The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-11-23
OPEN RIVER CONFERENCE FAVORs PRO-
GRAMOF ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT
Delegates From Three States Gather AT PendletOn
And Endorse Umatilla Rapids Power Project
and Opening of the Columbia River.
Pendleton Tribune of Saturday.

the site of the project, thus enabling
them to provide cheaper and more
rapid transportation facilities. The
interior department, through its rec
lamation service, will find, said the
speaker, that the proposed Umatilla
dam would irrigate 250,000 acres with
gravity system and approximately
the same amount more by the use of
pumping system. The removal of
the greatest obstacle to the navig-
ability of the Columbia and its tribu-
taries, through the canalization of
the river at the site of the proposed
Umatilla project, opening the .Colum-
bia to navigation for distance of
700 miles and possibly three times
that distance when its tributaries are
included, is Of decided interest to the
war >department. The "great prob
lem," concluded the judge, is to de-
termine method of reaching the
federal power commission so that an
investigation shall be made and the
commission satisfied that the project
possesses all the features which seem
to demand its construction.
Attorney Steiwer discussed briefly
the Umatilla proposal from the
standpoint of agriculture, mercan-
tile, social and industrial welfare.
Delegates from the various sections
represented INDUCED in a round table
discussion at the afternoon session of
the conference. Bert F. Savage of
Lewiston, Idaho, pledged the coopera-
tion of northern Idaho toward the
ambitions of the Open River associa-
ton. Ben F. Hill, mayor of Walla
Walla., expressed a belief that the
power of large interests to hamper
development has been shattered,
drawing the conclusion frmo the re-
cent elections in which he read pur-
pose on the part of the people to take
matters into their own hands and re-
tire members of congress whom they
believe under the power of monetary
interests.
W. A. Goodwin Of Boardman toucd-
ed upon the history of the Umatilla
project and gave his experiences and
observations along lines of develop
ment through irrigation.
Walter Z. Meacham of Baker pledg-
ed the support of Baker county. A. R.
Gardner of Kennewick; V. R. Cox of
Pasco, and William Warner of Alder
dale, expressed the interest of their
section of Washington in plans for
the improvement of the Columbia and
its tributaries. Ben H. Rice, assistant
secretary of the Columbia Basin Irri-
cation league, an organization en-
deavoring to develop lands in east
central Washington, expressed his
sympathy with the aims of open
river association. Whitney L. Boise,
explained the efforts of the Port
land chamber of commerce to raise
s150000 for the furtherance of de-
velopment enterprises. D. c. Brownell
of Umatilla rapids project, traced the
history of that project ard the ad
vantages he saw following its COM
pletion. R. A. Pinneo, of Astoria,
pledged the support of that city to-
ward any move for the deveopment
of Oregon's water ways. Phillips Da-
ter, representative of the United
States forest service, explained the
governments attitude toward all en-
terprises of this kind. He said that
there were numerous applications
on file for the investigation of hydro
electric power sites along the Colum-
bia and the Snake rivers The govern
ment, he said, is anxious to handle
such development so that the estab-
lished lines of the railroad will not
be damaged for frequently the dam
ming of the stream causes the water
to overflow rail lines along the river,
The government is friendly, Mr.. Dater
said, to hydro-electric development
but is proceeding carefully and is al
so finding the problems of financing
serious ones.
c. G. Clark of Arlington said that
in Gillian county opposition comes
from large land owners who fear the
expense necessary to the contraction
of irrigation systems.
Following are the resolutions
adopted:
Whereas, the secretary Of war is
authorized and directed to appoint a
social board of engineers to examine
the Columbia river from Vancouver,
Washington to Priest Rapids, and the
Snake river from its mouth to Astoin,
Washington, to study and report with
view to the canalization of these
rivers for barge navigation and for
the development of hydro-electric
power in cooperation with local inter-