The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-11-28

sion lines TO carry power from
! federal dams over the widest pos
sible area at the lowest possible
] cost.
2. BPA SHALL observe the
preference clause" relating to
sale of power to municipalities,
rural electric co-operatives, etc.
3. BPA is power marketing
agency. BPA does not build dams.
1t transmits and sells power. Hydro
electric dams and plants are built
either by the Army Engineers or
Bureau of Reclamation in the Co
lumbia basin.
Reviewing the growing Importance
of power to the nation, and the role
the Columbia basin is playing and
will eventually play, DR.. Raver point
ed out that private and public pow
er development in the nation is now
70 million kilowatts. Potential CO.
lumbia basin development is 35 mil
lion.
Emphasizing the need for inte-
grafton of all power development in
the basin, Raver stated that unless
there is indignation the nation
stands to lose about 20 million of
the basins 35 million XIV potential.
Swinging at those who proclaim
the sacredness of water rights, the
speaker stated we should do more
about "water obligations "The peo-
pie of the upstream areas" said Ra-
yer, "have some obligations to those
of the downstream areas - and Il
vice versa"
Commenting on the two down
stream fears in the basin = floods |
and droughts, Raver stated 1--WE need |
storage space for some 27 million |
acre feet to handle the spring run
off :" and thus eliminate those
two basic fears, as we'll as to provide |
a maximum amount of firm power
the year round.
WOULD CONSIGN MUCH OF NV.
MONTANA TO WATERY GRAVE
To solve the storage problem in
part, as well as to develop more pow
er for BPA, Raver pointed to the i'm
oortance of construction of Paradise,
Libby and Glacier View dams in
northwestern Montana. Although the
three dams would produce a huge
amount of electricity and would ma
,erially aid in regulating the flow of
he Columbia, they would also in
1ndate many thousands of acres of
agricultural, timber and national
park lands.
For example, should the propos-
ed Paradise d m in Sanders
county be constructed, the val
ley above the dam for approx
mately 40 miles upstream would
be inundated. Scores of farms
and ranches and the towns of Dix
on and Perma, among others, !
would be under water. Further,
a minimum of fifty miles of NPRR
mainline tracks, twenty five or 7
more miles of highway, and many
miles of power lines, would have
TO De TSlOCdlSd dDofC the ddUl
high water level.
EDITORS NOTE: The expense
f resettling farmers and relocating
abroad, highways and power lines
light be justified from the eventual !
enefits the Columbia Basin would !
eceive from the Paradise dam. How
yer, before such dam is built there .
Just be more evidence of it's worth i
ian just the word of the Army Engi- =
eers-an agency notorious for it's .
nsound judgment on matters per- !;
lining to efficient water usage and y
equation, whether for power, navi- =
alton or flood control. .
INE DAMS UNDER =
4
Nine federal dams are under con- q
ruction in the basin today, in addi- - -
On to the completed Coluee and d
onneville dams. These nine dams ~
II add 100000 kilowatts of pow 8
to present supplies. Of this g. q
$1,000 will be firm power. g
However, according to Raver, the g