White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-07-04
Last Extension
On Priest Rapids
Lease Expires

Delays In Letter To
Land Owners
Julv has come and gone and
Priest Rapids still remains calm and
peaceful, natures handiwork there
undisturbed by the ambitions OF men,
who might convert it into great
power project.
And, what is probably more import
ant to those interested in the develop
ment Of that site, there is apparently
nothing in the cards to indicate that
the construction of the dam IS to De
undertaken any time within the near
future.
Congress recently passed and Presi-
dent Hoover approved, a law creating
new independent Federal Water
Power Leasing board Of five members
to replace the old board OF three
cabinet members. A few months must
elapse before the new members are
appointed and have fan1iliarized them
selves with the work and adopted
some kind of policy. Until then,
there will very likely be little activity
in connection with new projects.
The Spokesman received this week
the following communication, presum-
ably copy of circular letter, 1r0Hl
Dam Brothers in New York City. Inc
letter is directed to Landowners
Priest Rapids Highlands Project, an
organization Of owners of land on the
north and east side of the Columbia
river, near Priest Rapids This letter
reads:
NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.
Landowners -.
Priest Rapids Highlands Project
Manv inquiries have been received
Of late relative to the status OF the
project at Priest Rapids on July lst.
These inquiries indicate anxiety on the
part of landowners, some Of wnon!
express fear that the project would
not be carried forward. This concern
car be appreciated when it is ZEAL
;zea that the majority OF landowners
have had their holdings for period
Of upwards Of thirty years. and IN
MANY cases where the owner has pass
ed away. the land represents the
principal asset of the widow. We are
therefore prompted to make a state
aaen+ for the enlightment OF me
landowners. =.
July list does not have the slgnifi-
cence that might be indicated. llue
Il is. that this is the expiration oate
Of the extension Of time set by the
Power Commission for the present
application for license Of the Power
Interests developing Priest Raplds.
However. new application for license
can be filed at any time. The Power
. Interests owned the floodlands, rights
etc. at Priest Raids in connection win
this hvdro-electric development, prior
70 The enactment of the water power
law which created the Federal Power
Commission, and the power corpora
ton still possess all these rights. Inc
Federal Power Commission comprises
three Of the Cabinet members, Dut
under the new law just passed by
Congress- and approved by the Pres
ident, will be comprised OF i've mem.
bers to be appointed by the Presioent
and they will start to function early
in July.
The Power Interests have expended
verv large sum in connection with
developing Priest Rapids. No money
has been spared, and the scientific
minds Of the world have been utilized
"a endeayor to start this power pro-
iect. This project is different than
most newer DEVELOPMENTS, in, that the
dam cannot be built in units, but must
be constructed all at one time. 1t re-
uuires a very large power-load from
the very outset to make economically
practical the building of such large
project. Priest Rapids power is classed
as industrial power. Industrial power
is used in large blocks by certain
industries for electro-chemlca! ana
electro-metallurgical purposes, in the
production of industrial chemicals and
basic metals. At times in the. past
it was considered that the starting OF
Priest Rapids was at hand, but I'm
foreseen conditions arose which re-
tarded and delayed the actual starting
of this power project.
The Priest Rapids power site on the
SOluIlDld INIvCl 10 Olic VI tAS wy
few large undeveloped power sites in
United States. During the past ten
years practically all of the available
power sites in the Eastern part of the
United States have been developed
Therefore by necessity, great indust-
ries requiring large blocks Of low
cost hydro-electric power have turned
their face towards the Pacific North
west, the only location where their
power requirements can be fulfilled
This activity is bringing about the
justification of the starting of the
Priest Rapids power project.
The Power Interests who are furth-
ering the development of Priest Rap
ids, are the largest organization in
the world engaged in developing and