The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-09-29
UMAT|LLA RAPIDS PRO-
JECT IS SITTING EASY
(Pendleton East Oregonianl

~ DiuittDl last OTtSOuldu &c
The outstanding facts about the Una
tilla rapids project as disclosed by the
Lewis report are that the project is
bigger yet more feasible than we sup
posed and the chances for early action
are bright. That is saying much but
the circumstances are such as to justify
optimism
Though the project calls for the ulti-
mate development of half a million
horse power the conditions are favor
able to develop by units The first unit
suggested would call for but $4,000
horse power of primary power and 130-
600 horse power for irrigation, the total
cost of this project being s12,1O0.0O.
Now this secondary power could be used
for watering land adjacent to the pow
er site and it would only be necessary
to arrange for the use Of the $4,000
horse power Of primary power to make
the project suitable for action by the
reclamation service,
In disposing Of this primary power
two courses would be open, one the d.
rect marketing Of this power by the
government, the second the handling OF
the power through existing power COM
panies. 1t has been strongly intimated
that the power companies would be
glad TO get this cheap power. There
is every reason why they should want
it for it would lower their average pow
er cost and allow of a reduction in rates
to the public. 1t would be strange If
the companies did not eagerly grasp
such an opportunity and should they
show a contrary spirit 1t would be ap-
propriate for the public service commits
sions Of Oregon and Washington to in
quire as to why public utility should
expensive sources when cheaper power
might be had
Assuming that the primary power
can be disposed Of through connection
with a super power line serving all
regions in the northwest and 1t is a
reasonable assumption, our main fight
is over 1t would then only be neces-
sary to induce the reclamation service
to take up the project If the McNary
irrigation measure passes this should
not be a difficult task because there will
then be money available and we will
have a good project ready for work
Needless to say the Umatilla rapids pro-
1ect would loom strong under such a
situation because II would mean much
to both Oregon and washington, from
n power as we'll as from an irrigation
standpoint. Senator McNary is chair
man of the irrigation committee, is the
author of the bill that promises to pro-
vide the money, the director Of the rec
lamation service has already expressed
his interest in the matter. The recla-
nation service has project of this
sort in Idaho now The McNary irri-
cation measure is regarded as likely TO
pass because it has the administration
support and such a bill is called for by
the republican and democratic plat
forms.
To sum it up, the Umatilla rapids
project is almost on the way and while
there will be contingencies to meet 1t
looks like all can be met. The spotlight
of interest Just now is turned on the
electric companies and their managing
heads If these interests cooperate as
it seems reasonable they should they
will be in line to serve themselves as
well as the public, II they take dog
in thet manger" attitude they will de-
lay the move but they will then have
an aroused public to deal with and the
threat of not only public development
of power but public operation as we'll
They will be wise to choose the path
of cooperation.
A few mnths ago, when this move
ment was undertaken at the February
meeting in Pendleton and at the initial
meeting at Umatilla the project was
nehulous and all thought we had long
road to travel We now have a concrete
proposition to work with and from all
appearances we are Sitting pretty"
All this is very gratifying because 1t is
unnecessary to dwell on the fact that
this immediate region and the whole
northwest will profit greatly II the
greatest hydro electric plant west of
Niagara is constructed within so miles
Of Pendleton.