The following are from the Grand Coulee News, early 1934:
Seaton to Vacate Damsite Home
Sam Seaton, ferryman at the dam site, is given seven days by the federal government to vacate his present home, in an agreement signed by Seaton with Frank A. Banks, construction engineer, Wednesday.
Seaton will be allowed to build two small houses, one for his family, and a second for operators of the ferry, at a place designated by Banks. Construction of the new houses started yesterday.
The agreement will permit Seaton to operate the ferry until either the bridge is completed or the work of the excavating starts on the dam proper.
With the chicken house already demolished, it is only a question of days until the excavating on the east side will reach the Seaton house.
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Did you ever stop to think that it must be pretty tough to stand by and see your old homestead disappear before your eyes. Well, that is what is happening to Sam Seaton and family. The big shovels are eating up the farm, devouring it in mighty chunks. Almost like cannibalism. A consoling thought is that while the work now is destructive, in the end it will be constructive. The dam will endure as a monument to the constructive genius of man.
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NEW BOAT ARRIVES
Another ferry boat, previously the property of McPherson of Brewster, was brought to the dam site this week by Tuttle Bros. The boat is 56 feet long, with 16-foot beam. It will be used as an auxiliary service for David Ryan, general excavation contractor, to supplement the barge now in use. The new boat will carry about 22 tons.
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Settling of Road Forms Cracks in Damsite Highway
Traffic to the dam site was threatened to be stopped this week when giant cracks appeared in the road leading to the dam. The cracks bisect the road and lead up to the rock formation. In places the road has settled at least two feet, and the condition is rapidly becoming worse.
Joe Meehan, representative at the dam site for the Columbia Basin commission, said Wednesday that the commission had taken charge and would have the road repaired. He believed the condition was caused by the natural settling of the road. This road was put in only a year ago. He discounted the theory that it was caused by any "pull" from the big dirt fill just below the road by Goodfellow Bros.
Large cracks are also appearing in the "fill" on the east side of the river.
This week was also marked by a big slide of dirt on the east side, across the Ross-Rowland boundary. However, as the sub-contractors are paid by the yard, it is immaterial whether the dirt has to be excavated by Rowlands or Ross, the two sub-contractors on that side.
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Finish Airport by May 1
The new airport for the damsite, located a mile and a half south of the dam, will be finished about May 1, according to John S. Peterson, working manager of the CWA in Okanogan county.
Okanogan county has secured $13,000 for development of the port, and it will be a first class field, when completed, Peterson told the News.
Work is now under way. The sagebrush is being cleared off and the ground graded. The runway will be graveled and will be 3400 feet long by 40 feet wide. * C. Nitteberg is superintending construction.
With Mr. Peterson was his son, John Jr., and Paul Johnson, both of Omak.
* This airport no longer exists and has not existed in my lifetime. There is a small community airport in Grant County a few miles south.--CousinSam
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Bridge Site Is Changed
Change of the location of the bridge to be built across the Columbia at the dam site to 1000 feet farther down stream is announced by Frank A. Banks, chief engineer.
Mr. Banks declared that plans are being rushed on the two center piers so that bids may be called as soon as possible, so that there may be the least possible delay.
Bids will be called on two types of bridges, a cantilever and suspension type, within the next two weeks. The cost will determine which one is finally selected. Bids will be called within the next few weeks on the joint entry highway, also.
In the mid 1940s my parents built and operated a Texaco service station on the Southeast corner across the street from the east end of that bridge.--CousinSam
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Sink Well In Canyon
Final arrangements for the taking over of the water system franchise for Grand Coulee were being completed between Paul M. Donaldson and the N. C. Jannsen Drilling Co., Seattle, at Seattle yesterday.
Water will be pumped from a well to be sunk in Rattlesnake canyon. The pump will have a 346 head, the water being lifted to a reservoir at the 1575-foot level in Grand Coulee. It will take about 4000 feet of pipe. Location of the will is now chosen and drilling will start soon.
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The type and style of the following clipping differs from the above; there is no note as to what paper it came from.
Last of Power Unit Taken To Damsite
Last of 400-Kilowatt Unit Which Will Furnish Light and Power for Damsite People
The remaining unit of the 400 kilowatt power plant being installed at the damsite to furnish light and power for the damsite era was unloaded from cars here Saturday and on Sunday was transported to the damsite, where it will be installed with the 300 kilowatt unit taken there several days ago.
The unit consists of a large two cylinder Diesel engine with direct drive generator and weigh nearly twenty tons. It is the property of the three engineers inc., and was hauled to its destination by A. T. Warsinke, contractor from Spokane. The large power unit formerly belonged to the Great Northern Railway.
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