Hungry Horse news., 1948-07-09
Blast Will Start Dam BuildinQ

A blast will echo up the Flat
head rivers south fork shortly
after II noon Saturday when Mon
tana's Governor Sam Ford offic-
tally starts construction of Hun
cry Horse dam, the worlds fourth
largest built of concrete.
The charge will be set off by
the governor from the vista point
at the end of the upper access road
overlooking the damsite, and the
explosion will occur near river le-
vel 500 feet below on the left
bank.
Being built at a cost of $780,
100000, Hungry Horse dam will
be 520-feet high and 2,115 feet ac-
ross. 1t is the largest single post
war bureau of reclamation prof.
ect, and will be next to Grand Coil
lee, Hoover and Shasta dams for
size.
The Saturday program marking
the start of the new multiple-pur-
pose dam will begin at 10 a. nj.
at the Flathead county airport
with the welcoming of the plane
carrying William E. Warne, as
sistant secretary of interior; Mi
chael w. Straus, commissioner of
reclamation and members of their
party from Washington D. C.
At 1920 a. m. buffet luncheon
for the visitors will be sponsored
by Columbia Falls chamber of
commerce officers in the VIEW
club.
Morning activities at the Hun
cry Horse project softball diamond
just off highway No. 2 will start
at 11:3O with a parade that will
feature an estimated 100 horse
back riders from Kalispell, White
fish, Bolton and Columbia Falls
in addition to bands and drum and
bugle corps from Missoula, Kalis-
pell and Whitefish. Grand mar
shall will be H. J. Kelly, veteran
Montana newspaperman, who was
the first editor to realize the pos
sibilities of Hungry Horse dam.
Floats representing the logging,
fishing, hunting and other activ-
tiles of the Hungry Horse area are
being sponsored by the several
communities.
At noon the governor and the
official party will arrive at the
vista point overlooking the dam
site. Limiting the size of the party
will be parking facilities on the
upper access road which is built
along a canyon-like wall.
However the brief Is minutes
of activity that takes place at
the high vista point will be broad
cast to the audience at the celeb
ration grounds through a special
public address system.
Giving three minute speeches
will be Clyde H. Spencer, Hungry
Horse project engineer; R. j. Ne
well, regional director. bureau OF
reclamation, and Governor sam
Ford who will then set off he
blast. Master of ceremonies Will
be Don Treloar and A. F. Winkler
of the Flathead Citizens commit
tee, sponsors of the celebration.
Leon Phillips is general program
chairman.
The official party will return to
the celebration grounds at 12:45
D. m. Rev. Russell ]. Prentice, ka-
lispell, will give the invocation,
and then will follow short talks
by William E. Warne, assistant
secretary of interior; Michael w.
Straus, commissioner of reclama-
ton; Governor Sam Ford, Sena-
tor James E. Murray, Congress
man Mike Mansfield, Richard j.
Gray, head of the AT of l. build
ing construction division; DR.. PAU
J. Raver of the Bonneville Power
administration. Also on the plat
n
chief engineer, bureau of reclama-
ton, Denver, and Frank A. Banks,
supervising engineer at the con-
struction of Grand Coulee dam.
Just before 2 p. M, the hun
griest horse" will be presented to
Assistant Secretary Warne by
Francis x. Guardipee, Blackfeet
Indian and longtime Glacier ma
tional park ranger. The free bar
becue is slated for 2:45 p. m. IN
stead of noon with Prof. F. NJ.
Harrington, Montana State coll
eye, Bozeman, in charge.
Taking place about 2 p. m. VIII
also be the historical skit present
ed by the Kalispell junior chamber
of commerce.
Columbia Falls rodeo will start
at D. m. after the dam ceremon-
les are completed. An evening in
vitational dinner is scheduled for
Lake Mcdonald hotel.
Expect More Pressure