[Rarebooks] FS: Grand Coulee Dam, 1935

[Karen Howell]

Offered today:

Neal Jones, Columbia Basin Commission.

An Archive of 7 documents related to the Grand Coulee Dam and the State of Washington, Columbia Basin Commission.

This offering consists of 7 documents related to the Grand Coulee Dam and the State of Washington, Columbia Basin Commission.  1935. 

1)  3-page typed letter, SIGNED by Neal Jones on State of Washington, Columbia Basin Commission letterhead dated April 15, 1935, addressed to H. W. Burch.  

2)  9-page mimeographed "Statement of E. J. Banker, Chairman of Columbia Basin Commission to President Roosevelt," March 1935, copy marked in red pencil by Jones for Burch. 

3) 16-page Reprint from Western Construction News, April - June, 1934 entitled "Grand Coulee Dan and Power Plant on Columbia River," Contains photographs of the dam site, portrait of key players in the project, maps and design plans for the Grand Coulee Dam, text by various contributors;

4)  4-page copy of a news release by Wendel Burch, United Press Staff Correspondent describing the project as "The most worthwhile task of empire saving and empire building the world has witnessed in ancient or modern times," quoting Harold Ickes;

5)  3-Page extract from Pacific Builder and Engineer for March 2, 1935 entitled "Basis of Findings of P. N. W. Regional Planning Commission on the Grand Coulee Dam," marked in graphite and red pencils, but fully legible;

6)  Copy of a newspaper account of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's visit to the Grand Coulee and Bonneville projects including statistics on the expected results of the projects; and

7)  Copy of a newspaper article by E. F. Banker entitled "Official Sees New Wave of Development for Washington," subtitled "Conservation Head says President's message indicates shift of population and industry to this state."  Very Good. 

In 1934, the Washington State Columbia Basin Commission initiated a national publicity campaign to "Sell the nation on the need for power development and irrigation in the Columbia basin."  To that end, the Commission hired Neal Jones, "a newspaperman of wide experience in Seattle, California and Omaha ... to conduct a publicity campaign."  The documents in this archive were sent to Mr. H. Wendel Burch, Night Manager, United Press, in San Francisco California as a part of this publicity campaign. 

After languishing for a decade or two of internal political squabbling within Washington state, the Grand Coulee Dam project finally got off the ground with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who planned large public works programs designed to increase expenditures and promote economic growth.  A few weeks after his inauguration, Roosevelt included the Grand Coulee Dam in his new Public Works Administration program.  The Columbia Basin Project became the largest thing ever built by mankind; thousands came from all over North America to be a part of its construction.  Its canals watered more than 1,000,000 acres of land, helping to feed thousands, and its power lines brought light to people living throughout the western United States.  

REFERENCES: Simonds, The Columbia Basin Project, pp. 2-7; Spokane Chronicle, August 6, 1934, editorial page.

$ 125.00; reciprocal trade discount allowed. 

Postage: $ 5.00 Media Mail, within the Continental US.  International shipping or priority mail at cost.

Terms of Sale: CWO, Credit Card, PayPal, or checks accepted. Returns accepted with advance notice, within 10 days of receipt.

Sincerely,

John Howell, ABAA, ILAB, IOBA

www.johnhowellforbooks.com

310 367-9720