Evening star., 1948-06-13
Engineers Try 10 Plug
Flood Channel, Save
Biq Aluminium Plant
By the Assoeiofed Press

BY the Associofed Press
PORTLAND, Ore, June 12.-Army
Engineers began an attempt today
to plug a narrow flood channel and
save a s43yo0o,oOO aluminium plant
near here
The attempt began as the costliest
Columbia River flood in history
climbed slowly here toward its third
crest in three weeks.
Damage continued to mount In
the multi millions. Five deaths were
reported yesterday. The known toll
was SO lives, including five from
vanport. The Red Cross said its
steadily dwindling list OF Vanport
missing was down to %.
Upriver the situation eased as the
crest passed. For the first time in
two weeks the water level was sta
tionary at Boundary, Wash. The
Weather Bureau forecast a slight
fall along the entire Columbia
stretch above Grand Coulee Dam.
Situation Better at Richland.
The situation also improved at
threatened Richland, Wash, near
the Hanford atomic energy plant
below Grand Coulee. The plant it
self was not endangered, but earlier
there were fears for part of the
town.
The greatest threats were in the
12O-nile stretch from Portland to
the sea. The new crest of 3O.2 feet
-15.2 above flood LEVELS expected
for three days at Vancouver, Wash,
beginning Monday.
That is opposite the shore where
engineers attempted to save the
Reynolds Metals Co. aluminium
plant.
The river, flooding through mar
row slough, preached a dixie yester-
day and poured over the Portland
airport, four golf courses and sub
urban homes and farms located IN
a narrow 10-mile stretch OF land.
Secondary Dixie Guards Plant.
At the far end of the stretch is
a secondary dixie guarding the
aluminium plant. Water, its flow
CONSTRUCTED by the slough, rose
slowly on the secondary dixie today.
In the slough engineers drove piling,
and hurriedly dropped logs. rock
and gravel.
other threats continued down.
river. Engineers said dikes would
remain in very critical" condition
for four days. These included q
levee protecting the 1S,50o-popula-
ton city of Longview, Wash, and
many guarding valuable dairyland.
All diking districts were on a "a
hour alert in the lower river area.
Thousands worked in repair gangs
near Portland, Sauvies Island,
Clatskanie and the Longview-Kelso
area.
The Weather Bureau reported
that not only was the upper Co.
Ilumbia beginning to fall. but that
the Snake River, major tributary
Iof the yower Columbia, was drop
ping. 1t went down six inches at
Pasco, Wash.
Storms Harass Area.
Hardships were no. over, however,
for the upriver area, which was
cleaning up from cloudbursts and
localized flash floods. Ritzville
fRichland, Harrington, Yakima ano
Waterville, Wash, all were struck
Iby the torrential storms.
The pumping plant at Wenatchee,
Wash, was knocked out, leaving the
Icitys $4,000 residents short OF
drinking water. 1t was expected to
take three more days to repair the
Iplant.
In Canada the situation also i'm
proved. The Fraser River developed
no new threats. At Trail. B. c., on
the upper Columbia, the river drop
ped slightly and dikes hello despite
heavy doWnpour.
Sandbags were needed there, how
ever. and the Canadian Air Force
/ was expected to Ey in 500, 600.