White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-08-14
POWER possibilities
GREAT ALONG COLUMBIA

The Columbia river from the Ca.
madam line to its mouth, when prop.
e,ly regulated, can be made to pro.
duce $4,000 horsepower half the
time, or 4.7o5,000 horsepower go per
cent of the tirns. according to the
latest water power estimate of the
United States geological survey, is
sued today, says last Saturdays
Spokesman-Review
OF this enormous potential water
supply in the Columbia, 6,568,O0O
horsepower for so per cent of the
time, and $4,000 horsepower for
90 per cent of the time, can be pro-
duced in Washington; the remainder
would be produced in Oregon. These
figures all have to do with regulated
flow.
The natural flow of the Columbia,
according to the same authorities,
would yield $4,000 horsepower so
per cent of the time or 1884, 900 horse
power go per cent of the time, the
proportion in Washington and Ore
gon remaining about the same.
The bulk of the water power of
the Columbia river, OF around so per
cent, would be developed at nine dam
sites, of which studies have been
made by the geological survey. AS
to the other sites. studies have been
inadequate to determine definitely
where development best should take
place.
Big Asset to Nation.
In announcing its latest estimates
Of the power possibilities of the
Columbia river, the geological survey
issued a statement in part as fol-
lows:
"The Columbia river in the north
southwest are destined to contribute
largely to the economic welfare Of
the nation. The interior department
has been gradually accommodating rec
ords needed fos determining these
possibilities along the Columbia.
More than 100000 acres can be
irrigated within the drainage area of
Columbia river, of which about g.
100000 acres is irrigated now. The
Ever can be made navigable from its
mouth to the international boundary,
7o0 miles, if proper foresight is ex-
ercised in the location of dams con-
structed primarily for use in develop
ing water power.
"The engineers of the geological
survey have made several preliminary
estimates of the water power re-
sources of Columbia river proper. The
latest estimate takes into account all
factors that are likely to influence
the flow in the future and indicates
that about one-seventh of the poten-
tial water power in the United States
is to be found along Columbia river,
exclusive of the large power resourc-
es on its tributaries"
Provide for Navigation.
Then follows in tabular form the
data above quoted. Continuing, the
statement says: -s.s ess.s,.-
"The regulated flow represents the
flow estimated TO be available when
ultimate possibilities for irrigation
have been served; who, allowance has
seen made for supply sufficient to
maintain navigation, amounting to
500 second feet above Wenatchee
river, $50 second feet between Wen
atchee and Snake rivers, and 1000
second feet below Snake river; and
when storage has been regulated for
the direct benefit of power sites i'm
mediately below reservoir sites at
Hungry Horse (south fork Of Flat
head river), 100000 acre feet; Flat
head lake, 100000 acre feet; Priest
lake. 100000 acre feet: Chelan lake,
100000 acre feet; Wcnatchee lake;
835,000 acre feet, and Chiwawa, 31S,-
COO acte feet.
To Utilize Lake Storage.
utilization of the storage available
in Pend Oreille and Occur d'Alene
lakes is assumed to be necessary for
the development Of the Columbia
Basin irrigation project.
"The immense water power re-
sources along Columbia river have at
tracted little interest until recently
because of the lack of market for
large blocks of power. Development
must be linked in some way with the
establishment of industries to manu-
facture electro-metallurgical products,
fertilizers, chemicals, and other arti-
cles recurring the use of large guam
titles of electrical energy. The electri-
fication of the northwestern railways
would absorb only small proportion
of the available power. The indus
tries could be operated within the
vicinity of the power plants or at
tidewater in Puget sound and other
north Pacific ports.
Power for Four States.
"The power is so located that it
can be delivered economically to all
of Washington, to most of Oregon
and Idaho, and to the western part OF
Montana. During war the power
could be utilized for manufacturing
munitions in plants constructed near
the source Of power so that they
could be easily Dntected from the
enemy bv guarding few passes