The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1935-06-05
Spend Huge Sum
At Coulee Dam
$ll, 100000 Set As Total To June
/; O'Sullivan Points To
Progress Made

Progress Made
SPOKANE, June 3-(SpeciaD-
That the Grand Coulee project is
making very satisfactory progress on
all fronts, is the statement given out
here today at the office Of the Co.
lumbia Basin commission. Commits
sion officials are greatly pleased
with the remarkable progress being
| made at the Grand Coulee damsite,
when construction records are be-
ing broken every week, and with the
favorable outlook in Washington, D.
| c., for the construction of the Grand
Coulee high dam. James O'Sullivan,
secretary of the commission, lists
the following facts in support of the
| statement:
| /. That up to June l, 1885, the
| total expenditures on the project
have amounted to nearly $l1,O0O, 900,
and that by the end of the fiscal
year, June 30, 1885, expenditures will
have amounted to more than $12,-
100000.
2. That engineering and con-
struction on the project, prelimin-
airy to the construction of the dam
itself, is speedily reaching compile
ton, and that every provision neces-
sary to the construction of the
Grand Coulee dam is being made
so that work on the structure can
be undertaken when authorized.
High Dam Favored
3. That public opinion throughout
the Northwest, so necessary to favor
able action by the federal govern
ment, has rapidly cryStalllzed in
favor Of the high dam and reclama-
ton; that as the project is becom-
ing better understood, it is obtain
ing many adherents in the East;
and that support of the project
throughout the State OF Washing
ton is becoming very enthusiastic
now that the commission and our
congressional delegation are strong
ly supporting the bill introduced in
congress by Congressman Hill to
amend the Public Works act so that
employees on the project can be
drawn from all sections Of the state
of Washington without giving pre-
ference, in the first instant, to resi-
dents of the counties in which the
work is being done.
4. That the project is about to
secure firm, incontestable legal
status through the impending pass
age by congress of the Johnson
Ford bill, authorizing the Grand
Coulee dam and other public works
projects; that this bill has already
passed the senate and has been fav-
orably reported out by the Flood
Control committee of the house;
and that the recent decisions OF fed
eral courts adverse to the MIRA and
the Tennessee valley development
do not apply to the Grand Coulee
project, since it has long been
accepted that the United States has
the constitutional right to develop
and sell electric power incident to
the development of works for navl-
cation, flood control and reclama-
ton.
Must Complete Dam Now
5. That it has been known for some
time that the national administra-
ton has realized that, because of
sound economic and engineering
reasons, the Grand Coulee high dam
must be built in one operation in
stead of In two units; and that
there is good reason to believe that
the federal government will soon
issue change order directing the
contractors to expend the amount OF
their contract in the construction of
the high dam in the place of the
low dam.
| 6. That while there seems to be
some question in Washington, D. c.,
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of beginning
the reclamation works this year,
there is still strong hope in official
circles for an ALLEGATION of funds
for this purpose.
"The people of the State Of Wash
ington have every reason to be
grateful for the Grand Coulee pro-
ject," said Mr.. O'Sullivan. 'This
development is now giving employ
ment directly to nearly 5000 resi-
dents of this state, and, indirectly,
to another 5000. The construction
of the high dam and the reclama-
| ton of the Columbia Basin lands