HERMISTON HERALD, Thursday, Oct. 11, 1923– E. P. Dodd, who went as a representative of the Umatilla Rapids association to the Oregon Irrigation Congress at Vale, Oregon, gave an interesting discourse before this body concerning the Umatilla Rapids and Power project, the feasibility of which is at present being investigated.

Mr. Dodd’s speech is as follows:

The Umatilla Rapids power site, according to geologists, was prepared for our present human needs during the last few million years. The Columbia river during a tremendous flood ages ago changed its course and tore a new channel through stratas of rock and earth and wore away the lava unto its present depth. There the hardness of the basalt so resisted erosion that rapids remain to bless mankind.

Three diamond drills are now at work on the hard strata to see if nature left enough to support the weight of the dam. Whether there is a mere shell or whether there are yet ancient basaltic depths below will soon be known. If there is sufficient strength to these natural underlying arches to carry a great load of cement and stone the great scheme involved by the minds of many men will be proved feasible. Of this, there is practically no doubt. Other nearby wells have proven that the earth in this locality is well supported by solid lava beds. The work that is now being done is merely the precaution always taken by the Reclamation service in its investigations. The government never builds great structures of earth and stone and concrete without first thoroughly testing the foundation on which they are to stand forever.

So we know that a preliminary investigation will prove the feasibility of the Umatilla Rapids and in time this great irrigation, navigation and power project must be constructed.

In the first place it is the center of a great territory needing cheap electrical power. It is of equal distance from Portland, Seattle, Spokane and all intermediate points. It is near the great Yakima project; and a part, so to speak, of the greater Umatilla project, and the laten John Day, and only a short distance from the thickly settled irrigated Walla Walla districts. It is were railroads converge, with

PRESIDENT BACKS UMATILLA PROJECT

OREGONIAN, Friday, June 17, 1938 (by John W. Kelly, Wash. correspondent, The Oregonian)-President Roosevelt said today that his mind is made up to start the next step in the development of the Columbia river with a dam Umatilla, if he has legal authority.

Senator Charles L. Mc.Nary sent a brief to the White House showing that under section 202 of the national industrial recovery act the president has authority to construct river and harbor projects which have been recommended by the chief of engineers.

Quick Start Seen

It is the assumption of the Pacific northwest delegations that, having been assured of his authority to expend work relief funds on the river project, the president will earmark sufficient millions for a start immediately, which means within a few weeks.

Major-General J. L. Schely, chief of engineers, ten days ago recommended the construction of four dams on the Columbia and four dams on the Snake river.

This report, contends the Oregon senator, empowers the president to allocate funds for a dam at Umatilla.

According to the engineers the cost of Umatilla dam is estimated at $23,500,000 and the navigation dam (it does not include power) will still the waters of the Columbia half a mile beyond Kennewick, Washington, and two miles beyond the mouth of the Snake river. The complete job of canalization, with four dams on the Columbia and four on the Snake, is estimated at $64,000,000.

Pierce Sees President

Yesterday Representative Walter M. Pierce saw the president and asked for the Umatilla dam, but the president replied he wanted information as to his authority. A similar statement was made to Senator Lewis B. Schwellenbach and Senator James P. Pope. Senator McNary’s brief on the almost-forgotten NIRA section followed.

It is the intention of the White House that the government will not be held up by land prices for such acreage as is required for the project.