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