East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-04-29
EDITORIAL
ARE WE TO THROW. AWAY A GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY?


take position in favor of strictly private development
of hydro electric power Does that the Portland
morning paper to federal cooperation in harness
ing the water power of the Columbia? so how can the
Oregonan reconcile such views with the plain necessities
Of the situation?
One great need of power development on the Columbia
is to provide irrigation since much arid land along
mighty river can be successfully watered only by pump
ing. Another feature of power development viii Se Inn
proved river navigation through drowning out the rapids
In view of the fact both irrigation and river improvement
constitute work of character generally performed by the
government how expect results if federal aid
not to be secured?
If the government can successfully build great irriga
On projects why cannot not work with equal in
the field of hydro electric development? it not just as
advisable to reclaim waste water reclaim waste land?
When the government reclams arid land that land comes
into competition with land already being farmed
Why should Uncle Sam provide competition for the farm
but refuse to construct hydro electric plants on the the
ory such plants would compete with privately developed
plants?
AS the East Oregonan sees the subject the chief hope
Of power development the Columbia rests upon secur
ing federal aid Yet government aid in such work would
not work unusty against private electrical concerns The
power developed would in all probability be distributed by
private corporations not by the government direct The
government does not farm the lard recaims the farmer
does that If it is good business for the United States to
reclaim arid land for the farmers use why is it not good
business for the government to harness water power the
power to be sold through corporations under regulations
Under private development we have waited 100 years
and not bit of power is being developed the Columbia
river. We letting one of our greatest natural re-
sources run to waste Are we to continue this situation m
definitely shall get together behind fair logical
plan to utilize water power for the good of all
cerned including the electric companies?
The people of the southwest not averse to securing
government help in power development. The Colorado
project is similar in many respects to the Umatua rapids
project and they making great headway with that pro-
ec despite the fact its cost will be great as tomake
seem impossible
Is the northwest to follow apocy of stagnaton and al
low the Colorado project boosters to put their project
when we have feasible project that should come
first?
If we are not to take up the -matia rapids project
how is Oregon to secure its share Of money from the Nc
Nary-Smith bill should that bill become law? Are to
assist passing $35O0OO0O0 federal measure and then
SAY in effect that money expended in other states
not in Oregon Idaho has already secured four times as
much reclamation money has the state of Oregon Are
I'VE to kiss goodbye also to the prospective
fund and allow it to be used in Idaho Washington and in
the Colorado basin.
In recent wire to this newspaper Senator McNary
pressed the view that funds from the McNarySmth bill
will be applicable to the Umatilla rapids project Then
why in heavens name can we not get busy? Are to
throw away golden opportunity because Of stupidity g
norance and faulty team work?