Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-23
new DAM PROJECT
ON COLUMBIA RIVER
! TOCOST $6Q,oDO,o))
lo,0 900 Expected to Get Jobs
on First Unit of East
Washington Plant.
ny JAMES DE X. BROWN.

SEATTLE, July 22-Western Wash
fngton laid aside all its troubles this
week and played. The United States
Fleet was modified In the waters OF
Puget Sound.
Fleet week has become something OF
q tradition in the Pacific Northwest,
with the result that when the annual
visit Is made to these waters, the ports
all celebrate. This year has been no
exception.
While Western Washington was en-
raged In entertaining the fleet, the
Eastside was busy harvesting q bumper
wheat crop under conditions Whlch
promise to the growers the first real re-
turn for their product In several years.
The crops were planted cheaply: plenty
dominated. The harvest finds wheat
touching the 81 mark and the growers
are happy.
Dam Project Begun.
Incidentally. the Eastside also cele-
brated the beginning Of its dream OF
years, the construction of vast hydro
electric project, damming the Columbia
River and providing water for power
and reclamation purposes. At last this
work IS actually started, with every
prospect that when the preliminary pro-
gram Is completed the necessary $780,
. DOC, 900 for the first unit will be leaned
by the Government, and work will be
provided for approximately 10000 men.
At the same time he was engaged in
aiding the celebration on the Coulee
Dam project, Gov. Martin also by
proclamation approved the findings Of
. special legislative committee, provid-
ing for the construction Of a 3-unit
canal connecting the Columbia River
with Willapa and Grays Harbor and
Puget Sound at Olympia, the southern
end Of this vast inland sea-
The canal will give sheltered inland
route from the Columbia to Puget
Sound, eliminating the necessity for
rafting Oregon timber consigned to
Washington tide water mills. This,
when the canal is finished, can be
hauled in ordinary booms from the
Columbia to Alaska, all inland water.
The cost will be S33,000,000, OF
which $4,000 900 will be required on
the Grays Harbor- Puget Sound end
The plans call for q canal having a
12-foot depth, deep enough for barg-
ing, rafting and handling small craft.
Rear Admiral Luther E. Gregory,
q. 8. NJ, retired, Is one Of the members
Of the commission. Federal funds will
Be sought to carry on the work. The
project will be self nquidating under q
toll system.
Dispose Of Chickens
The rapidly increasing price Of wheat
plus the processing tax on flour, has
not q yet caused any increase in the
price Of bread In the larger centers OF
the State, but has had the effect OF
causing poultry growers to talk about a
'retrenchment" policy in egg produc-
ton. Some Of the smaller ranchers
are inclined to feel that 81 wheat is
too costly to raise eggs on. and these
are starting. to market their hens for
meat. The larger cooperative growers,
on the other hand, are more optimistic,
feeling that the return of the men to
the camps and woods will start the de-
mand for eggs and higher prices will
prevail.
The dairy people are already feel
ing the results OF q slight increase in
butter fat, although until the purchas-
ing power Of the workers Is restored
butter will not reach anything like the
peak Of more prosperous times.
Reports from the welfare groups OF
the various counties show more return
ing 10 employment daily Win result
ant let down on commissary demands
Increasing interest in gold production
has tended to revive the industry. For
the first time in three or more years
the Alaska trade is awakening, and
commerce Is showing an increase in
addition to the seasonal fisheries and
canning season demands.
In recent weeks there has been q
steady how Of former Alaskans gold
hunters, mining engineers, and in
estorS, going North.