White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-09-05

1t was but few short years ago that the devel-
opment of power on the Columbia river was a
dream spun by few men who hoped some day to
see huge dams blocking the river with transmits
sion lines spreading out to every district of the
Northwest. 10 Others the future was bright with
dreams of transportation on the river, made pos
sible by the construction of locks at strategic
points to enable ocean going ships to come up the
Columbia hundreds of miles to carry the wheat and
fruit OF the great inland empire to market at
low freight rates.
1t was not until two short years ago that these
dreams began to show possibilities of becoming
realities. federal government intent on putting
men to work and Fastening recovery authorized
the construction of Bonneville Dam on the lower
river, for navigation and power PURPOSES and the
construction Of the Grand Coulee dam on the up
per river for the development of power and the
ultimate reclamation of over million acres of
arid but irrigable lands.
In order to coordinate the work being done at
these two projects, we'll as to promote an or
derby development of other power sites on the
river, measure introduced to Congress dur
Ing the last session to create a Columbia Valley
Authority, which would be in charge of any de-
velopment This move was at first acclaimed bv
the residents OF the Northwest, who believed that
1t would open the gateway to still further develop
ment
Now, however, we are told by an Ephrata group
and the Wenatchee World-that the creation of
this authority will hinder the construction of the
high dam at Grand Coulee; that it will eliminate
the states having any voice in the operation of
the project and that in effect it is Just an attempt
to create another political machine
1t is of vital Importance to the residents of the
Columbia valley-especially that middle section
which hopes to see the construction of Umatila
and Priest Rapids dams in the near future-to
study this matter and form intelligent opinion
as to- whether a Columbia Valley Authority will
or will not better the interests of the people
than the present agencies in charge of the work
Several charges have been made by the oppo11-
ents OF the eva which we believe are rather far
fetched. They say, for example, that the creation
OF this commission will give other states a ma
Jouty voice IN the program for the future It is
true that this one project is entirely within the
state OF Washington and that the major portion
OF the undeveloped potential power is within this
state, and yet the Columbia rivers watershed is
spread over number of states The river is fed
by streams rising in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
and Oregon, as we'll as in small portions of other
western states, and any development on the lower
reaches OF the river is important to them Just as
1t is to u.s. Since other states had voice in the
undertaking OF construction it is onlv fair that
they have voice in the management of the pro-
jects when completed.
In order to secure the maximum benefits of the
development of the Columbia, all projects should
be considered as part of one complete unit
That method which will bring this about u.s. we
beleve the best. Before passing JUDGMENT on the
IVA, we should investigate the manner in which
1t Will be set up and how it will operate There is
much at stake in the development of the river and
it would seem wise to withhold judgment until the
complete facts are known and understood