East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-12-20
Prominent West End Men Sup
port Contention That CoIum-
bia Should be HarneSSed and
Used to Reclaim Lands.
COULD PROVIDE ELECTRIC
POWER FOR MANY USES
Former Surveys by Government
Indicate Plan is Practical;
Would Save Costly COnStruC-
tiOn Work on Canals.

support OF the pFOpoNhi tnHA p'MNl
be developed at umatllla Radips Of
the Columbia, three miles abov'
the town OF Umatilla for the pnr
pose OF pumping water for irrigation
and for other purposes has strncl
home. Letters commenting the move
have been received from sam Board
man, founder OF the town OF Board
man and prominent worker for the
John Day project. and from Reprcsen.
tative Frank Sloan at Sianfield. Mr.
Boardman stated by long distance
phone this morning that a meeting
Will shortly be held at Umatilla for
the purpose OF discussing the subject.
Mr.. SIoan's letter Is as follows:
Stanfield. ore,
Dec 10. 1920.
Mr.. f. II. Aldrieh. Editor East ore
gonian. Pendleton.
Dear Sir:
Referring 10 your editorial OF Dec.
az, Harness the Columbia at Una
tilla Rapids" You are on the right
track in this editorial and II should be
supported. ! am taking this oppor-
tunity to express my appreciation Of
your stand in this matter and to assure
You that yon will have my cooperation
II II.
Yours very truly.
FRANK SLOAN.
Meeting Is scheduled
Mr. Boardman said this morning he
had consulted Saturday with the pres
ident OF the Umatilla Commercial club
=
call fora conference 70 be held at
Umatiila. II was the original purpose
to have delegates present from Una
tiila, Irrigon and Boardman but the
field has been extended TO include all
the west end towns OF the county and
Pendleton. The date for the meeting
has not yet been set,
Mr.. Boardman says that over year
ago he wrote to several engineers with
view to getting their views on the
subject. Among those consulted was
John IT. Lewis, former state engineer
who Is now engineer for the John
Day project. Mr.. Lewis Is to make a
report on the project about the first Of
the year and will refer to the Una
tllia rapids project In his report.
Une peen surveyed
Enthusiasm for use OF the Columbia
at Umatilla rapids results from sur
veya made some years ago by the gov
ernment and which reports are now on
file with the reclamation service ana
with the state engineer. The survey
indicates the proposition TO be entirely
feasible from an engineering stand
af 4 horse
power may be developed and the flow
OF the river during the irrigation sea-
son Is sufficient TO provide S2O.ooo
horse power at that time. The cost of
the power development including the
dam was estimated at s20.5Oo,oOO.
A favorable feature about the pro-
iect Ia that the river is high during
the period when irrigation is needed.
Aside from providing for irrigauoh
vast electrical power won'S he nv"H-
able for manufacturing, illumination
cooking and heating purposes. A. Isl
considered certain that both the O. w
II. e. n. and the North Bank road VIII
eventually be electrified 50 the deVei-
opment Of power at Umatilla RAPIDS
would serve the needs of the railroads
Eliminates Costly Canal
Power developed at the rapids
could be used to pump water IRON
the Columbia for the reclamation OF
many thousands of acres Of land on
both sides of the Columbia on the
Oregon side 10000 acres could be
watered, and the Horse Heaven pro1ec'
in washington could be cared for. the
pumping project would eliminate inc
use OF long feed canal and reser-
voirs on the John Day project Wneh
II is considered that the John Day
canal is estimated to cost Ss,ouo'uo9
II will be seen that II Is important II
possihIe to save the construction ana
maintenance Of such canal.
II is the view of various men VINO
have studied the subject and the re-
norts on file that the great revenue
n be derived from the sale of power
for other than irrigation needs makes
the tImatllla rapids project the logical
solution Of the problem how to- irri-
safe the now vast arid tracts along the
Columbia.
The three great power possibilities
on The Columbia are at Cello, Bonnie.
vile and Umatilla rapids, these pro
iects heIng listed in proportion to tht
Tho amount of power that may be Sc
cured. However the big question al
CONTINUED on page 3D.