MCNARY POWER NEEDED FOR SUPERSONIC RESEARCH

While five groups have been marshalling opposition to the McNary multiple-purpose dam on the Columbia, at least four of the groups have been set back upon their heels by a revelation from Senator Guy Cordon, Oregon’s senior senator, that engineers of the National Advisory Council of Aeronautics are considering the construction of a mammoth experimental plant in the Pacific Northwest to conduct supersonic research.

Negotiations had been under way and under cover with Bonneville Power Administration when Senator Cordon “broke” the story. NACA engineers and W. Stuart Symington, Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation, explain that a tremendous load of power than Boulder Dam or other western hydro developments-but the Northwest will require even more power than is now available to meet the demand of a laboratory that will cover many square miles. Estimated cost of the research project is placed at $500 million.

Groups which have been opposing McNary Dam are: (1) commercial fishing interests on Columbia River; (2) National Association of Electric Companies; (3) John L. Lewis of United Mine Workers; (4) eastern interests apprehensive that power will cause many industries to move to the Northwest; (5) part of the congressional delegation of Washington state.

Columbia River commercial fishing interests have contended that additional dams will destroy the salmon run. Officials of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (formerly the Biological Survey) have studied the fish angle and state that, while the run will not exterminate the salmon. The investigation has not been completed but is continuing. This progress report of the Fish and Wildlife Service has swung Representative Henry Jackson, Washington, to the support of the dam.

The National Association of Electric Companies is opposed in principle to any further Federal development of dams with power, since government power competes with free enterprise.

Mr. Lewis is opposed to increasing the kilowatts in the United States, for each additional installation of hydro he regards as a threat against his miners’ union, for hydroelectric generators do not require coal. This is also his objection to the proposed St. Lawrence waterway. Railroads hauling gondolas of coal share the views of Mr. Lewis. Coal-mine operators agree with Mr. Lewis and the railroads. However, coal is a minor factor in the economy of the Pacific Northwest, since this is essentially an area of falling waters-ideal for hydro power.

There are two reasons why eastern interests object to McNary Dam-The fear that (1) attractive power rates (public and private) will lure eastern industries into this virgin field of opportunity, and (2) that some of the taxes the East pays into the United States Treasury will be appropriated for the dam on the Columbia.

Completely ignored is the fact that most of the money for Bonneville and Grand Coulee was spent in the East.

Washington’s congressional delegation is now wholly sympathetic to McNary Dam. They recognize that, if the supersonic laboratory comes to the Pacific Northwest (possibly in the Big Bend Country, or near Moses Lake in a section of the 1,200,000 acres to be reclaimed in eastern Washington), existing facilities of Bonneville and Grand Coulee must be supplemented with additional power. For the laboratory ample power is a prerequisite.

Incidentally, the existing Federal plants will continue to supply four pot lines at Troutdale-leased by Reynolds Metals Company-and two aluminum plants near Spokane, leased by Henry J. Kaiser.

MCNARY POWER NEEDED FOR SUPERSONIC RESEARCH

While five groups have been marshalling opposition to the McNary multiple-purpose dam on the Columbia, at least four of the groups have been set back upon their heels by a revelation from Senator Guy Cordon, Oregon’s senior senator, that engineers of the National Advisory Council of Aeronautics are considering the construction of a mammoth experimental plant in the Pacific Northwest to conduct supersonic research.

Negotiations had been under way and under cover with Bonneville Power Administration when Senator Cordon “broke” the story. NACA engineers and W. Stuart Symington, Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation, explain that a tremendous load of power than Boulder Dam or other western hydro developments-but the Northwest will require even more power than is now available to meet the demand of a laboratory that will cover many square miles. Estimated cost of the research project is placed at $500 million.

Groups which have been opposing McNary Dam are: (1) commercial fishing interests on Columbia River; (2) National Association of Electric Companies; (3) John L. Lewis of United Mine Workers; (4) eastern interests apprehensive that power will cause many industries to move to the Northwest; (5) part of the congressional delegation of Washington state.

Columbia River commercial fishing interests have contended that additional dams will destroy the salmon run. Officials of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (formerly the Biological Survey) have studied the fish angle and state that, while the run will not exterminate the salmon. The investigation has not been completed but is continuing. This progress report of the Fish and Wildlife Service has swung Representative Henry Jackson, Washington, to the support of the dam.

The National Association of Electric Companies is opposed in principle to any further Federal development of dams with power, since government power competes with free enterprise.

Mr. Lewis is opposed to increasing the kilowatts in the United States, for each additional installation of hydro he regards as a threat against his miners’ union, for hydroelectric generators do not require coal. This is also his objection to the proposed St. Lawrence waterway. Railroads hauling gondolas of coal share the views of Mr. Lewis. Coal-mine operators agree with Mr. Lewis and the railroads. However, coal is a minor factor in the economy of the Pacific Northwest, since this is essentially an area of falling waters-ideal for hydro power.

There are two reasons why eastern interests object to McNary Dam-The fear that (1) attractive power rates (public and private) will lure eastern industries into this virgin field of opportunity, and (2) that some of the taxes the East pays into the United States Treasury will be appropriated for the dam on the Columbia.

Completely ignored is the fact that most of the money for Bonneville and Grand Coulee was spent in the East.

Washington’s congressional delegation is now wholly sympathetic to McNary Dam. They recognize that, if the supersonic laboratory comes to the Pacific Northwest (possibly in the Big Bend Country, or near Moses Lake in a section of the 1,200,000 acres to be reclaimed in eastern Washington), existing facilities of Bonneville and Grand Coulee must be supplemented with additional power. For the laboratory ample power is a prerequisite.

Incidentally, the existing Federal plants will continue to supply four pot lines at Troutdale-leased by Reynolds Metals Company-and two aluminum plants near Spokane, leased by Henry J. Kaiser.

While five groups have been marshalling opposition to the McNary multiple-purpose dam on the Columbia, at least four of the groups have been set back upon their heels by a revelation from Senator Guy Cordon, Oregon’s senior senator, that engineers of the National Advisory Council of Aeronautics are considering the construction of a mammoth experimental plant in the Pacific Northwest to conduct supersonic research.

Negotiations had been under way and under cover with Bonneville Power Administration when Senator Cordon “broke” the story. NACA engineers and W. Stuart Symington, Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation, explain that a tremendous load of power than Boulder Dam or other western hydro developments-but the Northwest will require even more power than is now available to meet the demand of a laboratory that will cover many square miles. Estimated cost of the research project is placed at $500 million.

Groups which have been opposing McNary Dam are: (1) commercial fishing interests on Columbia River; (2) National Association of Electric Companies; (3) John L. Lewis of United Mine Workers; (4) eastern interests apprehensive that power will cause many industries to move to the Northwest; (5) part of the congressional delegation of Washington state.

Columbia River commercial fishing interests have contended that additional dams will destroy the salmon run. Officials of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (formerly the Biological Survey) have studied the fish angle and state that, while the run will not exterminate the salmon. The investigation has not been completed but is continuing. This progress report of the Fish and Wildlife Service has swung Representative Henry Jackson, Washington, to the support of the dam.

The National Association of Electric Companies is opposed in principle to any further Federal development of dams with power, since government power competes with free enterprise.

Mr. Lewis is opposed to increasing the kilowatts in the United States, for each additional installation of hydro he regards as a threat against his miners’ union, for hydroelectric generators do not require coal. This is also his objection to the proposed St. Lawrence waterway. Railroads hauling gondolas of coal share the views of Mr. Lewis. Coal-mine operators agree with Mr. Lewis and the railroads. However, coal is a minor factor in the economy of the Pacific Northwest, since this is essentially an area of falling waters-ideal for hydro power.

There are two reasons why eastern interests object to McNary Dam-The fear that (1) attractive power rates (public and private) will lure eastern industries into this virgin field of opportunity, and (2) that some of the taxes the East pays into the United States Treasury will be appropriated for the dam on the Columbia.

Completely ignored is the fact that most of the money for Bonneville and Grand Coulee was spent in the East.

Washington’s congressional delegation is now wholly sympathetic to McNary Dam. They recognize that, if the supersonic laboratory comes to the Pacific Northwest (possibly in the Big Bend Country, or near Moses Lake in a section of the 1,200,000 acres to be reclaimed in eastern Washington), existing facilities of Bonneville and Grand Coulee must be supplemented with additional power. For the laboratory ample power is a prerequisite.

Incidentally, the existing Federal plants will continue to supply four pot lines at Troutdale-leased by Reynolds Metals Company-and two aluminum plants near Spokane, leased by Henry J. Kaiser.