East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-02-05
FALL OF 1871 FEET
tContinued from page Id


The removal of the obstruction to
navigation at Priest Rapids, which is
now under contemplation in connec-
tion with a large power development
by local interests, will open the river
to Rock Island Rapids, so miles
above Priest Rapid. Above Rock ISL
and Rapids there is stretch of navi-
gable water to the foot of Grand RAJ
pids. 50 miles below the international
boundary and 23O miles above Rock
Island Rapids. This stretch has, how
ever, "a number of rapids difficult to
navigate.
The principal obstacle to navigation
in the Columbia below Priest Rapids
is the swift water in the rapids. which
limits the navigation to rather high
powered steamboats, of light draft and
rapids cannot usually be eliminated
without the use of locks or canals.
From the foot of Priest Rapids to
the mouth of Snake river the Column
bia has an average fall of about one
foot per mile. with no bad rapids and
only a few gravel shoals to contend
with.
Between the mouth of the Snake
river and Cello, a distance of 12S
miles. the river has a fall of 1S6. feet.
and has 10 rapids with total falls in
each rapid varying from two feet as
the least fall to nearly II feet, as the
greatest. Umatilla rapids has the
greatest length and fall of any of the
rapids of this stretch. Its length is
about 2 1-2 miles, and the total fall
1871 feet, or an average of feet per
mile, with a current of about 10 miles
per hour in the swiftest place, where
for short distance the fall is about
Is feet per mile.
Devils Bend rapid occurs about 5
miles below Umatilla, and has total
fall of 6.7 feet in 0.72 miles, or 9.S1
feet per mile. The stretch of river
from the head of Umatilla rapid to the
foot of Devils Bed rapid. distance of
10 miles has a total fall of 80 feet,
and is the steepest long stretch Of wa
ter between Cello and Priest rapids.
The natural fall between the head Of
Umatilla rapid and the foot of Devils
Bend rapid (32 feet) will, with the
minimum flow of the Columbia (40,-
900 second feet) develop approximate
ly 10000 electric horse power. The
development Of power in this locality
can be accomplished by dam at the
foot Of Devils Bend rapid. or a power
canal from the head of Umatilla Ra-
pid to the foot Of Devils Bend rapid. A
canal to develop only the low water
power Of the river. would have to be
nearly as large as the present low wa
ter river bed and would undoubtedly
cost more than a dam, and the capae-
ity Of power plant with canal could
not be Increased without enlarging the
canal, while with a dam a secondary
power may be developed during the.
high stages of river A dam, with
locks at the foot Of Devils Bend ra-
pid. would make easy navigation from
the head Of Canoe Encampment rapid,
30 miles below the town Of Umatilla
to a distance above Umatilla Rapids,
depending on the height of the dam.
which, however. is limited by the rail-
roads that occupy both banks of the
river. II the controlled height of the
water above the dam is kept near the
line Of the 1884 flood GA 1-2 feet at
the town OF Uinatilla), the railroads
will not be damaged, since they are
above this flood line.
The elimination Of the swift water
in the Columbia river will permit easy
navigation and the free use Of barges,