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While there can be nothing definitely known as to what the army engineers will report to the war production board or what recommendations will be made regarding the Bonneville power administration's proposal to build a dam at Albeni Falls for the storage of two million acre feet of water in Lake Pend d'Oreille, it is believed by many people of this community and others over the state who have been studying the matter, from the governor down, that the project has been blocked for the time being at least. That, to most people, means the death of the issue, since every indication was that it was the desire of the force behind it to push it through quickly, on a trumped up claim of war need.
Friday's hearing at Sandpoint recorded sentiment overwhelmingly against the dam and Saturday's hearing at Priest River was only a show, more to defy the Sandpoint sentiment than to bring out any logical reasons why the dam would benefit anybody in Idaho, or any other state than Washington.
Six hundred men and women, mostly farmers, attended the hearing here and demonstrated their opposition to being robbed of homes and living under false pretenses, such as they claimed the reasons given out for the dam were.
Governor Tossed Bomb
Governor Bottolfsen, coming here from Missoula after a conference with Governor Ford of Montana, tossed the first bombshell into the record when he read a statement at the opening of the hearing in which he announced that he had secretly
filed last week an application with the state department of reclamation seeking to stabilize the level of Lake Pend d'Oreille at 2,064 feet to establish a reinforced concrete power dam at Albeni Falls by the state, and to employ storage waters for
irrigation of approximately 40,000 acres of land within the state.
The governor's plans were not elaborated upon at the hearing but the consensus was that this move would hinder any agency from proceeding with plans for a federally operated dam. The action may eventually bring the state of Idaho and the Bonneville
power administration into court Ð if the federal government takes the initiative. Since the United States and its agencies cannot be sued without the government's consent, the federal government may by placed in the position of instituting litigation, if the
Albeni Falls project is not actually abandoned.
Miller Promises Test
After the governor's announcement of his action as trustee of the waters of Lake Pend d'Oreille, Attorney General Miller stood before the hearing and promised "a test in court" of any law under which the federal government may try to obtain the right to build a dam.
Nine Opposition Points
Attorney E.E. Hunt presented the case very ably for the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and numerous other organizations of the community that had asked the chamber to present their protests. He concluded that the dam was being opposed
because:
1. "Secrecy and mystery so no one knows other than the Bonneville power administration what is really contemplated.
2. "That the state of Idaho and Bonner county are entitled to have the facts presented to them before any decision is made.
3. "That the few records we have are sufficient to prove that the so-called dam is merely a beginning of a high dam project.
4. "That the economy of the nation and the wartime effort itself will not be advanced by the construction of this dam, but on the contrary, the war effort, particularly the production of food, will be decreased at a time when a food shortage for ourselves
and our allies is admitted by everyone.
5. "That a power shortage does not in fact exist."
6. "That if additional power is desired, it can be obtained under the present program in localities where the interested governmental agencies are willing to have it developed and without damage to anyone.
7. "That the original Columbia basin project in the desert lands of Washington has no less that eight undeveloped projects where water can be impounded with little damage to anyone and with the blessing of the people of that state.
8. "That the direct loss alone to Bonner county makes this project a tragic mistake and that the indirect loss would be a catastrophe.
9. "That if work on this proposed dam is started July 1, as contemplated, it will mean confiscation of properties without so much as a proper hearing. It would be depriving us of our property without due process of law in violation of the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Idaho."
Taylor Draws Applause
E.T. Taylor, master of the Idaho State grange, drew a sustained burst of applause when he thumped the chairman's table and declared that to build Albeni Falls dam at this time when the farm lands are needed to raise foods for victory would be "an act
of sabotage."
Taylor called the Albeni Falls project "part and parcel of a move by the government to get control of the water of Idaho," and drew a parallel between this project and the recent establishment of the Jackson Hole national monument in Wyoming by
presidential decree.
At one point during Taylor's testimony, Colonel Park had to call for order, the applause was so prolonged.
Pork Barrel Politicians
Robert E. McFarland, prosecuting attorney of Bonner county, who presented the statement of behalf of the Bonner county commissioners, declared:
"I am of the old-fashioned school which believes a man's home is his castle. That the wind and rain can enter, but the king cannot."
Here he commended the army engineers for their fine work and development of northwest projects and in the next breath, he lashed out at "pork barrel politicians," who he said conceived the Albeni Falls project.
At this point Colonel Park again called for order and asked the speaker to desist from "disparaging remarks." "I wouldn't be here and all these other people wouldn't be here if this were a real war necessity," said McFarland. "But we haven't been
assured beyond a reasonable doubt that it is."
Finally Gave Figures
The statements, resolutions, letters and telegrams by numerous other protesting individuals and organizations were read into the records. One man even read a poem. Still another quoted from the Bible. He quoted Genesis 2:31.
Engineer Culbertson, appearing for the army engineers, said 103 structures outside Sandpoint and 132 within the city would be affected by the proposed lake level and declared that of the latter total 97 could by effectively protected by the construction of levees.
On this question a debate between Culbertson and members of the audience ensued for several minutes. Culbertson claimed suitable levees could be constructed and the citizens claimed they could not and if they could be built, Sandpoint's underlying
strata of quicksand still would pose a serious problem to the maintenance of stores, mains and building foundations.
Culbertson presented figures which he said placed the estimated total flow damage arising from the raising of the lake at $3,827,780.
Tried to Smother Issue
"How were the land values arrived at?," former State Senator Al Derr inquired. In assumed ignorance or instructed avoidance, Culbertson attempted to skip over this by mumbling something about one and a half times something or other, and Derr
demanded, "One and a half times what?," and insisted on knowing what the estimates were based upon.
Brigadier Gen. W.T. Hannum of the army engineers interpolated" What difference does it make if it is settled according to an agreement between the two parties involved?"
"For the government to refuse to give us any intimation of actual land values is a violation of the American basis of bargaining and business," Derr retorted. "The people will be fully protected as to their rights," the general answered.
The audience showed dissatisfaction and General Hunnam turned to Mr. Culbertson and said: "You tell him."
Culbertson Explains
Mr. Culbertson explained the estimates were figured at one and a half times the sale actually made here. In other places where property was taken in war emergency and called a fair and satisfactory settlement, Colonel Richard Parks, army engineer,
presiding at the hearing, said if the rules were wrong they should be changed but that was not the purpose of the meeting.
"We have a right to know the actual dollar-and-cent value engineers put on our land instead of only percentage figures," Eugene Ralph, Clark Fork, suggested.
Culbertson then gave values of agriculture crops not harvested, $33.40 per acre; seed crops, $35.70; grain, $54.10; potatoes, $112; grazing, $8.90; shore and waste, 90 percent at $1, and remaining at $23.60.
Decision Up to Krug
Sen. D. Worth Clark was roundly applauded when he explained the long procedure which would be necessary to bring the Albeni Falls project to reality. He declared he was confident there would be no request for executive action to circumvent the
proposed 2069-foot lake level and that if such a situation arose it would be grounds for a congressional investigation.
Final witness for the project was John George of Culdesac, regional director of the national rural electrification corporation, who read into the record a long statement on power costs to farmers.
He was called to the platform by D.L. Marlett, executive assistant to Dr. Paul Raver, the Bonneville administrator. Marlett concluded his own presentation with a statement that J.A. Krug, vice chairman of the war production board, will "in the final
analysis decide whether or not Albeni Falls is to be built."
Colonel Park was about to adjourn the hearing when Governor Bottolfsen, sitting in the front row, sprang to his feet and said:
"Wait a minute, now, before we close this hearing. Just what is the status of this whole thing? As the governor of Idaho, I ask for the people of our state to know just where we stand."
To Weigh Justification
Colonel Park then told the assembly he would recommend the project from an engineering viewpoint and would declare it to be justifiable only in the event there is a vital war necessity for power such as to demand construction.
"Will you start work July 1?" Bottolfsen asked.
"I should say not," Colonel Park announced.
"It would be impossible."
Later the colonel said it was his own opinion several months would be required to get the project started, if it were finally acted upon favorably. He pointed out it was his duty only to advise on the engineering features.
"It is Dr. Paul Raver's job," he said, "to show that the project is a war necessity."
Governor Bottolfsen then addressed himself to the colonel.
"We own this property," he said. "It belong [sic] to the people of Idaho. We expect you -- if you owned it -- to negotiate with us."
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