The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-07-13
.UMATILLA PROJECT IS
BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY.
Cast oregonian.)

BY the same token there should be
an official federal investigation of the
Umatilla rapids project. 1t is presumed
such an investigation may be had with
out legislation, but If it be necessary
for congress to act then it would be
extremely appropriate for the Oregon
and Washington delegations to get busy
in behalf of our great Columbia river
project
If the Columbia basin project is wor-
thy Of attention by the federal govern
ment the Umatilla rapids project is dis
tinctly worthy of consideration. Here
are few facts that show why.
The Umatilla rapids project would re-
claim lands in both Oregon and Wash
ington; the Columbia basin project is
entirely a Washington affair.
The Columbia basin project would re-
quire something like s25O,000, 900 for its
construction; the Umatilla rapids pro-
ject can be built for S25,O00000 or one
tenth the cost of the Washington pro-
ject.
The per acre cost under the Columbia
basin project is S145.
The cost of irrigation under the Una
tilla rapids project ranges from $1,000
per acre up to $s0.5S per acre with one
tract Of l4,600 acres on which the es-
timated per acre cost is s109.75. In 9TH
er words the main part Of the land
under the Umatilla rapids project may
be reclaimed for less than half the per
acre cost of reclamation under the Col
umbia basin project A total of 35,4G0
acres may be reclaimed by the Umatilla
rapids project through pumping.
But that is not all of the story. The
Umatilla rapids project involves very
worth while improvement in navigation
on the Columbia and the generation of
l25,000 continuous horse power in addi-
tion to the secondary power needed for
irrigation purposes. The primary power
would be available for electrifying the
o. w. R. e. N. system and the North
Bank road and for much more. The
power would all be within the transmits
sion radius of our principal northwest
cities, large and small, therefore would
be of extreme Importance in developing
the country industrially and socially.
The proposed scheme for using this
primary power is reasonable and fair,
1t is proposed to distribute this power
through the existing power companies
they selling it at prices fixed by official
regulatory bodies. In this way the
power companies would secure power
they need and it would be had at gen
Grating cost lower than it could be Sc
cured by private capital. Instead of be-
ing in any way antagonistic to the pow
er companies, the construction of the
Umatilla rapids project would be god
send to such companies. The power
companies use seven per cent money
while the government can secure money
at half that rate of interest. A private
power project is subject to taxation
while a government owned power plant
would not be taxed,
Some critics of the Umatilla rapids
project raise the point that under a
pumping project the annual mainten
ance cost of irrigation would be high.
But that is difficulty easily solved. The
irrigationists would make use of the
power plant during a few months of
the year while those using the primary
power would make continuous use of
the plant Therefore 1t would be logical
and possible to assess most of the over
head cost of the project against the pri-
mary power. This could be done and we
would still have continuous power
supply developed at a cost lower than
any present power in the northwest. By
this course the irrigationists could be
required to meet only the usual main
tenance cost and the whole northwest
region would be the gamer by develop
ment of the project.
We have no quarrel with the Colum-
bia basin project for all wish success to
| that project, but the plain facts are that
those who know the country and know
practical irrigation conditions realize
that as between the two projects the ar
guments are ten to one in favor of the
| Umatlla rapids project. The cost of
| S145 per acre contemplated under the
Columbia basin project is very high and
$780, 900 Is very large sum for the
federal government to expend in any
single state. The Umatilla rapids pro-
ject offers scheme of benefit to two
states and the cost as compared to the
Columbia basin project would be negli-
gible.
The country has heard much about
the Columbia basin project and but lit
tie of the Umatilla rapids project. The
explanation is that the Columbia basin
project enthusiasts have had total of
$167000 for exploitation purposes and
an additional $4,000 with which the
Goethal's report was secured. On the
Umatilla rapids project the total promo
tion expense thus far has been $1400.
There has been no money with which
to secure highly paid promotion experts
or famous generals. But the Umatila
rapids project is rich in merit and a
candid investigation will so disclose.
The Portland chamber of commerce
officials realize the situation fully and
they are now working whole heartedly
with our project association to see that
the Umatilla rapids project-the Gin
derilla of western projects-shall have
place in the sun. 1t is right that
Portland should be busy for the Una
tilla rapids project will be the opening
step in utilization of the Columbia river
and Portland's destiny is linked with
the development of our great river. Not
until the Columbia is harnessed can
Portland become the great city it should
be. When our power resources are de.
The open season for sage hens in all