Decision on the Snake

Decision on the Snake For seven years, private-and public-power advocates have been battling over rival plans to tame the Northwest's tortuous, turbulent Snake River, one of the last great U.S. valleys still unharnessed.

In 1948 Secretary of the Interior Julius A. Krug proposed a high-level (602-ft.) federal dam with initial capacity of 800,000 kilowatts. Idaho Power Co. wanted to build three smaller, privately financed hydroelectric dams (initial capacity: 783,400 kw.) at Oxbow. Brownlee and Hell's Canyon sites, all of which would have been flooded by the Government project.

Last week the Federal Power Commission broke the deadlock. The winner: Idaho Power's three-dam plan.

Practical Considerations. The five-man FPC, which has spent two years listening to the arguments, emphasized practical considerations behind its unanimous decision. The high, multipurpose federal dam would have provided more power and slightly more flood protection than Idaho Power's dams. (Neither project provides for irrigation, and differences in navigational and recreation benefits are negligible.) However, the huge public project would have cost far more: $388 million, v. the $176 million Idaho Power will spend. Concluded FPC: the costs of public power in relation to investment would "have no clear economic advantage over the three-dam plan."

Another factor influencing the FPC decision was that the federal project, even if approved, might have been stalled indefinitely by congressional reluctance to grant the necessary funds. Bills calling for the Government dam were sidetracked in both Houses in the past session. On the other hand, Idaho Power, under FPC specifications, must have all of its dams built and generators running by 1964.

Kilowatts & Conversation. Supporters of the private project were elated by the FPC decision. Said Idaho's Republican Governor Robert E. Smylie, who, with the governors of Oregon and Washington, had vigorously opposed the federal dam: "We need more kilowatts on the line and less conversation. These decisions make it possible for us to get on with the job of building the Northwest."

But the fight was far from ended. Advocates of public power accused the commission of holding up its decision until after Congress had adjourned. They also charged that Idaho Power rates are so high that they would deter new industry. Said Idaho's Democratic Congresswoman Grade Pfost: "There now can be no doubt that this Administration believes what is best for the power trust is best for the people." Growled Oregon's Democratic Senator Wayne Morse: "The Hell's Canyon decision will prove to be the Dixon-Yates deal of the Northwest."

The public-power advocates are planning to demand a rehearing before the FPC, and will carry the fight into Congress and the courts.

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