Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-12-28
Who Will Make the Estimate?
People of Aberdeen Entitled to the Truth
on WynOOche Costs.

Wynooche project to the voters after a
careful and detailed investigation of both
the project and the market for the cleo
trlcal energy in case the new estimate of
cost exceeds the original 100000 figure.
But who is to do the estimating?
The people of Aberdeen are entitled to
have full, honest and unbiased appraisal
of the true situation from competent, re-
liable engineers-engineers who are not
prOpagandists or mere theorists, but men
of broad experience and high reputation,
who deal in cold facts and can not be in
fuenced. The WynOOche project should
be removed from all doubt and suspicion.
The whole question for Aberdeen lies in
the truth or falsity of the estimate of the
cost of the project as well as the market
in which the power could be sold, both of
which the city council has pledged itself
to investigate.
Much pressure will be brought to bear
by the ardent proponents of municipal
ownership and non-taxpayers, to get the
people into such municipal project, if not
all over" then lone foot at time"
Many so-called hydro-electric engineers
with no great reputation at stake but with
desire to receive the fee for the investi-
cation, will use every effort to secure the
appointment Unless a man of unques-
toned ability and integrity is chosen the
city council will be required to either
adopt report, as submitted by the ex-
pert, which may develop serious errors,
or undertake the responsibility of amend
ing such report where the council consd-
ers it unreliable or in error The danger
of this situation arising if the wrong man
is employed is proven by the experiences
of both Seattle and Tacoma.
The original estimate for Seattles
famed Skagit development was $4,713,08O
and this promised $4,000 horsepower de-
velopment, with a 100 foot concrete dam
on solid rock foundation, and producing
ample storage, steel tower, double trans
mission lines and substations.
This estimate of S4,713,OSO and the at
tendant promises were made by the same
Mr.. Ross who kindly came down to Aber-
deem, endorsed the WynOOche project
without seeing it, and urged the voters
to favor it.
But what happened to Mr.. Ross Seattle
figures? His first bond issue was $780,
900. Additional bonds have been sold
making the total $11 100000, which when
all expended is expected to deliver power
to Seattle some time next summer But
instead of Mr.. Ross proposed 100 foot con-
crete dam on solid rock foundation, high
enough to produce a good-sized storage,
Seattle will have 30 foot wood crib dam
resting on the gravel bottom of the stream,
producing no storage, and giving 100 feet
less fall thereby reducing the horsepower,
besides the substitution of a single trans
mission line on wood poles instead of dou-
bic transmission line on steel towers. The
city engineer now says it will require
S4,00O,0O0 additional to complete the
Skagit project according to Mr.. Ross
plans, making the complete cost over three times
his estimate and the project the most expensive
for its size in Washington. The gentlemen who
are responsible for this Skagit project are the
same ones undertaking to initiate power meas
ure, which if voted will permit the city of Seattle
to pass this financial bunder on to Grays Harbor
county and the rest of Western Washington
Tacoma started out to build the Cushman
project the basis of $4.630000 and now the
city is in $1O,000y000 with one knows how much
more to accrue.
The Province of Ontario undertook the con-
structiOn of big hydro-electric project at Chip
pewa Falls, estimated to cost $10000,000. So
far it has cost 100000 and the present esti-
mates indicate that it will cost $100,000000 to
$40 100000 when completed.
Do not the foregoing figures indicate the absO-
lutte necessity for engaging the highest possible
engineering talent and ability to make the esti-
mate in the WynOOche cost?
If the highest engineering skill is not secured,
does not Aberdeen the risk of mortgagng its
future with a burden of debt proportionately
as great as Seattle, Tacoma or Ontario?
Aberdeen's per capita debt is today $4100.
Even to add debt of 100000 contemplated
as the most conservative estimate for the Wy
nooche, will mean an increase of the per capita
debt to $151.00 and bring Aberdeen close to the
unenviable position Of Seattle, with its $4,000
per capita Indebtedness the highest in Washing
ton watch Aberdeen grow" is a fine slogan,
but does Aberdeen want to grow in this direction?
And what would all this indebtedness ac-
complish? Merely the duplication of present
facilities. Aberdeen and the Harbor today have
all the electricity they conveniently use, and
if permitted to do we will see that this con-
dition is always maintained.