Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-09-24
NECESSITY FOR DAM GOES
FAR BEYOND RECLAMATION
Foes Of Project Making Efforts
70 Block Appropriations With
False Statements

In q press release issued in Spokane
Wednesday. James O'Suliivan. secret.
ary OF the Columbia Basin Commission,
| laid: eff certain statements recently
made about the status OF the Grand
Uoulee dam are true. it will be almost
Impossible to secure appropriations
for the completion of the project.
cit Is claimed that the reclamation
of the Columbia basin lands is the on
ty factor that justifies the completion
Of the Grand Coulee dam and thai
the authorization OF the dam, canals
and incidental structures by congress-
in August, 1895. has. in effect. been
repealed by the amendment to the In
terror supply Bill passed in the last
session of congress. From these incor-
rect premises. it is argued that con-
| gress will have to obligate itself to
| total expenditure Of $393.000.OOU.
the estimated cost of the completed
Columbia basin project. before it can
be expected to appropriate any funds
| for the completion of the Grand Cou-
lee dam. -
What It Means
..Let us consider what these as
sertions, if true. really mean. They
challenge the validity Of the authoriz-
alton Of the Grand Coulee-Coiumbla
basin project. and would strip 1T OF
nard-won rights already gained. They
imply that we Will have to go back 70
congress again and ask 1t to obligata
itself to the total expenditure OF
! 1898. 900. 900 before we can hope to
secure any further appropriations for
the completion OF the Grand Couiee
dam. They strongly infer that unless
we can induce congress to 60 sled
length for reclamation. there Is ABB
solutely no justification for the COM
pletion of Grand Coulee and that all
work thereon should be stopped.
4 Most Justifiable Proiecs
Fortunately, Grand Coulee does
not have to. depend. solely upon <rec-
4 iamation fol its qualification. fts{sths
soundest and most justified river and
harbor project in the United States.
1t will materially reduce FLOODS. IN,
crease the navigability of the Column
bia for 75O miles and add several mil
lion commercial horsepower to the
potentialities OF the stream from
Grand Coulee to its mouth. Unlike
most other river and harbor projects.
Grand Coulee will generate sufficient
power to pay for the dam and power
plant and one-half the cost Of reclaim
alton within fifty years after the
completion OF the dam. Grand Coulee
is fully justified, even without reclaim
alton.
Has Not Repealed Act
! "Congress has not repealed the riv.
er and harbor act of August, 1885,
which authorized the Grand Coulee
dam, canals and incidental structures.
The amendment to the Interior supply
Bill did not repeal this act and did
not limit the obligations Of the United
States for the construction OF tho
Grand Coulee project to $63,000.Q00.
The amendment simply required that
all funds for Grand Coulee should. in
the future, be appropriated by con-
gress. In the debate In the senate on
the report of the conference COM
mittee which prepared and sponsored
the amendment, Senator Hayden. SEN
ate floor leader Of the conference COM
mittee, said:
Authorization Not Affected
:" 1t IS evident that this restric-
ton (rcferring to the amendment)
cannot in any manner affect the law
authorizing the construction of the
project. 1t merely provides that no
money shall be appropriated to con-
tinue the constructors Of that dam
and incidental works, once 1t is COM
pleted to the height that is now
contracted fos. unless congress shall
mako specific grant for that pur-
pose. r. other words. thu .'asic law an.
thorizing the conn1ruclrM ~t 80
Grand Couico dam Ia unt changed ~
this liulitarNs;.'
"It is quito rlaar. .nevrfore. tuus
congress has alresov o,D.,ntt1ad u.
self to the completion RI me GnsIs1
Coulee dam and thu rctlametinn c. rms
Columbia basin lands.
Dam Will Pay For Itself
Congress authorized the construc-
ton of the complete proieri u,aiy s-ssss'r
Congressman Sam B. Hill mad assafed
il that the revenues from the sale %
Grand Coulee power would pay Sor
the dam, the power plaAe. and One-
half tho cost of reclamation would nu<
(Centinued ~ page 81