The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-28
Engineers Fail to Submit
Estimate of Cost on Skagit
Power Site Department

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creek. would have a great hsisht
and would require rock foundafion'
Its cost would greatly exceed mat
OF q low dam three miles up stream,
but IL IN possible that the dissdvan.
tase OF higher cost OF the dam may |
he overcome by reduced cost OF tun
mel construction.
Power Plant Design
s-Tbe design Of the plan, now to
he constructed. and especially the
determination OF tunnel capacity |
must depend IN "a large measure
upon the feasibility OF future siof
age construction for stream fegula
uon. Storage can be provided by a
high dam In Ruby Canyon. which |
would also develop power. We have
inspected this dam site and have
found that hard and durable rock "
exposed on both sides ~ the river
TO above the proposed ftorns. level. |
The river at this poin, flows thru
a gorge about 80 feet wide. No Dor
ings have been made TO ascertain
the depth TO bedrock In this gorge.
Its narrowness renders excavation
feasible to reach bedrock foundation
even II II should be necessary 20 so
TO great depth. Apparently. Ruby
Canyon affords an excellent ute for
the construction OF a saf. masonry
dam % the height proposed. but Dor
lnga arc required 10 definitely estab-
llsh this fact.
nini,lo Canaan Site
I've have incidentally examined
an intermediate dam site at Disblo
Canyon. about half way between
Ruby and Gorge Creek sites. which |
would provide no storage. but would
permit development OF power. Con
ditions for dam construction were
found to be much the same ss nj
RUBY Canyon. and unless rock In
the river gorge should be found at
far greater depth than Is now an.
ticipatrd. "a high masonry dam at
this site In also safe and practicable.
, T-iiofor. definite designs and ~.
Inmates Of the Gorge site power De
yelopment can be made. ., 10 neces- |
Aary 10 carry the underground en-
pior.,tiona for as-ertsinlng conditions
for a distance OF two miles above |
Gorge Crock 10 completion and 10
detsfmIn. the depth 20 bedrock al
one or two apparently favorable |
points about two miles below Gorg. |
Creek. II ~ also essential that the |
feasibility OF n storage dam at Ruby |
Gorge he definitely established by
borinGp. and I, IL highly desirable. |,
for purposes Of comparison and in
order 10 forecast q wefi.bais need pro |
gram Of complete skaRit River pow
er development. TO determine depth |
10 bedrock In the D.abio Gorge.
Rercsnmesd AddItiousl Drills
s--A large amount Of time will Be |
Involved In completing the above IN. |
yestigstions with the two diamond |
drills now In operation. and 10 ~ |
therefore suggested tina, II time 10 a
material element. four additional dis. |
mond drills be put In operation |
promptly 40 that drilling may 30 on
ssmuitane At the various sites. |
This viii not only permit an earlier |
revision OF plans 10 nj In with a fu.
turc development program. but will |
also lead 10 greater economy in do
ing the work.
e--Fcr construction purposes. q |
road will have 10 b. built connecting |
With Rockport. which IL the present
terminus OF the railroad. Our inves
uestions have not covered tho rel |
auvc advantage OF q raiiroad n
compared with . we'll pianksd truck |
road. but we undsrsta nd such studies
have bean made by your ofsice. All
We can nay on this feature il that |
whatever may be on the ultimate
dcsirn OF the various units Of power |
development. and provided the cost |
figures show the sksgis River power |
scheme 20 be feasible. ard II should |
be broadly authorized BY the council. |
we sec no reason for possponing ear.
~ commencement Of the building OF
road. telephone tine and sswniiIi and !
the prompt building OF a temporary |
power plant. all required for con. |
suuction purposes.