The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-06-04
GREAT POSSIBILITIES
WAIT DEVELOPMENT
Oregon State Engineer Says People
are Overlooking Great Oppor-
tunity Along Snake River


State Engineer John H. Lewis,
of Oregon, in an interview pub
lished in the Oregon Journal.
says that the people are overlook
ing a great opportunity in failing
to develop transportation, power
and mineral possibilities on the
Snake river. Mr.. Lewis had
just returned from an inspection
Of the upper Snake to Granite
Creek Rapids, an elevation of 800
feet above Lewiston, Idaho.
Had the trip been completed
to the Huntington bridge, the un-
usual feat of propelling a boat
1900 feet vertically in a distance
of 200 miles would have been ac-
complished," said Mr.. Lewis.
''It is this enormous fall in the
river through a narrow rock wall
canyon bordered with extensive
forests, mineral and other re-
sources which gives hope that in
the near future cheap slack water
barge transportation can be had
from the upper Snake river val
lev to tide water at Portland.
Misesal Lands Melted
Mountains of limestone.
marble, copper, alum and granite
for building purposes were point
ed out. as well as promising gold
prospects. An enormous deposit
of SO per cent iron ore is said to
be located near the stream on the
Idaho side. Mike Thomson at
Pittsburg Landing mines his own
coal for forging purposes. but
without transportation there is
no incentive for development.
Iron ore from China can be
had in Portland cheaper than
from, this region, and limestone
from Puget Sound for nitrate
fertilizer works can be had cheap
er than from the upper Snake
river region. Eighty tons OF
high grade copper ore from the
Great Eastern mine was taken out
by boat this spring after lying on
the banks for Is years awaiting
transportation.
1.-The combination of water
power, transportation and these
varied resources should make the
Snake river project one of the
most feasible developments in
units. Below the mouth of the
Grand Ronde river the stream al
low water has a flow one-half as
great as that of the Mississippi
river at Keokuk, and is ideal fol-
the development of power with
relatively low dams. Below the
junction with the Clearwater
/ river the flow is still greater
Bed rock is found at most Of the
rapids. President Roosevelt
some years ago vetoed a proposed
power development at the first o.
the rapids five miles above tn
mouth.
Snake river above the moutl
of the Grande Ronde river juno
ton varies from 200 to 400 fee
in width. and flows between soil,
rock cliffs almost vertical in plac
es. A dam 200 feet in heigh
would develop approximate
200, 900 horse power and max
the turbulent waters of the Snak
river navigable with low powe
boats for many miles up stream
. The Oregon bank of the Snak
i river is largely in the Nation;
Il forest, the idaho bank is largel
II withdrawn by the interior depart
i ment for power purposes, tn
Il war department is expendin
Il small sums Of money blowing OF
Il boulders in an attempt to max
II these waters a little more nav
II gable, the states of Oregon an
II Idaho claim jurisdiction over tt
II water power, while congre'
II claims entire control of the strea
under the interstate commert
clause of the constitution. I'll