The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1938-04-21
Army Engineers
Favor Building
Umatilla Dam

Districts Urging Con-
gress Hurry Sanction
of Project as Relief
Without further development of
the transportation facilities of the
Columbia River, the fullest benefits
from the irrigation end of the Cou-
lee project will never be achieved, it
was pointed out to those who recent
ly attended a banquet following an
open river meeting in Lewiston.
Chief factor in this development is
the construction of the Umatilla
Dam. This, with three others up
the Snake river, will comprise the
opening of navigation from Lewis
ton to the sea.
Army engineers have made rec
concentrations to congress for the
Improvement Of the channels and
the building of the four new dams,
Co. Robins, announced at the meet
ing.
Instead of expanding $12, 1000, 900
to $15,000,O00 in the dredging Of q
six-foot channel, it is more feasible
to contemplate the construction of
the Umatilla dam and locks.
1T is a difficult task to make it
a cold-blooded case of engineering
and to recommend the expenditure
of between 100000 and $6O,OOO,-
900 between Umatilla and Lewiston
and the engineers have been requir-
ed to show justification for the
proposed expense. Billions are being
expended for work relief and this
project offers unlimited possibilities.
The engineers have endeavored to
show an actual saving sufficient to
pay for the cost of construction thru
the irrigation of adjoining areas. the
development Of power, the crea-
ton of additional tonnage and many
indirect benefits. We once had q
low-dam series dream, but that has
been discarded in favor of the sug-
gested expenditure of $30,0OO,OO0 at
Umatilla and the four dams on the
upper river.
"The Snake and Columbia rivers
have fascinated me ever since I be-
came associated with the army en-
yineers in this district because of
their constituting a wonderful trade
route to the seas. I have done what
could to get the improvement plan
On a working basis. I believe that,
under the leadership of 1t. Col. Lee
he engineers will be able within a
lew years to make navigation posi-
Die from the Pacific to lewiston
TO bring about these results you
people who now present a united
'front.', must continue to fight the
oattle. If you proceed in the prop
r manner with the people united
rom Lewiston to The Dalles, never
AXE mo- for an answer and keep
IN keeping on, you will wear some
body down." Col. Robins said.
B. M. Huntington, Walla Walla, in
;peaking about Col. Robins at the |
Meeting, credited him with pushing
navigation up the Columbia 200 |
niles during the past four years. He
that transportation of a |
,ushel of wheat from Lewiston to |
idewater now costs 18c and that
With river transportation available |
his figure should be reduced to &c
o &c per bushel.
The construction of the Umatilla |
Dam will mean much to this par
ocular area, both in the increase in
he value of property and the re-
luction in freight rates to the sea-
,oard. In the opinion of many in
ormed persons this project is the |
most important-and at the pres
mt time-the livest possibility in the |
development of the Northwest. Also,
With the imminent expenditure of |
huge government sums in the form
# relief, such a permanent project
would prove an ideal time and place
or the expenditure.
Some of the towns between Ken
lewick and The Dalles are making
determined efforts to have the UNI
.tilla Dam brought to the atten-
ion of congress. Well organized
are now being conducted
or this purpose, the town of Her
niston having raised fund and
las a man in charge of the work.