Estimates published at the time- when they trucked in sections of a housing project from Vancouver Wash., and prefabs from Chehalis- were that between 2800 and 3000 workers would be living there when construction on the dam reached full swing.

With the Washington shore construction almost 40 per cent completed and the shift to the Oregon side to come any day, McNary City still is only a modest-sized community with a total population of 850. Almost 400 of these are army engineers or government employees, the remainder the “overflow” of contract workers.

Engineers and townsmen agree there is yet no cause for housing worries.

Employment Total Lower

Mayor Paul Follett of Umatilla, whose city counted on sharing the “boom” reasons this way:

“We all misfigured, including the government. From the experience at Bonneville dam which called for thousands of workers, McNary dam was expected to bring 4000 to 7000 extra workers in our midst.”

“Apparently they don’t build dams that way any more,” he said. “This one is going through with more machinery and less manpower. The majority are skilled laborers. There just is no big labor force.”

Army engineers at the damsite say the work has reached its stride, that the present work force of about 1200 contract laborers and 350 engineers is getting things done on schedule.

McNary City, as it has grown today out of an area of sand and sagebrush, has imported many of the modern conveniences, including its own police and fire departments.

It is the “home town” for the entire corps of army engineers, hundreds of administrative employees and some of the contract workers while the dam is in progress.

Its water comes from a 702-foot artesian well and electricity from Bonneville. They’re putting in a new substation that will handle a 12,000-kilowatt load, enough power for McNary City and all the work on the Oregon shore.

Some 200 family units, sawed up into two and three-bedroom apartments, brought by barge and truck from the McLoughlin Heights housing project and bedroom units are now under construction all to be frame single-story dwellings with white rolled composition roofing.

Trailer Space Unfilled

On one edge of the city, space has been set aside for 200 trailers, but at present only 40 have moved in.

The corps of engineers, which runs McNary City, has equipped all family units with refrigerators, ranges and built-in electric heaters. These rent for $52 and $56 a month.

A rambling new building designed as an all-purpose business center was built in the midst of McNary City to serve the future needs of its residents. The city’s only barber shop already has moved in, the beauty shop is scheduled to open there next week and a huge shopping center about September 1.

40 in Security Force

A joint force of 30 security guards makes up the police and fire departments as needed. Present equipment includes three patrol wagons and three pumpers, all housed in the main administration building. Because there are no jail facilities, violators will be taken to Pendelton, some 30 miles away.

By co-operative agreement with Umatilla county school district, McNary City’s 200 youngsters attend the Umatilla schools. Work is scheduled to start next year on a school within McNary City.

The Green Hut cafe is one of a string put on damsites in the Pacific Northwest by C.D.