Montana labor news., 1938-03-31
ANACONDA RALLIES BEHIND GREAT FALLS
DEFENDANTS AS DEFENSE SPREADS OVER STATE
0'(0NNELL STRIVES.
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
HUNGRY HORSE DAM
Secretary Kennedy Testifies at
Missoula Hearing.

MISSOULA.- Especially - Repre-
sentative Jerry j. O'Connell con-
tinued his efforts this week for a
public power program in Montana
by insisting that the army engineers
who conducted a hearing at Mis-
soula on March 10Th give considera-
ton to the necessity of the immedi-
ate construction of the Hungry Horse
dam in Flathead County.
The hearing which was conduct
ed as a result of a bill which Con-
gresham O'Connell introduced and
secured passage of was for the pur-
pose of determining what benefits
from power irrigation and reclama-
ton would ensue to the territory
adjacent to the damsite by the con
struction of this project.
In addition to the survey bill al
ready passed, O'Connell has intro
duced a bill providing for an appro-
priation to construct the dam. This
bill is nov pending before the House
rivers and harbor committee and
O'Connell requested the army engi-
neers to expedite a report following
the hearing in order that informa-
ton would be available to the House
committee studying the bill during
the present session.
From Washington Congressman
O'Connell sent the following tele-
gram to Colonel Thomas Robbins,
who conducted the hearing in Mis-
soula: 81 have delegated my secre-
tary, John E. Kennedy, to represent
me at the hearing of the survey of
the Hungry Horse dam in Flathead
County, Montana. I sincerely hope
you will permit Mr.. Kennedy to be
present and testify as l assure you
that if it were possible I would be
present to urge the construction of
the Hungry Horse dam and the i'm
mediate undertaking of the neces-
sary survey as l believe this project
one of the most feasible flood con-
troll, irrigation and power projects
in the country"
In his testimony Kennedy stressed
the necessity for public power in
the state of Montana, particularly
because of figures which he quoted
from the Rural Identification Ad-
m~inistration setting forth that 80 per
cent of all farm homes in the II
counties in the First District of Mon
tana were without electric service.
In addition he cited figures show
ing that rs per cent of these same
farm homes were without radios, IS
per cent without telephones while rs
per cent had automobiles with 80
per cent having no water piped into
the house. He also urged the i'm
mediate construction because of the
necessity for flood control and
reclamation and stated that no finer
project was available for considera-
ton in the state of Montana than
the Hungry Horse damsite.
Kennedy stated that an effort had
been made to have the Hungry
Horse dam become a living monu-
ment to some individuals in Flat
head County who though giving lip
service to the project actually were
working in IN ~undercover manner
to defeat its construction. He stated
the project was SO big and its effect
would be SO ~far-reaching that honest
effort on the part of all who de-
sired the project should be given
consideration.
Congressman O'Connell, who has
long been a fighter for public power,
has fought consistently for the Hun
cry Horse dam since his entrance to
Congress last year and through his
efforts actual construction is now
closer than ever before. In a state
ment in Washington this week,
OConnell said, u intend to continue
my efforts not only for the Hungry
Horse dam but for public power at
Fort Peck and for the construction
of the Gallatin dam in Gallatin
County and many other power, irri-
CATION and water conservation prof.
ects for Montana"
Kennedy also appeared with a
delegation from the Bitterroot Val
ley in Ravalli County who requested
a $150,000 appropriation for a flood
control project in the West Fork of
the Bitterroot river. Following the
hearing Kennedy left Missoula for
Helena and from there left for
Washington, D. c., by plane.