The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-05-01
Reports Say Priest Rapids
License Will be Issued
in Few Days
WILL BE MUSCLE
SHOALS OF WEST
All Arrangements for Fl
nances Have Been Com
pleted Says Pierce

License for construction on the CO.
lumbia river at Priest Rapids, 65
miles north of Kennewick, of pow
er dam 80 feet high and two and one
half miles long, costing about $780,
100000 and rivaling the great Muscle
Shoals dam, probably will be granted
within the next few weeks, it was
announced recently by federal pow
er commission officials at Washing
ton d. C.
This will be by far the largest in
dustrial project undertaken in this
state and will rank with the largest
of its kind to be undertaken in this
country.
The Washington Irrigation and De-
velopment company of which n. j.
Pierce of New York is president, is Il
subsidiary of the Electric Bond and
Share company of New York, pro-
moters of the Priest Rapids dam pro-
ject. The company was granted per-
nit to make preliminary surveys of
the site in 1921. This was one of the
first permits issued after the power
commission was created, it is stated
in the Associated Press dispatch car
rvino the information from Washing
ton, D. G.
Under the law, three years is al
lowed an applicant, following author
ization of such permit, to determine
whether the proposed project can be
carried out. In view Of the immi-
nence of the expiration of this three
year period and the favorable atti-
tude of the various interests involved,
federal commission officials stated
license to proceed with the building
of the gigantic dam probably would
be issued Every soon."
One obstacle which may delay for
time actual beginning of the work
is the possible danger to the salmon
fishing industry on the Columbia
river. A huge spawning pond is To-
Gated just below the proposed site
Of the Priest Rapids dam and fish
ermen claim that salmon can not
60 over dam more than 80 feet
high and survive.
In an effort to solve this problem
the power commission Of the WASH
ington Irrigation and Development
association has worked out a plan
for the crest pools" to protect the
vast number of salmon in the river.
A hearing has been set for May
IA at Seattle, at which officials OF
the fish and game commissions OF
Oregon and Washington and the bu-
reau of fisheries at Washington, D.
c., will wiscuss the advisability OF
establishing a "fishway" in Priest
Rapids to protect salmon interests.
The proposed Priest Rapids dam
would develop, with the river at full
stage, more power than Niagara falls,
according to information received
here. The completed project, in ad-
dition to the S90,O00,000 required for
erection of the dam and adjuncts,
would entail an additional expendi-
ture of s12,O00,O00 to develop a city
of $4,000 workers and total popu-
iation more than twice that number.
The dam would develop $4,000 horse
power with the river at low stage
and 100000 horsepower with the wa
ter at flood stage, it is estimated,
making it the largest power project
IN the world. The great plant at
Niagara falls develops about 100000
horsepower. !. r.
establishment of large chemical
ana electro-metallurgical plant for
manufacture of nitrate also is con-
'emplated, reports state. The dam
proper would cost about $4,000, 900.
Inc General Electric company OF
oehnectady, N. Y, is said to be &C.
lively interested in the project.
II. j. Pierce states that a subsid.
!ary OF the General Electric company
Is part owner in the enterprise and