The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., March 22, 1935, page 1

CHIEF ENGINEER OF BONNEVILLE DAM IN TOWN

     Chief Engineer Gorelinski, who has charge of government engineering work at the Bonneville dam, was the guest at a special meeting of the local chamber of commerce held Tuesday evening at the Masonic hall. He was ac-companied by Lieut. Myers, of the Engineering Corps. The chief engineer explained in detail the work now going on at the dam, showing maps and pictures of the work. Lieut. Myers also made a brief talk on the river work and what the government proposes to do to make the Columbia navigable to ocean vessels.
     During the day Chief Engineer Gorelinski had received word from Washington, D.C., that upper river channel improve-ments from Celilo, to Wallula would receive a boost. The dispatch stated that the house river and harbors committee had reported, favorably the Mansfield bill authorizing expenditure of $272,000,000 for improvements of the nation's navigable streams and ports.
     Projects listed in the bill in-cluded the Celilo-Wallula channel under an appropriation of $400,000. Long recommended by the war department1 the channel project has been awaiting funds from the public works administrator. If the present bill is passed by congress however, the funds will be provided at an early date and I work can begin immediately, according to the engineers.
     Chief Engineer Gorelinski stated that army engineers have been making a comprehensive study of the channel for providing open water for barges and river boats to a depth of seven feet, from the upper entrance of the Celilo canal to the swift water at the foot of Umatilla rapids -- a distance of more than 100 miles.
     This survey is now virtually complete and will allow actual work to begin just as soon as the necessary funds are made available, it was stated.
     The $4,000,300 included in the Mansfield bill is the total estimated cost of the project.
     Government engineers have been working at Umatilla since February 1, making what seems a permanent survey for a dam, it was stated. Columbia river improvements under way will bring transportation from its mouth to Umatilla, 360 miles.
     Upward of 50 per cent of the tonnage of the Inland Empire originates within 50 miles of the Snake and Columbia rivers. The heavy tonnage of the Yakima valley is in the immediate vicinity of the Columbia or within 26 miles, between Yakima and Priest rapids on the Columbia. Walla Walla and valley are 30 miles from the river at Wallula, with heavy grain, and vegetable tonnage.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer