THE COLUMBIA BASIN PROJECT

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1932

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION,

Washington, D. C. The committee met pursuant to adjournment, at 10 o'clock a. m., in the committee room, No. 333 House Office Building, Hon. Robert S. Hall (chairman) presiding.

Present: Representatives Hall (chairman), Cross, Chavez, Miller, Overton, Martin, Smith, Leavitt, Swing, Arentz, Butler, and Loofbourow.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order, and we will resume the hearings on H. R. 7446. We have with us Congressman Hill and Congressman Horr, and I will ask Judge Hill to suggest the course of the hearing.

Mr. HILL. I want to introduce Mr. L. N. McClellan, chief electrical engineer for the Reclamation Service. I would like for Mr. McClellan to state to the committee something of his experience and training and work, as a kind of background for his testimony.

STATEMENT OF L. N. MCCLELLAN, CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, RECLAMATION SERVICE

Mr. MCCLELLAN. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, as chief electrical engineer for the Reclamation Service, I am responsible for the construction designing of the various power plants and pumping plants constructed and operated by that bureau.

At the present time we are engaged on final designs for the Hoover power plant, also on the Madden Dam plant for the Panama Canal, and several small hydroelectrical plants.

Mr. HILL. How long have you been in the Reclamation Service?
Mr. MCCLELLAN. Twenty years.

Mr. HILL. Engaged in electrical work during all of that time?
Mr. MCCLELLAN. Yes.

Mr. HILL. How long have you been chief of the electrical engineering division?

Mr. MCCLELLAN. Since 1924.

Mr. HILL. Now, if you will just proceed and make a statement in your own way. You are familiar with this Columbia Basin project, and you have made some study of it?

Mr. MCCLELLAN. Yes.

Mr. HILL. Will you tell the committee the result of your studies? Mr. MCCLELLAN. The general set-up on the Columbia River has been studied by the Corps of Engineers, and Major Butler has presented the general situation on the Upper Columbia River in a very complete and able manner. The Army studied the entire river and