General map (1923)

General map (1923)

Irrigation -- United States (western) -- Maps <br>Columbia Basin Project (U.S.)

1 map ; negative, 18 x 34 cm.<br>Gravity Project Area, Pumping Project Area, and Boundary of watershed above Albany Falls all marked by differentiated shading <br>Before the arrival to Washington State of the first irrigation projects handled by the U.S. Reclamation Service, the Northern Pacific Railroad and other railway companies funded private irrigation projects in the Columbia River Basin. Their efforts stemmed from a desire to see the entire state in top production and farming communities everywhere in need of railroad shipping services. <br>The project was much too large for one railroad company or town, or other private investor to take handle. By 1919, a number of government agencies (both state and federal) reviewed irrigation plans for the area. Among the top three were the "Gravity Plan", pushed by the city of Spokane and the Washington Water Power Company, the "Pumping Plan" proposed by Billy Clapp of Ephrata and supported by the surveys of Mr. James O'Sullivan, and the "Wenatchee Lake Plan", originating with Wenatchee Valley booster, Mr. Rufus Woods and taken on by the Quincy Valley Water Users Association. The Wenatchee Lake Plan proposed a gravity canal built from Wenatchee Lake in the mountains down to the floor of the Quincy Valley and would only water 400,000 acres. The Pumping Plan involved the erection of a dam at Grand Coulee, giving water to an estimated 1,400,000 acres in the Big Bend country to its south. This map shows both the Gravity Plan and the Pumping Plan. <br>Throughout the 1920s, a number of survey reports weighing the feasibility of both plans were given, and approved the gravity plan over the pumping plan. However, the Corps of Engineers' "308 Report" compiled by Major John S. Butler, was the first to approve of the Grand Coulee (pumping plan) venture. When used as evidence in the House of Representative's hearing by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, the tide had changed and the pumping plan was approved over the gravity plan. With this approval, in 1933 President Roosevelt signed for appropriation of funds made possible by the National Industrial Recovery Act and construction on the Grand Coulee Dam began soon after.

Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Columbia Basin Project

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, WSU Libraries

Spokane, Wash. : Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

1923

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Contact Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, for copyright information 509 335-6691

Is part of Osmer L. Waller Collection; Cage 222, Box 5<br>http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/finders/cg222.htm

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Maps

wsu509<br>Osmer L. Waller Collection; Cage 222, Box 5

United States -- Washington
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