Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1955-01-28

Columbia Falls Chamber of
Commerce has written Senators
James E. Murray and Mike Mans
field and Congressman Lee Metcalf
supporting further investigation
of the proposed diversion of the
Flathead's Middle Fork into Hun
cry Horse reservoir"
The letters of Jan. 81 follow ac-
ton by the chamber at their Jan.
10 meeting.
The letter states: 1--WE think
Middle Fork diversion is more
practical since it offers two sites
that do not infringe on Glacier
National Park, and those higher
sites also will not create any rail-
road line or highway relocations
whatsoever.
''The timber cut of 1854 and
1855 cannot be sustained in the
Flathead, and we must look to
the development of other resour-
ces. The situation where diverted
water from the Middle Fork can
be stored at Hungry Horse, pro-
duce power there, and then see the
water refused at downstream
plants seems good business"
This move on, the part Of the
Columbia Falls chamber is In
line with the objective that more
electric power and better roads
are keys to the FIathead's flu
ture prosperity.
The Columbia Falls delegation
that met with the Kalispell cham
Der officers and directors Tuesday
morning on the North Fork road
also told, Of the recommendation
for further study of Middle Fork
diversion.
The Kalispell chamber has been
interested in this project and is the
leader in water resources develop
ment in the Flathead.
Opposition to the proposed div
ersion comes from wildlife man.
agement specialists.
Ross Wilson, Kalispell, district
supervisor for the Montana State
fish and game department, talking
from a personal standpoint ano
informally brought out the situa-
ton that damned streams inter
fered with the spawning activity
of fish.
The South Fork is damned
Montana does not control the up.
stream headwaters of the NORTH
Fork. Only undisturbed majo
stream is the Middle Fork.
This Knowledge of wildlife OPP
position. prompted Columbia Fall
chamber Recommendation tina
further Investigation of the pro
posed diversion" be made. Their
may be ways to safeguard tn
Flathead's. fishing resource an,
have the diversion project.
In mind is the end of aluminium
plant construction that followe
Hungry Horse Dam construction
A construction project and result
ant power for industry will pro
vide employment during the build
ing stage and later. The Flathea
now has over 1900 men workin
at the aluminium plant. Next ia
this drops toward $50. The plar
results from Hungry Horse Dan
The question of more dams hs
been discussed frequently by OF
gained labor groups in the vale.
One labor leader commente
that the Middle Fork diversio
project looked fine.
However he added that labt
would want to do nothing tn;
would in anyway hamper Libt
, Dam, and for that matter interfe1
with getting Glacier View.
Il Columbia Falls Chamber att
tude is that nothing should be dor
+ to hamper Libby Dam, but that Il
Flathead does not seem able to 6
a any substantial agreement {
r building Glacier View. The MIDI
z, Fork project, it is believed, won
S arouse less local as well as nj
i. tional controversery. Some pc
IT sons who are completely oppos
to Glacier View, may work
S Middle Fork diversion. M