The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1934-09-26
ENGINEER AT COULEE DAM GIVES
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF PROJECT
Frank Banks Describes Details Of
Many Phases Of Work
To Be Done
Cites Many Benefits
Will Relieve Unemployment, New
Industries And Make Cheaper
Power Available

Construction of the high dam at
Grand Coulee will mean the SAL
vaging through irrigation Of
100000 acres of the finest body of
arid land awaiting reclamation in
the West, in the opinion of F. A.
Banks, construction engineer in
charge of the project for the U. s.
bureau Of reclamation.
In recent issue of Pacific
Builder and Engineer, Mr.. Banks
outlines interestingly the various
phases of the vast project, which he
declares would start the wheels of
industry, provide employment for
those who are idle in all parts of
the country, and, as economic con-
ditlons become normal, make power
at reasonable rates available for
new and expanding industries and
homes, with means Of sustenance
available for some of those who for
the past few years have been de-
pending upon relief for mere ex-
iStence."
Outlines Main Features
The four major features in the
order which they will probably be
undertaken at the project, are
listed thus by Mr.. Banks:
(a) The Grand Coulee high dam
and power plant.
OBJ The Grand Coulee pumping
plant and power line
Co The Grand Coulee North and
South bikes forming the Grand
Coulee reservoir.
Cd The main canals and distri-
button system.
THE total cost of the dam and
power plant is estimated at
$168 1866, 000," Mr.. Banks explains.
land the cost of the irrigation
features is estimated at sos, 265, 900
making total of 1916, 63l, 600 ex-
elusive Of interest during con-
struction.
Form Huge Lake
'"The reservoir created by the dam
will extend upstream ISL miles to
the Canadian border and have a
capacity Of 100000 acre feet in
the top 80 feet thereof. This reser-
voir is of prime Importance in the
development of the Columbia river
as whole since the regulation of
flow effected by it will increase the
firm power output at all sites be-
tween Grand Coulee and the mouth
of the Snake river by 100 per cent
and all sites below the mouth OF
the Snake river by so per cent. 1t
is because of this fact that the
Grand Coulee high dam holds the
key position in the development OF
this great natural resource and
should properly be the first to be
undertaken.
.'The Grand Coulee reservoir
formed by the North and South
bikes located at each end of the
Upper Grand Coulee will be %
miles long with an area of 2l00
acres and capacity of 1,050,000
acre feet. Its function will be to
convey irrigation water through the
Coulee, regulate the supply to the
demand and permit the use of Off
peak and secondary power for
pumping purposes.
1.-THE main canal will extend
southwark from the South dixie
about 10 miles and then divide in
to the main West canal and Main
East canal. These canals will serve
directly $1,000,000 acres and 100000
acres additional by repumping not
to exceed 100 feet"
1.-The construction period for the
low dam has. been fixed at four and
one-haf years which establishes
the completion date in the early
part of 1889, Mr.. Banks states. The
completion of the high dam would
probably require five or six years
after authorization, while the time
required for the completion of the
irrigation features would depend
upon the rate of possible settle
ment."