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The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., February 23, 1912, page 1

BIG SHOVEL ON WAY
Travels to Dam Site on Specially Constructed Track

Forty men under the supervision of Stone & Webster Engineering Co. of Boston, the largest electrical contracting firm in this country, are busy excavating for the dam at the Narrows. Hustling down to bedrock is the big stunt. And that they will be able to reach bedrock there seems to be little doubt.
A 36-ton steam shovel moving along on its own specially laid sectional tract is on the road through town to the site. As a section of track is laid a donkey engine pulls the immense shovel along and the tract cleared is relaid. The probability is that Burdoin mountain will have to be rounded in the night so as not to delay teams any longer than necessary. The Underwood road was the ideal road to take the machine up, but the bridge was not considered strong enough. From the Trout Lake road teaming is done down the north side of the Conger property, but the ravine makes a stiff pull, and the company will try making another route.
The cost of the dam will depend on the height, but it is calculated it will approach close to the $100,000 mark. The power for which the dam is being made is to be carried to Camas for the big paper mills, and, perhaps, for some other uses.