is grossly inadequate to meet the demands of Puget's customers, and we have no assurance as to what amount of power we may be able to purchase after the expiration of the present contract because of the marketing policy of Bonneville and a lack of generating capacity at the Federal projects.

As the Federal Government has forced Puget to depend upon it for an adequate power supply for its customers, it is evident that the Government must take immediate steps to alleviate the present power shortage and to assure the region of an adequate power supply.

The present situation in which the region finds itself power-wise is intolerable. This is illustrated by the following excerpt from the Bonneville 1949 advance program:

"Even the maximum construction program feasible of accomplishment as recommended in this advance program cannot provide sufficient generating and reservoir capacity to assure that the most essential regional loads will be supplied under minimum water conditions of record until 1954 at the earliest."

That the economic growth of any region should be thus stifled is rather shocking.

Obviously, every effort must be made to correct such a situation. Since the development of multiple-purpose projects on the Columbia River involves the coordinated effort of several Government agencies and the programing of construction requiring the expenditure of several billions of Federal funds over a period of more than 20 years, it is obvious that some over-all plan should be adopted.

The Corps of Engineers in response to a request of Congress has prepared a comprehensive report in which is outlined a plan for the development of the water resources of the Columbia River and its tributaries. No other equally comprehensive program has been developed and since this report has been prepared after extensive exploratory surveys and engineering analyses by an organization of recognized competence it may be accepted as the best available guide for the future development of the water resources of the Columbia River.

Puget Sound Power & Light Co. recognizes the various benefits which would result from the construction of the projects recommended in the report by the Corps of Engineers. It is, however, primarily interested in the power-development features of the proposed plan, with particular reference to the necessity for an adequate supply of power for the future requirements of the customers which it serves.

The report now before you requests authorization for 10 multiple-purpose, power-producing dams and reservoirs and includes generating capacity rated at more than 4,000,000 kilowatts. The report contemplates that these projects will be authorized for immediate construction, but no order of priority as to completion of the individual power projects is stated. Because of the existing critical power-supply situation, it is recommended that an order of priority be stipulated for the construction of these multiple-purpose dams and reservoirs together with associated transmission facilities so that the region will be assured of an adequate power supply at the earliest possible moment.

Puget Sound Power & Light Co. recommends that this report be adopted as a guide for the future development of the Columbia River. In making this recommendation it should be recognized that this report has been in the process of preparation for a number of years and has required the man-hours of many experienced and capable individuals. Likewise, the report covers a program designed to extend over more than 20 years. Our organization could not make a complete detailed analysis of the entire report in the brief time it has been available; hence, we cannot, without qualification, endorse the report in its entirety.

In supporting the need for these additional multiple-purpose projects Puget wishes to be assured that if the proposed pool elevation and method of operation at the Priest Rapids development on the Columbia River reduce the capacity of its Rock Island plant upstream such loss in capacity will be restored from the output of the Priest Rapids plant. This was called to the attention of the Corps of Engineers at the hearings on the Priest Rapids project and also before the Board of Army Engineers.

Nevertheless, the region needs the power that can be developed from these projects and it needs it at the earliest possible moment. We specifically urge immediate authorization of the Albeni Falls project which can materially help the present critical power situation if special effort is directed toward its immediate construction. The contribution which the Albeni Falls project can

make to the over-all power supply in the area is substantial and since it can be built more rapidly than many of the other projects we respectfully request that your committee place it at the top of the priority list in order to more rapidly alleviate the power shortage in the Pacific Northwest. H. C. WEBB,

Vice President, Puget Sound Power & Light Co.

MAY 20, 1949.

Mr. LARCADE. The next witness is Mr. Bob Dow, Priest River, Idaho, representing the Priest River Chamber of Commerce.

STATEMENT OF BOB DOW, PRIEST RIVER, IDAHO

Mr. Dow. My name is Bob Dow, Priest River, Idaho, representing the Priest River Chamber of Commerce, the citizens of Old Town, Sand Point Chamber of Commerce, and Newport, Wash.

Mr. LARCADE. Do you have a statement to file?

Mr. Dow. No; I have not a statement, and my words will be very brief.

Mr. LARCADE. You may proceed.

Mr. Dow. These four towns are the closest towns to the Albeni Falls Dam, and I am sure you would like to know what the people there feel about it, how they feel about it. They heartily endorse not only Albeni Falls Dam, but the whole 308 report.

I would like to congratulate the Army engineers on their very fine report. I have attended a good many of their hearings, and the people of our community have a great deal of respect for them.

Mr. LARCADE. You may file a statement if you desire, at a later date. The next witness is Kinsey Robinson.

STATEMENT OF KINSEY M. ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, THE
WASHINGTON WATER POWER CO., SPOKANE, WASH.

Mr. ROBINSON. My name is Kinsey M. Robinson, president of the Washington Water Power Co., Spokane, Wash. I have a statement that I would like to file for the record, and just a few brief remarks. Mr. LARCADE. Without objection, your statement will be included in the record, and you may proceed.

Mr. ROBINSON. First we want to congratulate the Army engineers, and particularly in the Northwest district in connection with the 308 report. We believe that it is a good blueprint for the future development of the river. And we think that plan integrated with the Bureau of Reclamation program will constitute a good plan for the future development of the entire Columbia Basin area.

We have one objection, and that is the fish sanctuary which forecloses the rivers leading into the lower Columbia, particularly the Deschutes and Cowlitz Rivers. Our company is interested in building a plant on the Deschutes River along with two other private utilities, and we believe that there is no need for closing that river to a dam if reasonable provisions are made to save the fish.

We think that Albeni Falls is a very necessary project and unless Congress expects to pass a major flood control bill this year, then Albeni Falls should be passed as a separate measure and give the Army engineers the advantage of the first low-water year to build at

least the storage part of the dam, even though the power plant has to go in at some later date, because it does create an additional 85,000 watts more power, which is sorely needed.

We also think that the Libby Dam should be given early consideration because it does the two things, it protects the farm lands both in north Idaho and in Canada, it produces additional water for the power plants on the Canadian side of the line as well as in the United States. And if that is given consideration, it will materially increase the value of the power plants downstream, Grand Coulee, and the others. That is all I have.

Mr. LARCADE. All right. Your statement, without objection, may be filed. Thank you very much. We are glad to have you appear before the committee.

(Mr. Robinson's statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF KINSEY M. ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER Co., SPOKANE, WASH., ON PACIFIC NORTHWEST AREA FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS The Corps of Engineers, and particularly the North Pacific division engineer and the district engineers in Seattle and Portland, are to be highly commended for their long, arduous task of preparing this review report on Columbia River and tributaries. The document was greatly needed as a basis for the orderly development of the water resources of the Columbia Basin in conformity with future requirements as they develop.

The Corps says of its proposed plan:

"These projects are proposed at this time as a long-range plan, flexible in outline, which will be more definitely determined as physical conditions and economic circumstances develop in this rapidly growing region. Only a few of these future projects may be considered as definitely favorable without further study, but each should receive careful consideration before any conflicting plan for its particular functions and river reach is adopted."

The division engineer states in recommending the plan that it "be adopted as a general guide for the further development of the water resources of the Columbia River Basin and the related programs of other agencies, and that future plans for water use development give due consideration to the comprehensive plan outlined

The report quite properly has developed the plan under existing laws, but has left it flexible so that the Congress, if it so desires, may adjust its policy to existing circumstances.

At the present time there exists in the Columbia Basin a power shortage, due to the accumulation of a number of occurrences, including the readjustment after World War II. There is now under construction a multipurpose project, including the installation of incidental power at McNary on the Columbia River. It appears that this power supply will not be available until 1953 or 1954.

The program of federally developed hydroelectric power has tended to preclude private interests from making developments and to an increasing extent the responsibility for providing power for the area has become a function of the Government.

The plan proposed indicates Federal development of the larger projects involv ing large sums for navigation, flood control, etc. Smaller projects are available for private development except that most of them are being delayed by the fish problem. The fish sanctuary recommended by this report would stop both the proposed development of the Cowlitz River by the city of Tacoma and the Deschutes River by the Northwest Power Supply Co.

It is requested that, as far as the will of Congress is concerned, it remove the Cowlitz and Deschutes Rivers from the fish sanctuary. These rivers should be developed for power purposes with reasonable plans for preserving the fish.

At the two past sessions of Congress the local utilities in the Pacific Northwest-both public and private-have appeared before committees setting forth the conditions of power shortage. Last winter, considerable curtailment was necessary. It is expected further curtailment will be necessary between now and 1953 or 1954, when McNary Dam power supply is available.

The report is to be commended particularly for its thorough coverage of all phases of the development of uses of the Columbia River. This is undoubtedly due to the tried and true ability of the existing agencies who have proved their worth over a long period of years. Now that these separate contributions are integrated in the Columbia Basin interagency committee, a very complete report is available. With this report as a guide, the Congress should be able to approve from time to time the most feasible and timely projects.

It is not deemed proper or expedient that the Congress will necessarily authorize all the projects recommended at this time. It may not be necessary that moneys be appropriated for all those authorized.

It is possible that the Congress will not find it possible to complete action on this proposed plan at the present session of Congress. Your attention is called again to the power shortage between now and 1953 or 1954. Besides the power projects on the Cowlitz and Deschutes Rivers, mentioned above, there is contained in the plan a project known as Albeni Falls. If the Congress can take prompt action on this project, it will help to relieve the immediate power shortage. Storage facilities of 1,140,000 acre-feet will produce at least 85,000 kilowatts of firm power when utilized through generators that will be installed at the Grand Coulee and Bonneville projects.

Albeni Falls project should be authorized and moneys appropriated so that contracts can be let and work started as early as possible in 1949. This could make the power from the additional stored water available late in 1950. If the project cannot be started by that time, the power supply will not be available until at least 1 year later. The reason for this is that full use of the low water season, which extends from midsummer to midwinter, must be utilized.

The multiple-purpose reservoir at Libby, Mont., recommended by the Army engineers in the reveiw report, should have early congressional authorization so construction may be started at an early date. This project will accomplish two major objectives: First, additional firm power would be added to existing and authorized downstream plants; and secondly, substantial early benefits would accrue to the farmers in North Idaho and Canada through flood control in the area. I sincerely hope that Congress gives serious consideration to authorizing this project at this time.

If I may, I should also like to comment on the proposed Hungry HorseSpokane transmission line now included in the Bonneville budget request. At present, the line is projected from Hungry Horse to Kerr, Mont., and then west to Spokane. This proposed transmission line if built from Hungry Horse to Kalispell, then west through Libby to Spokane, would require at least 45 miles less transmisison line. This latter routing would supply construction power for the Libby and Albeni Falls projects, thus saving additional sums of money. These are substantial savings which I hope will be given due consideration. Mr. LARCADE. Our next witness is Mr. Robert Jones, Seattle city councilman.

STATEMENT OF ROBERT JONES, CITY COUNCILMAN,

SEATTLE, WASH.

Mr. JONES. My name is Bob Jones, and I am chairman of the utilities committee of the city of Seattle.

I have two statements here, Mr. Chairman, one on the GreenDuwamish Flood Control project, and one on Álbeni Falls, which I am going to turn in.

Mr. LARCADE. Without objection, you may file them. (The statements referred to follow :)

STATEMENT OF ROBERT JONES, SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMAN, BEFORE THE HOUSE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE ON THE GREEN-DUWAMISH FLOOD-CONTROL PROJECT Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the House Public Works Committee, my name is Robert Jones. I am a member of the city council of the city of Seattle, Wash., and in that capacity welcome this opportunity to express for the citizens of

Seattle their hope that the Congress will act favorably on the Green-Duwamish flood-control project.

The United States Engineers' report on the Green-Duwamish provides technical detail on this proposal which will receive, I know, due consideration in your deliberations. I will leave the engineering information to the engineers, therefore, and attempt to give you, briefly, other facts which I hope will be helpful in deciding this project strictly on its merits.

The Green-Duwamish River is, as rivers, go in our country, a comparatively small stream. It rises in the Cascade Mountains as the Green River southeast of the city of Seattle. Some 12 miles above its mouth, in the heart of Seattle, it becomes the Duwamish River and as such flows into Puget Sound. While, as I said before, it is a comparatively small stream, it has been a source of disastrous and repetitious floods through the years. A quick thaw of heavy snows in the mountains or a hard rain, such as sometimes occurs in our country, can turn this normally placid stream into a torrent which devastates both rural and urban areas, destroys homes and farms, inundates at least two towns of some consequence and causes severe erosion to one of the most fertile small farm areas in all of western Washington,

We have tried for many years to obtain relief from these floods. Technical and costs features have prevented a satisfactory solution until this time. Now we have a program which will end for all time the threat of flood in this area, and on a basis which, we believe, you will agree is most satisfactory.

The people of Washington State generally, and of the Puget Sound area in particular, recognize the necessity for correcting the flood situation on the GreenDuwamish River. They demonstrated their interest and purpose in January of this year when our State legislature, by unanimous vote, appropriated $1,500,000 in State funds to assist in financing the cost of this project. This State appropriation is matched by another $500,000 which has been earmarked by King County for this purpose. So the people of Washington State have available and are willing to spend $2,000,000 as a contribution toward the construction of a dam which will end this flood menace.

Seattle itself is not physically damaged by the river in flood stages. But the people of Seattle have a twofold interest in this project worthy of note.

First, most of the $500,000 matching funds for the project, represented in King County funds, is tax money of the city of Seattle because Seattle represents a big majority of the population of King County.

Second, Seattle derives much of its local produce from the fertile farm areas in this valley and sees in this area future development along industrial lines essential to the continued growth and prosperity of the city.

Because of our geography, our industrial south end must expand, if it is to expand, up the valley of the Duwamish. It is the natural path of progress for industry in our area, and this expansion, in the years ahead, cannot be realized unless we first correct the existing flood dangers.

One inun-
Highways

We have had, in recent years, two particularly damaging floods. dated some 13,000 acres and the other approximately 12,000 acres. were washed out, farm dwelling made untenable, main-line railroads were damaged and rich soil which cannot be replaced was washed down into Puget Sound. In addition, pollution of water supplies and damage to fish life were other results of these floods.

The Green-Duwamish flood-control project, which involves construction of a dam at Eagle Gorge with a reservoir for the storage of some 106,000 acre-feet of water, has progressed now to the point where Congress must provide the answer. The United States Engineers recommend it, as do the other Federal agencies, including the Budget Bureau, which are concerned. Our people in the State and in the area have demonstrated their cooperation and interest by setting up matching funds in the amount of $2,000,000. Our Governor approved the appropriation of State funds and has urged upon the United States Engineers and the Congress prompt action to avoid future devastating floods.

We hope sincerely that this committee, and the Congress, will recognize our problem as one meriting the assistance of the Federal Government and will authorize, through pending legislation, the corrective measures necessary.