The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-04-13

Lake Dend O'Reille in Idaho and up
its feeders into Montana and you be-
gin to get an idea of what they pro-
pose to build a dam to hold back to
form the Pool he speaks of.
General Geothals' 81
Report
OF over 5000, 900 acres Of land
embraced within the Columbia basin,
lying between the Columbia and
Snake rivers, 1,753,000 are irrigable
by the Pend O'Reille gravity project
and 100000 by the Columbia river
pumping project.
The gravity project provides water
by gravity flow from the Pend
O'Reille river and its tributaries
above Newport, Wash.
The pumping project provides
water from the Columbia river. A
pool is formed by dam, varying
from 200 to 285 feet in height, with
respective effective heads of 1913 to
211 feet across the gorge of the
Columbia at the head of the Grand
Coulee, from which water Is pumped
by hydro-electric units, each lifting
1000 second feet approximately 482
feet, or by direct connected units Of
equal capacity lifting approximately
|450 feet, to. an artificial lake,
whence the water is carried to the
land by gravity s.
The estimated cost of the gravity
project Is $254,170,351 or $145.56
per acre.
The construction is feasible and
offers no unusual difficulties.
The cost of operation and main
tenance for the gravity project is 'es-
timated al. $841,450 or 4S cents per
acre per annum.
| The lowest estimated cost for the
pumping project is $223,0S6,943 or
$159.01 per acre. The difficulties at
tending the construction are unusual
and the pumps proposed have never
been built, .s *.
The cost of operation and main
tenance for the pumping project is
estimated from $2,610,275 to 49,
1872, 605pper annum, or from $1.86 to
$1.51 per acre, depending upon the
height of dam adopted.
The gravity project is recon-
mended for adoption.
1t is recommended that the entire
project be undertaken with view to
completing it in it's entirety rather
than attempting it piecemeal or
adopting temporary construction.
The estimated time for completion
Is six years.
The soils of the irrigable lands are
fertile and abundant; being in all re-
spects similar to Yakima and
Wenatchee valleys; large production
will result from water on the lands.
A great variety of crops can be pro-
duced, and due to the excellent trans
portation facilities, can be carried to
the markets of the world.
No apprehension need be felt
about settlement of the lands after
water has been placed thereon.
All things considered, the project
is justified from an economic stand
point If the land can be made ready
for planting at cost ranging from
5000 to $275 per acre; at the latter
price profitable return will be Sc
cured on the investment.
The project, because of the benefits
that will accrue to the United States
as whole, is national one and as
such should be carried out by the
federal government thru direct ap-
preparation. r."
Following the existing policy of
the government in it's irrigation pro-
jects, the farmer or land holder
should be taxed to amortize the cost
OF construction. The government
should bear or absorb the interest
charges, which will be more than re-
paid thru the increase that will re-
suit to the natural wealth, affecting
industries and products of all kinds
over the entire country.
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