The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-11
GOVERNMENT BOARD OF ENGINEERS

spOndent says:
| The board Of army engineers that
| recently visited the obstructiOns in
the Columbia River, between The
Dalles and Cello. has decided to aban-
don the Harris plan for opening the
| river at that point, and in lieu thereof
will prepare plans and estimates for a
continuous ship canal from the foot
! Of the Dalles rapids to the head Of
! Cello Falls. The Harris plan, as has
| been heretofore explained, cOntem-
plated the construction Of a submerged
| dam in the Columbia, with a view to
draining out Five Mile rapids. The
river was then TO be opened around
! other Instructions BY means of two
or three short canals.
The Weak Point in Harris Plan.
! The engineers. On their recent trip
| to Oregon. visited the scene OF the
! proposed Improvement and after
| studying the natural conditions and
surroundings, concluded. by unani-
nous vote that the dam proposition
was altogether impracticdble. I'M
the first place, while Captain Harris
! proposed constructing this dam at a IT,!
| point where the river is but 200 feet
| wide, he supposed its depth vas only
| 40 or 80 feet. and so based the cal |
| cuIation. Major Langftt determined. |
after careful sOundings that the depth |
was over $50 feet. and the velocity |
| of the current 50 great that ii would |
! be practically impossible to place in |
| position the material for the dam.
| The members of the board concluded |
| that a stream Of sufficient volume |
and great enough current TO cut
a gorge 200 feet wide. and OF near
| Iy the same depth through solid rock |
could not be damned artificially for |
anything short of an unwarranted |
sum, and they entertain grave doubts
whether a dam could ever be sue
cessfully built there at any cost.
When they found that the keystone
of Harris plan could not be considered |
and determined that even a mOdifca-
ton of the Harris plan. on d practical
| basis, could not be carried OHt for the |
amount that has been authorized for
! this improvement the board determin-
ed to prepare rough plans and esti
mates for the construction of contin
| uous canal, extending around all the
| distractions between The Dalles and
| Cello.
| Survey to Be Made for Canal
In accordance with this determine
ton, the board requested authority
for the making of necessary surveys
for such a canal. and authority has
| been granted. the work so be carried
out under direction OF Major Lang
, fit. At this time the board will Ven
! ture no rough estimate of the cost of
a continuous canal. although an est
mate made by an old board placed
| the figure at 1000 600 whereas, the
| Harris project was estimated to cost
| approximately $4,000 900. 1t is by no
means assured that the new esti |
mates will be as high as the former !
| figure. as the board. before reporting,
will have a comprehensive survey
upon which to base its estimates, ana
a fairly accurate estimate OF the cost
of the improvement is expected.
! No Permanent Work This Year.
The board has not reported to the
| chief of engineers, and probably Will
not do so until it has completed the
! estimate for a continuous canal. This
| DELAY means that no work will be done
| looking to the opening Of the river
| during the present season. Should the
war department approve the boards
| since there has always been doubt as
and this will unQuestionably be done
report in favor Of continuous canal,
to the thorough practicability of the
| Harris plan. no work can be undertaken |
until congress has authorized the new
| project. The last river and harbOr !
! bill authorized the work provided |
it could be done within the estimate |
on the Harris project but not other
| wise
! Outlook for Appro prations.
There has been a growing sentiment |
| in congress in the last two years in |
favor Of The Dalles improvement, and
while the state will be handicapped |
! in getting necessary appropriations,
! having lost its member on the house
| committee. the new member to be |
| appointed will be either Jones, of |
| Washington, or one of the new Oregon
representatives: or should Senator |
| Mitchell procure a place on the SEN
| ate committee, the outlook for the |