced in the congress of 1926 by tivity of the Umatilla Rapids asso a -nator McNary and Congressman ciation. among the officers and ac Sinnott, and at a conference in May, tive leaders were the following: J. 1927. it was agreed by the directors N. Teal, Marshall N. Dana of Port of the Umatilla Rapids association, land, Governor Julius L. Meier, G. and Dr. Elwood Mead, director of A. Hartman and Senator Roy Rit- the U. S. Reclamation Bureau, and NISTR5A1 ELEVATION P--940 ner of Pendleton as presidents; Sen Senators McNary and Steiwer, and representatives Sinnott and Crum- ators McNary, Stanfield and Steiwer WALLULA GATEWAY CLUB of Oregon, Senators C. C. Dill and racker to reintroduce the measure Homer Bone of Washington, and in 1927, and this measure got past MAP OF UMATILLA RAPIDS PROJECT Senator Borah of Idaho; Congress the Reclamation in joint session of AND TRIBUTARY AREA men Nick Sinnott, Robert Butler both houses. About this time a complete sur and Walter M. Pierce of Oregon; Knute Hill and Sam Hill of Wash vey was ordered of the entire Colum- ington; and Burton L. French of bia river, by a resolution in congress ocATLC Idaho; Dr. Elwood Mead, director of at a cost of $750.000. which was department entrusted to the War D / A* the U. S. Reclamation Bureau, and A many other leading citizens through- and the Army engineers. Further out the entire northwest, and all work on the Umatilla Rapids bill the leading newspapers, to the cause was therefor, or for other reasons, of which the Pendleton East Orego postponed until the army engineers nian was especially devoted. The could complete the survey. And so only opposition to the cause was the whole matter rested until March, through the Columbia Valley asso 1932, when the report was presen- ciation, which was a branch of the ted to Congress. This report showed as the most Portland Chamber of Commerce and feasible plan a series of ten dams in its executive secretary, R. H. Kipp. This organization frequently mud the Columbia; Grand Coulee, Foster died the waters and delayed action Creek, Chelan, Rocky Beach, Rock in its attempts to defeat navigation Islán d Rapids, Priest Rapids, and and its rate making effects, and the Umatilla Rapids; John Day Rapids, development of power in the inter The Dalles and Warrendale. now Bonneville. ior Following this report came a new The association published a brief of several hundred pages containing national election and Franklin D. He data in favor of the dam, and se Roosevelt became president. COLUI cured an appropriation of $10.000 showed great Interest in the de from the state of Oregon when Wal velopment of the Columbia. U. 8. K ter M. Pierce was governor, and Senator C. C. Dill, who had been a raw locks $50,000 from the Federal govern great factor in the nomination and ment for a survey of the rapids site. election of Roosevelt, was awarded A brief preliminary survey was made with the authorization of Grand through $1400 raised by popular Coulee dam in Washington, and at subscription and the engineering the same time Portland mustered all firm of Lewis and Clark ot Portland its economic and political strength did this work. E. R. Crocker, a bril to capture the Bonneville dam. This liant young engineer of the Recla was granted largely through the ef mation Service was then appointed forts and influence of Senator Mc to make the Government survey Nary. when “Charley got his dam.” The result was that the Umatilla which resulted in a very elaborate N Rapids was left out in the cold. The 10o‘ ROLLER GATE collection of facts. His estimates AFis LOCKS . and figures have been largely con- Umatilla Rapids association had FiSH LADDER firmed by subsequent surveys by ceased to function during the three army engineers. The Crocker re- or four years of delay and discour- port is available in the U. 8. Recla- agements, and now failed to rise mat ion Bureau offices and is cur- again. JEFFERSON BAKER Walter M. Pierce had been elected rent among a number of citizens and congressman, and the Hermiston associations. On the basis of the Crocker re Commercial club called a banquet in port the Umatilla Rapids association his honor in January, 1933, just be Two views of the Umatilla Rapids dam as proposed and drawn by U. S. Army succeeded in having a bill intro fore he left for Washington, and the engineers. The circle on the map shows the area within 75 mile radius of the dam whole matter was presented to him. duced in Congress by the late Nicho site. This includes most of the Yakima and Columbia Basin projects, the Kennewick, las Sinnott, and the association con This was well before the authoriza Pasco, Walla Walla valley and all nearby irrigation projects, and many wheat dis tion of Grand Coulee and Bonne ducted a hearing before the Com tricts and towns to which transmission of electric power would be at much less than mittee on Reclamation and won a ville, the following summer, but lo half the cost from Bonneville or Grand Coulee. cal residents had caught the drift of favorable report from that commit The dam will cost $23,000,000, including navigation locks and bridge, and when the straws in the wind. Congress tee. built will open the Columbia to barge and steamboat navigation to Priest river rapids man Pierce agreed to become active This measure was supported by and make possible the development of the Snake to Lewiston. It is also the key to the Portland Chamber of Commerce, and a long letter was addressed to all economic or rate making navigation on the Columbia above Vancouver, since 90 the president. No immediate re by the governor, and by all the sen per cent of the tonnage of the watershed of these rivers is above the Umatilla rapids. ators and representatives from Ore sults came. When the dam is built it will provide 420.000 horse power, or 2,700,999,000 an Late in June, Dill and Grand gon in Congress, was also supported nual kilowatt hours at a cost of one and two tenths mills per K.W. This power gen were on every tongue. Her- Coulee by Tacoma. Seattle, Spokane and erated at Bonneville and transmitted 165 miles to Umatilla rapids would cost four other active forces throughout the mist on Commercial club sent .a dele- times the cost of generation at Umatilla dam. This is considered the cheapest pos gat ion to Grand Coulee to see Sena- northwest, and its passage seemed sible power on the Columbia. then assured. The cost of power tor Dill. They reported back friend For irrigation, gravity and pumping with this low cost power. 250.000 acres of production had been found to be low ly assurance and help from the then new land may be reclaimed within practical costs, Navigation at Umatilla Rapids by the engineers that transmission big senator of the west, and at that would result in a total savings to the million people of the Inland Empire over lines were proposed to Portland. session of the Hermiston Commercial $6.000,000 in freight rates. Power units at the dam would make possible the use of Seattle, and other main centers, and club they threw $100 on the table electricity in every home within 75 miles, for light, power, heat, refrigeration and electricity for all local railways was and appointed E. P. Dodd to go as a air conditioning—all modern uses in town and on farm. With cheap power, suffi considered Plans for manufactur- special ambassador ■ to Walla Walla. cient lands would be brought under new irrigation and intensified agriculture of im Pendleton, Pasco, and other points, mense proportions which we may call the future UMATILLA RAPIDS EMPIRE. to arouse greater public Interest in the Umatilla dam. He organized the Tri-State Devel- tioned actively for a year and raised made by the Inland Empire Water- PIONEERS opinent League with Lee Mantz of and expended $1200. The people of ways association and addresses of Walla Walla chairman, D. F. Baker . enthusiasm, cour Walla Walla became interested in approval by Senators Steiwer and of Walla Walla treasurer. G. A. luring energy hav the Umatilla dam and more as the McNary, and Congressman Pierce, Hartman of Pendleton vice presi time passed, and the argument be After this report the Portland dent, E. P. Dodd executive secreta came more impressive. They • then Chamber of Commerce sent out ry, and Fred Kemp. Prosser, Roy proposed formation of a much larger statements taking opposition to fur Lindley, Dayton, Roy W. Ritner, association to include all river orga ther consideration of the Umatilla Pendleton, E. Notson, Heppner, nizations from Lewiston to Portland, dam, and advocating a $250,000 R. 8. Erb and Burton L. French of and all the Pacific Northwest Inland channel through the rapids tor iron- Moscow as directors, and 27 coun SPOKANE, WN. Empire. clad boats. This proposition is fos ties were included in the member In March at Walla Walla, the In tered through the organization of i ship rolls. This association func- land Empire Waterways association the Inland Navigation company, a was organized, and adopted a seven Seattle concern. All of these new | point program, including the ship proposals are said to be put forward locks at Bonneville, Umatilla dam, by unknowa capital to delay the ac- | dams on the Snake, channel between tual construction of the dam. Celilo and Umatilla, and further The report of the army engineers | work on the Columbia. The Dalles met strong opposition of the popular joined vigorously in this campaign and political interests, and the Port- 1 and secured its main object—the land and Seattle proposition have ship locks. The channel develop- been allowed to subside. The argu- i ment from Celilo to Umatilla which ment anad interest in the rapids dam had been a few years previously and its general benefits to the in authorized has come to fruition with land Empire in particular, and the the completion of the construction entire Pacific Northwest, have been now contracted and underway. so strongly woven into the | But the Umatilla Rapids still thoughts and lives of the people that stands untouched. Rumors are afloat it cannot pass as it is into the his- that the dam will soon be ordered tory of an attempt to achieve a by the president. that the army great public good, but may any engineers may start construction 1 time be revived into a real live achievement of the continued • and any time. The Inland Empire Waterways patient labors of a deserving people, Acting as a local guardian of the association has raised and expended around $25,000 during the past two cause now is the Wallula Gateway years. At its last annual meeting club, organized last winter with William ft reported a deficit and a desire to E. P. Dodd, president; raise more funds to continue its Switzler, vice president; Roy Pen work, and was instructed to devote ney, M. L. Hedrick. E. D. Martin, w Meiners, F. B. Jones. Harry Hull. \. tta entire energies and abilities to C. Houghton. C. G. Blayden. Ralph ward the Umatilla dam. and nothing Saylor and C. H. Esselstyne, all rep else Last spring the board of army resenting the local communities. engineers sitting In session In Wash This association keeps in touch with ington. D C.. reported adversely on whatever activities that may be used the immediate construction of the toward any early authorisation of dam. following a report and brief work on the dam Umatilla Rapids Years Struggle Continued 5 T s A QUALIFIED AND Carl Engdahl REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE for Re-Election to the EXPERIENCED CARL W. CHAMBERS State Legislature as Representative Republican Nominee for County Judge from Umatilla County General Election - November 3, ‘36
