HOOD
X>'
n i \ i - n
¿ N i
V
C .
r v
c
* !\’T V
u u l I
LOCKS CHRONICLE
and The Bonneville Dam Chronicle
\..l \ I. \.
l A SU UH: l IH KS
Court Action Started
T o Declare PUD Void
Petition tor
Rate Reduction
♦
BON NEI Il I I
Transmission
Line Work
Progressing
Seeking a 25 reduct ion in light
bills, Stevenson citizens have peti
A complaint was filed this past tioned the city council to take j
New Wage Scale
week in the circuit court against action for the following reasons:
Close on the heels of success
‘•\Ve. the undersigned energy
the Hood River Public Utility Dis-
For WPA Workers
ful campaigns for public utility
users,
do
hereby
petition
your
trct and the different directors of
♦
honorable body to a*k the state districts in Hood River and Wasco
The new WPA resident engineer, the District.
public
service commission, to make founties, Bonneville engineers an
The suit was filed by five qual
Nelson E. Likins, has this past
a general redict ion of not less nounced this week fia t plans for
week set up oifices in the balcony ified voters of the district, namely
than 25'. in electric rates. We the Hood Ki\er power substation
of the courthouse. He also an C. N. Ravlin. H. C. Pitblado, S. L.
ask this for the reason, power can are in their final form and that
nounced that a new monthly wage Banks, Frank Fenwick and Martin
now be bought at Bonneville at charing operation* for the 110 , 000 -
scale goes into effect this coming Dragseth. E. B. London, not pro-
t transmission line to The Dalles
such a rate that the present com
Friday, September 1, for WPA ported to be a qualified voter of
aiv 37 per cent complete.
the area, was also listed among pany or its successors can well
work in the county.
Final work on the hundreds of
offord to make such a new rate
The new scale compared with those filing the complaint. Of the
detail
maps and drawings neces
and
as
a
city
council
we
ask
that
six, Ravlin, London, Banks, Drag
the old is as follows:
you intervene to have this fact sary for line construction is being
seth
and
Fenwick
are
represented
Unskilled inside labor, New,
•peodod so that the two new Ore
accomplished."
$44.20; Old, $40.30. Unskilled out as owning property in the District.
gon P U D.s will have Bonneville
Those bring suit asked for judg
The city council voted to take
side labor — New, $40.40; Old,
power by next summer.
ment
and
decree
of
the
court
as
the matter up in September, while
$40.30. Intermediate— New, |W. 8 I
Power transformers will be de
in the meantime a special com
Old, $45.50. Skilled—New, $76.70; follows:
livered
to the sutistation site at
(1) That the Hood River Pub mittee will make a survey of the
Old, $55.00.
Techincal, N e w ,
lic Utility District be declared situation and report at that time. Hood River about November 1 .
$78.00; Old, $01.10.
Already delivered are quantities of
illegal and void.
Names on the petition were se cable, disconnecting switches, oil
(2)
That
the
election
on
July
GRAYS HARBOR P.U.l).
cured in less than two hours, with
circuit breakers, insulators, con
19 be declared illegal and void.
VICTIM OF INJUNCTION
few refusing to sign. Officials of duit and steel for the substation
(3) That the procamation of the West Coast Power Co. express
♦
Hydroelectric Commission be de ed surprise at such a movement at Structure. A temporary construc
Ruling that a public vote is re
tion office also has been establish
clared illegal in creating a Public this time.
quired when purchase by a P.U.D.
ed.
Utility District for Hood River
of a private power firm is contem
The substation's control bouse
County.
plated, Judge Charles W. Hall
wil' he similar to that now neatly
(4) That the certification of City Light
issued a permanent injunction
„completed at Eugene and will re
Johnson and Shurtliff as directors
against the purchase of the Grays
be declared illegal and decree no ' Holds Open House quire about 75 days to build, say
Harbor Railway and Light company
Bonneville engineers. The entire
board of directors elected and en- |
by the harbor P.U.D. The power
substation job will fill a six-month
join these directors from under- j
commissioners did not follow the
Residents of the Cascade Locks construction
period.
Tentative
taking any action as directors.
law, said the Judge Hall, when
Bonneville area turned out in great date for completion has been set
(5) That the provisions of the
they failed to pass a plan and
Public Utility law as construed to | style for the City Light Open Ht some time in April.
system resolution, outlining the
Crews totaling 160 men have
vest in the Hydroelectric Commis House at the new City Light offices
purchase, before signing the pur
in the former Merrill Tavern prop been employed by the works pro
sion with the power to create a
chase contract.
district bounds in any manner dif erty in Cascade Locks last Satur gress administration in clearing
The injunction followed trial
day afternoon and evening.
the right-of-way between Bonne-
ferent from the prwported district
this summer of a suit by an Aber
The office was resplendent in Mile and Hood River. Work is now
as voted on by the people therein,
deen taxpayer agair^t the P.U.D.
be decreed unlawful, unconstitu flowers given by well wishing par proceeding over an 1 1 -mile front.
to stop purchase of the local light
ties and electrical appliances. Most of the workers are stationed
tional and void.
firm for $2,842,000 and issuance of
The complaint is rather a lengthy Councilmen, manager Chess Brazil, at the WPA camp at Bonneville
$3,350,000 in revenue bonds to
affair bringing up many points and employees were introduced and and present plans do not include
finance it. The city of Aberdeen
As the line
which the plaintiffs feel are gave short speeches at the cere- moving the camp.
was intervenor in the suit.
monis in the evening. In the after- j clearing operations extend east
grounds for their action.
ward, additional workers may he
Judge Hall denied the city’s claim
noon many dropped into the .« office ¡ vu
ftvk w i up in U m U ood Kiv»» ami
et the managem ent am f
ft trad p ro m o te d the power field
to meet
Wasco county areas.
spect
the
new
location.
here through its Wynooche river
Two crews, one working out of
development, and declared the city
neither owns nor operates a utility
(By Gerry Woodward)
Miss Frances Kortke and George Bonneville and one out of Hood
River, are at work on final details
system. On all other points, the
Patterson of The Dalles were
of
the line survey. Specifications
ruling was in favor of the com
Miss Boisselier, County Librar guests of Mrs. Fred Snider last
E for line construction will await
missioners.
ian, has sent the Locks library a week.
the completion of these surveys.
small collection of books which
The federal government has tak
are for seven days only. We will
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Stowell and en title to 29.85 miles of the total
have these till the first of Novem children of Odell visited Mr. and
right-of-way and action is pending
ber. Those wishing to read any Mrs. Preston Bassart Sunday.
on the remaining portion.
of these books may do so: "Black
Automatic,” William B. Mowery;
"She Knew Three Brothers,” Mar
garet Widdemer; “ Trail Boss,”
Walter Gann; “ Envoy Extraordin
ary,” E. P. Openheim; "Skin
A Pacific Northwest Champion Deep,” C. B. Kelland; "Enchanted
ship Apple Packing Contest will Oasis,” Faith Baldwin; “ Land For
feature the Hood River Valley My Son,” Cormack and Alexander;
Harvest Days to be held in Hood “ Hasty Wedding," Mignon Eber-
River this year on September 28, hart; "Marriage Is Possible,” Mar
garet Widdemer; “ W’ ith Spurs,”
29, 30 and October 1.
Already invitations are on their E. B. Mann; “ Phantom on Skis,”
way to other apple centers of the Helen Girvan; "Powder Smoke,”
northwest inviting representation Jackson Gregory.
Chuck Bennett left Friday for j
in the local affair. The local con
the
San Francisco Exposition for
tests preliminary to the Harvest
a
few
days’ stay there.
Days will be announced within the
Mrs. Sue Woodward spent Mon
next few days.
day afternoon in Stevenson on j
The carnival will be here again business and visited over night
with the booths of the various clubs with Mr. and Mrs. Orin McKinnon.
as usual. This year it will be
Miss Eilene Duicklee and Doyle
located on the vacant lot across Harvey visited Miss Duncklee’s
the street from the Hood River relatives at Corbitt Friday and
Hotel and in back of the Mt. Hood spent the evening at the Multnomah
Hotel.
County Fair.
A full program is being planned
Art Rrathord visited his family
with the grand finale of the affair at Yakima over the week-end.
to be held at Koberg Beach Sunday
Mr. and Mrs. Artie Sundsten
afternoon and evening. Here the |and Harry Cramblett enjoyed the
fireworks that were not used on the softball game at Salem Friday
Mt. Hood Climb this year will he night which the Engineers won.
disylayed from a suitable point in
Miss Eleanor Duncklee of Cor
the river The finals of the apple bett visited her sister. Miss Eilene
packing contest will be held a«d Duncklee, last. Thursday.
later a huge dance will be given
Mr and Mrs. Nels He*gard and
Speed boat race* will also be held son. Ralph, and Junior Sipes spent
during the day out from the Sunday in Portland and the chil
Beach.
dren enjoyed a visit to the too.
Cascade Locks
Big Program
Planned for
Festival
The Chronicle
Takes This
O pp or t un it y
to Wish its Readers
a Very Pleasant
and Enjoyable
Vacation Over the
More Fish in River Since Nettcrs Quit
With the closing of the commer- reased greatly.
iml salmon fi«hir.g on August 26
The count of the fish coming up
the number ■ Í chinook salmon and
• teelhead* passing through the th* "v er during the past week is
Bonneville fish ladders has in-
Date
Aug
Aug
Aug
Aug
Aug
Aug
Aug
Aug.
Aug
Chinook
21.. . ........427
22 .. . . . . 475
, 684
2 3 ...
___ 667
24
659
25 .
811
26 ..
..1784
27
2 * ... . . . 2034
2298
29
Blucbark
Sledhcsd
3
864
9
1049
1
1043
6
692
633
816
1123
655
604
Total for the week 1",?97
Stiver
6
11
9
12
31
75
312
Labor Day
Week-End
ERIDVY,
Auxiliary Sponsors
Junior Activities
♦
Activities of Junior members are»
receiving increased attention in the
American
Legion
Auxiliary
throughout the country this sum
mer. according to llarricttc John
son, Junior activities chairman of
the Bonneville Unit of the Auxil
iary
Approximate!) 50,tHH> girls
under the age of eighteen, the
daughters of American Legion
members, are now enrolled in the
Auxiliar) and are taking an active
part in its work.
With school vacation giving
these g ir ls more time for Auxiliary
activities, the Juniors of a majority
of Units have a busy summer pro
gram.
Picnics, camping trips,
visits to historical spots and edu
cational tours to state capitals are
among the act i vites of Junior
groups.
Juniors are aiding the
Auxiliary in its work for the dis
abled World War veterans in gov
ernment hospitals, helping provide
comforts and entertainment to
brighten the hospital hours.
The Auxiliary.* safety program
is being emphasized in Junior
groups this summer to reduce the
vacation accident toll. Work for
underprivileged children is l»eing
carried out by the Juniors of many
Units, contributions and help being
given to health camps, ice funds,
playgi ounds and similar projects
to make summer happier and safer
for children of needy families.
Americanism continue* to he the
subject of major interest to the
girls of the Auxiliary, llurriette
Johnson said.
In their summer
activities they are putting into
practice the principles of good cit
izenship which they have learned
in Americanism studies at winter
meetings.
A public hearing on proposed
formation of a people’s utility dis
trict in Portland ha* been set by
the state hydroelectric commission
for 3 p. m., Friday, September 29,
in Benson Tech auditorium.
SEPTEMBER
I.
1939
Suit May
Cause New
Tax Levy
•
A hint that "the financial bur
den of defending the suit against
the Skamania County Public Util
ity District may necessitate the
levy of a general tax this fall,"
was contained in a statement issue*!
by District Attorney Clyde M
t.inville, Jr., "If the deal had gone
through as scheduled it would have
been concluded with a minimum of
expense. It had not been the in
tention of the board to levy taxes
this fall, but the financial burden
of defending the case will. In all
probability, make necessary the
levy of a general tax. This will be
considered at the regular tin»*' this
fall.
“ The friends of public power
naturally question the good faith
of the aeries of law suits being
filed all over the state. In our
case, where the mutter was given
full publicity, the protesting par
ties wailed for almost two months
and without ever communicating
with or nppcarmg before the hoard,
and then commenced the action
just 49 hour* liefore the dMte set
for the closing. We feel that it
is nothing but an organized cam
paign of hindrance and delay,
seeking to deatroy the public
p* war movement.**
Stimulus to rural purchoses of
electrical appliances is expected
this fall ns a result of REA plan*
to expand its financing program
which has been tried experiment
ally in three states. The program,
first tried in North Carolina, Vir
ginia, and Delaware, covered ap
pliances used in farming, hut it is
now planned to include household
appliances Sales are to l»e made
through iugular distributing chan
neis and firm co-ops where no other
channel is available.
Oregon Gets 32 Million
«
From Congress Past Vear
Costing up the record of Oregon
appropriations during the congres
sional session soon to close, it is
found that the grand total is
$32,483,500. Under general head
ings it is divided this way:
Rivers and harlior*, $ 2 , 202 , 000 ;
Bonneville, $ 20 , 400 , 000 , Willamette
Basin flood control, $5,795,250;
other flood control, $1,910,260
Tongue I’ oint naval aviation base,
$ 1, 500 , 000 ; reclamation projects,
$070,000.
Excluded from this are fund*
provided for usual government ac
tivities, authorisations for the fu
ture und maintenance appropria
tions, except that allusion will be
found to the sizeable sum to main
tain river and harlmr work. Sub
stantial sums will be extended also
on t h e construction of public
buildings, but the amount to be
spent this year is not available.
Tongue Point may be placed first
in achievements of the Oregon
delegation as uri actual start and
full authorization for something
that Oregon has sought I >ngcr than
2*1 years. It is the one distinctly
new project. Its full growth in the
development of Pacific ( oast de
fense likely will la- more apparent
as year* go by.
New river and harbor work is
listed for $ 2 , 202 , 000 , more than
half going to the 27-foot Uolumbia
river 1 hamiel between Vancouver
and Bonneville For that work, 21.-
124,000 hot been allocated.
The
other items are:
Kxten-ion of the north Jetty at
A a* 1 ulna hay, $ !*»7,(8M); I m|<qua
river, dredging from mouth to
Itccdsport, $273,OOO; C o l u m b i a
river at Bonneville, completion of
navigation features, $363,000; re
building of Chinook breakwater,
$ l 6 , 0 «o . turning basin at St.
M> .-ns. $20,000.
These figure* exclude all main-
tenare *• work, which amounts to
tlJVso.OOO in the Portland district
alone, ai d to $428,(88) at Coos bay.
They are exclusive also of author
ization* in the nrw rivers and har
bors bill. The principal item for
Oregon thus deferred is the $23,-
7(81,000 proposed fur Umatilla dam.
Under the heading of flood con
trol, th(- Willamette Basin project
has an allocation of $6,795,250 for
the Cottage Grove, Dorena and
Fern Ridge reservoirs, revetment
and channel work on the Willam
ette, Tualatin and Santiam, and for
highway rclocutinn at the Detroit
reservoir.
It is stated at the office o f the
chief of engineers that the pub
lished report of an allocation of
$ 100,000 for the current year to
ward reconstruction of the Oregon
City lock*, beginning a $2,500,000
job, is a mistake. Money for that
will not be available before the
next fiscal year, beginning July 1,
: MO
Amounts allocated hy army en
gineers for Oregon flo«al control
projects, other than the work in
cluded within the Willamette Ba
sin project, sum up to $1,916,250
an*l are not all accounted for, as
amounts to lie expended in s<une
instances are yet to he announced.
Subject to the qualification stated,
the allocations to project- are:
M lit(toinah drainage district No.
I. $.198,000; Mauve* stand, I*. .5,-
<881; Deer Island area in Columbia
county, $16.3,(88); Scapp. >oac dis
trict, $207,000; Tualatin river.
$200,260; Willamette river, $150,-
* 88 ); Walluski river in Clatsop
county, $69,000; Yamhill river
d i k e s , $27,(88), Santiam river,
$37,000.
Appropriation* for Bonneville
power aggregate $ 2 *> 4 * 8 ) iHg), di-
vided a* follows, $ 13 ,( 881 , 18)0 for
transmission lines, IIOO.OOO for
sdministrativr expense and $7,000,-
o< 8 ) for two new power units.
Money for Bonneville is partly
spent in the state of Washington.
The amounts *|>ent in each state
are not easily segregated.
Construction wurk on reclama
tion projects covered by the appro
priations for the current year calls
for $270,000 on the Owyhee project
and $400,(88) on !>e*ch'it*s. the
latter project also receiving the
benefit of labor performed by the
CCC The nearby R»so division of
the Yakima p r o j e c t receives
$900,000.