The Oregonian, Portland, OR., January 12, 1913, section 5, page 2
Includes photographs and an illustration.

GREATEST POWER PLANT IN WORLD PROPOSED FOR OREGON
State Engineer Lewis Recommends Harnessing of Celilo Rapids at Cost of $23,000,000 to Serve People at Low Rate -- 300,000 to 536,000 Horsepower Available - Legislature Urged to Act

     TO HARNESS the enormous water-power of the Celilo Rapids, on the Columbia, thereby creating the largest power development project in the world, to develop electricity at a minimum rate and furnish it to the people at the lowest possible cost, is the ambitious enterprise recommended to the State Legislature by John H. Lewis, State Engineer, in his biennial report submitted to Gov. West yesterday.
     Mr. Lewis estimates the cost of this undertaking at $23,000,000, but as the State of Washington has equal interest with Oregon in the waters of the Columbia, he suggests that half the cost be borne by the neighboring state and that the two states share equally in the distribution of the resultant benefits.
     Electricity can be developed through this proposed project at $6.89 per horsepower per annum, which is a lower price than has yet been obtained anywhere in the United States. The proposed power plant will have a capacity of 300,000 horsepower, with the river at its lowest age of production, and 536,000 horsepower when it is at its highest state.

$9 Power Possible

     Power could be sold to the consumer, Mr. Lewis estimates, at $9 per horsepower per annum. This figure assumes its true significant significance when it is pointed out that the present price of electricity in Portland is nearly $100 per horsepower per annum - even to the largest consumer.
     The plan in general calls for the construction of a dam at the head of the Columbia river gorge, the diversion of the stream through a canal about one and one-half miles long, on the Washington side, and the erection of an immense power house containing 21 turbines for the generation of current.
     This is believed to be the largest and cheapest water power project in the world.
     Is it is unquestionably the largest so far projected. While perhaps not the cheapest in unit cost, yet from the standpoint of transportation facilities, and marketability of power, it is believed to be the cheapest of those large power sites now developed.
     Seven years ago, when the plan was first conceived by Mr. Lewis, the project looked ridiculous for want of a market. For 300,000 horsepower is approximately one-tenth of the total developed water power of the United States today, according to the report of the United States Commissioner of Corporations. During this brief period of seven years, many new industries which utilize large quantities of cheap electrical power have safely past the experimental stage, so that within a few years, after completing construction, a single industry could now utilize the entire output of this enormous plant.

Europeans Are Interested

     The market was therefore the first consideration in financing such a project. A circular letter was recently sent to numerous industries through the East and in Europe, outlining the project in a preliminary way. Several very promising replies have been received. By cablegram from Europe, Mr. Lewis got in touch with the representatives of foreign capital seeking a location for a large fertilizer plant on the Pacific Coast. He has been scouring the world looking for such a location, the determining factor being cheap power and convenient transportation facilities to world markets. After examining all possible locations in Washington and California, and after thoroughly examining the preliminary plans and estimates for the Columbia River project, he agreed to recommend to his company that they purchase 240,000 horsepower at $9 per horsepower per annum, putting up $200,000 surety bond to insure taking the power when delivered, provided the state would construct the plant and contract with them for 40 years.
     It was estimated that at this price the state could construct the project and clear approximately $500,000 per annum, besides having 60,000 additional horsepower, which could be sold at from $10 to $20 per annum, also a large amount of part-time power. Detailed estimates, which have since been made, substantially confirm the preliminary figures upon which this agreement was based.
     Until diamond drill boring at the dam site, and along the proposed canal have been made, and final estimates based upon detailed designs have been prepared, such offer could not be accepted. Nor could it be accepted or wisely rejected until some comprehensive water power policy had been adopted by the people requiring also such full and detailed information.
     The capital which must be invested in the artificial production of nitrate fertilizers is 6.3 times that required in the exploration of Chilean deposits. The capital now invested in Chilean works is $136,000,000. It would require a capital investment of $860,000,000 to assure the production of any equal amount of Norway saltpeter, assuming that sufficient cheap power were available.
     Mr. Lewis suggest that Oregon's laws and water power policy be adjusted to meet the requirements of this industry, which is only one of many rapidly growing industries requiring a large quantities of cheap power.

New Industries Possible

     Some of the new industries which could be established in Oregon, if large quantities of electrical power could be had at a low cost, are:
     The electrical production of iron and steel.
     The wood distillation industry, with charcoal for the iron industry obtained as a by-product after extracting wood alcohol, acetic and oxalic acid, wood oil, turpentine, creosote, and acetate of lime, from our stumps and waste wood products of the mill.
     The making of fertilizer from the air by the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the electric furnace.
     The manufacturer of calcium carbide, which is used extensively for lighting purposes, and also after further treatment producing cyanamid and used as fertilizer.
     The making of alkali from salt by the electolitic process.
     The making of aluminum from bauxite.
     The making of carborundum, which is used extensively as an abrasive.
     The making of graphite in the electric furnace, which is now taking the place of oil as a lubricant.
     From for the melting of concentrates.
     For innumerable electro-chemical processes.
     For heat, light and power in the home, on the farm, in hotels, bakeries, factories of every description.

Development Means Prosperity

     But those now living in Oregon are entitled to some of the benefits of the prosperity which will come through the rapid development of our water resources.
     "If this is the largest and cheapest undeveloped water power project in the world, it is of vital importance to the public welfare that this fact be definitely ascertained at the earliest moment," says Mr. Lewis. "The lack of suitable foundation or some detail so far not considered may yet defeat the project. It is, however, believed the preliminary plans and estimates are so conservative that the final plans and estimates will make even a better showing.
     "The adoption of some plan to accomplish the development of this project will be of great economic advantage to the Northwest.
     "Both Oregon and Washington are equally interested in this project. The United States is also interested because of its control over navigation, and to the further fact that it is the owner of considerable vacant land along the Columbia River in both states which can be reclaimed only by pumping from the river. It is during the summer flood period that the greatest amount of power will be available. This is the season when such cheap power can be utilized for pumping purposes.

Problem Called National

     "All three of these agencies should co-operate in the preparation of final plans for the development of this project. It is in every sense an interstate and National problem. If the United States or the reclamation service cannot or will not co-operate in these investigations, then the two states should. If Washington will not co-operate with Oregon, then we should go it alone. If the Legislature will not supply the funds, then the city of Portland could well afford to investigate the project. If Portland is not interested, then the two adjacent counties or The Dalles should promote the enterprise.
     "It is believed the history of the 200,000 horsepower Mississippi project, which is now the largest in the world, will prove of value to the public in outlining a plan for the promotion of the Columbia River power project.
     "The physical construction of the Mississippi water power plant in about two and a half years shrinks, as an achievement, when compared with the 40 years of constant endeavor and 40 months of strenuous toil behind the engineering blueprints.
     "When Robert E. Lee was a Lieutenant in the old Army and stationed near Keokuk he made a report to the War Department on the water power present in the De Moines rapids in the Mississippi River.

Congress Makes Probe

     "It was not until a few years ago that prominent citizens of Keokuk and Hamilton organized a corporation to obtain the rights needed, promote the project and secure the engineer and money to execute the enterprise. The City Councils of Keokuk and Hamilton appropriated public money, by unanimous consent of the citizens, to this promoting corporation, and every cent of it later was paid back into the city treasuries. The Legislatures of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri helped. Congress ordered a thorough investigation, to safeguard the rights of the public; the commission went into every phase of it, found no opposers to it, and approved it under proper regulations. Congress passed the franchise act to the people's promoting company early in 1905, after various committee hearings.
     "From this history, it appears that these is some precedent for the recommendation that the public appropriate the necessary funds for procuring final plans and promoting this project. Even if it found necessary for the state of Oregon to put up all the money, it can be made practically a lien upon the project by authorizing the with-drawal of the Columbia River waters in Oregon until such time as the state is fully reimbursed. It need not be decided at this time whether the project should be considered by private of public funds. In fact sufficient information is not now available to decide intelligently this question. Before construction is allowed to begin, the state should first be reimbursed for promotion expenses, even if under-taken at public expense, as it would be unfair to ask people in Southern and Eastern Oregon to contribute unless a similar project was investigated and promoted in each of these districts.

Scenery Not to Be Destroyed

     "It is impossible to conceive of any objection to the appropriation of public funds to gather specific information, when such funds can be made practically a lien upon the project or district benefited, and ultimately returned to the state treasury.
     "The construction of this power plant will not destroy a waterfall of great scenic beauty, but will, on the contrary, create one which at the low stage of river will equal one-half the height of Niagara Falls.
     It will involve the absolute control of a mighty river, carrying at low stage 10 times the low water flow of the Willamette at Oregon City, and 28 times this amount during extreme floods, and at a point where there is a natural fluctuation of 95 feet between low and high water.
     The dam and controlling works will be located at the head of Five-Mile Rapids, from which point a canal 3000 feet wide and approximately 20 feet deep will be excavated in solid rock on the Washington shore for a distance of 1½ miles to Big Eddy, where a fall of 74 feet can be secured at low water. For a short time during high water this fall will be reduced to about 33 feet. A minimum head of 42 feet can be depended upon at all times, except when floods exceed 1,000,000 cubic feet per second, or about two months in 33 years. To utilize the fluctuation of head water during floods, an immense wall in some places 50 feet or more in height must be constructed on the lower side of this canal, and a low wall in some places on the upper side is required to keep the water from flooding the railroad tracks. About six miles of railroad on both banks of the stream will have to be elevated. The back water from the dam will completely drown out Celilo Falls, also 6½ miles of the Celilo Canal, thus making it superfluous.

Comparisons Favor Columbia

     The drainage area of the Columbia, at The Dalles, is 236,800 square miles, and at its mouth 259,000 square miles, in comparison with 135,000 square miles for the Mississippi at Quincy, Ill., and 1,259,000 square miles at its mouth.
     The Columbia River at The Dalles has a mean annual flow of 235,000 second feet, in comparison with about 73,000 near Keokuk, 222,000 at Niagara, 664,000 at the mouth of the Mississippi and 115,800 for the Nile.
     A 33-year record shows the low water flow of the Columbia at The Dalles to be 50,000 second feet during the Winter months. The maximum flow is 1,390,000 for the Columbia.
     Under these conditions of water and head, 330,000 turbine horsepower or 300,000 delivered electrical horsepower can be depended upon, except for flood stages over 1,000,000 second feet. It is believed that this slight difficulty can be over come by improvements in turbine design or other modifications on final design. This project, if constructed, will be by far the largest water power project in the world.

$23,076,000 Possible Cost

     It is claimed that the power plant at Rjukan, Norway, of 140,000 horsepower is the largest completed development under one roof.
     It has been estimated that the Columbia River power plant can be constructed for $23,076,000, or $77 per horsepower on the basis of 300,000 delivered horsepower, or only 62 percent of the Keokuk cost. The estimated cost of power delivered at the low tension busbars of the generating station is $6.89 per horsepower per annum for continuous 24-hour power throughout the year.
     To enclose the 21 turbines which it is proposed to install near The Dalles, will require a power-house 1200 feet in length and approximately 200 feet in height from the foundations. One of these turbines will be maintained for emergency use.
     To get some idea as to the magnitude of these turbines, it can be said that each turbine can pass 5000 second feet of water at maximum flow, which is about equal to the entire low water flow of the Willamette River near Oregon City.
     The most difficult features to be encountered in this proposed power project will be to construct a dam approximately 150 feet in height across the narrow gorge at the end of Five-Mile rapids, and to regulate the extreme floods so as not to affect materially high water conditions in the Columbia above the dam. It is proposed to accomplish this task by constructing a by-pass approximately 1400 feet in width through solid rock around the proposed dam site, through which the stream at all stages will be diverted. Across this artificial channel will be located 12 sections of a removable dam about 70 feet in height of the type which it is proposed to use as an emergency dam in the Panama Canal. This will consist of wickets or steel beams which will be dropped from an overhead support to nearly a vertical position, fitting into a concrete shoulder at the bottom of the channel. Down the face of these beams will be rolled a steel curtain. This will be rolled back and the wickets hoisted entirely out of the water by means of a cable attached to the lower end, and all obstruction to the water removed during floods.

Research Covers 30 Years

     Mr. Lewis was devoted much time to research work in gathering information on this project. He believes firmly in the feasibility and the economic success of the undertaking. Many engineers who have studied the plan as his suggestion are convinced of its worth.
     Much of the information he now has on hand is based on research work covering a period of more than 30 years. He has had the assistance in this work of L.F. Harza, of Portland, and his associates.
     To complete the preliminary development, including diamond drill surroundings at the proposed dam site would require an expenditure of approximately $50,000 and this sum he will ask the Legislature to appropriate.

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION, COLUMBIA POWER PROJECT

Location - at Big Eddy, three miles above The Dalles, 90 miles by rail from Portland.

Power Possibilities - 300,000 continuous electrical power horsepower; 536,000 horsepower available eight months.

Markett -- 240,000 horsepower for fertilizer works, balance for iron and steel industry, wood distillation plant, aluminum, carborundum, carbide, alkali works, electro-chemical industries, woolen mills, pulp and paper mills, light, heat, and power in wholesale blocks, to encourage new industries, and without competition in retail business of local power companies.

Dam - Present channel of Columbia to be closed by dam 300 feet long, approximately 120 feet high, and new channel excavated in solid rock 1200 feet wide and water surface regulated by removable dam, sections 100 feet long, 72 feet high. Location 1½ miles above power-house.

Power-house - Oregon or Washington side; planned for Washington side, at Big Eddy, 1200 feet long, about 200 feet high above foundations, contains 21 turbines, supplied by canal 300 feet wide, 20 feet deep, 1½ miles along from pool above dam.

Head of Water - One-half height of Niagara Falls at low water, 74 feet - 42 feet approximately at high water. Natural fall at low water in river 10 feet, with fluctuation of 95 feet at proposed dam site.

Water Available - Minimum, 50,000 second-feet, maximum 1,390,000, main flow, 235,000 second-feet. Drainage area at The Dalles, 236,800 square miles. Stream flow records for 33 years available.

Turbines -- Runner 16 feet in diameter, shaft of steel 30 inches in diameter, 60 feet long, supporting a generator on top approximately 36 feet in diameter, maximum capacity 32,000 horsepower, all revolving 80 revolutions per minute on one oil bearing. Maximum water capacity of each, 5000 second-feet or equal to entire low water flow of Willamette River at Oregon City.

Cost - $23,000,000 or $77 per horsepower for 300,000 horsepower. Cost of low tension power at station, $6.89 per horsepower per annum. Cost of power by steam from waste sawdust, about 0.5 to 0.7 cents per kilowatt hour or $33 to $46 per horsepower year. Minimum price at Niagara for a large blocks $9.00, average about $15.00.

Transportation -- Competing transcontinental railways at powerhouse with navigable water from same to Pacific Ocean and for many miles inland.

Raw Products -- Abundant and accessible for many different industries. Air, 20,000,000 tons of nitrogen over one square mile of Earth's surface, or enough to supply fertilizer for the world for 50 years. Timber, iron, lime, salt and other products accessible because of rail and water transportation.

Markets for Manufactured Products - The world, as plant is at the gateway to the Inland Empire, with water outlet to the Pacific. With public docks at Portland, and Panama Canal completed, shipping facilities will be available for industries seeking world markets.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer