Water Power Development on the Lower Loup River: a Study in Economic Geography

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Water Power Development on the Lower Loup River: a Study in Economic Geography University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Theses and Dissertations in Geography Geography Program (SNR) June 1937 Water Power Development on the Lower Loup River: A Study in Economic Geography Ralph Eugene Olson University of Nebraska Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geographythesis Part of the Geography Commons Olson, Ralph Eugene, "Water Power Development on the Lower Loup River: A Study in Economic Geography" (1937). Theses and Dissertations in Geography. 1. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geographythesis/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Geography Program (SNR) at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations in Geography by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT ON THE LOWER LOUP RIVER: A STUDY IN ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY by Ralph Eugene Olson A THESIS . Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the University of Nebraska in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Department of Geography Lincoln, Nebraska 1937 Chapter I ................... 1 Introduction. The nature of the Loup Rlver Power Project; the project as a geographic problem; the method of the investigation. Chapter I1 .................. 10 An Evaluation of the Lower LOUDArea-- Natural & Cultural Factors Affectinq Hydro-Electric Developments. Natural factors: Location, climate as related to natural vegetation and agrlcul ture, drainage and water supply, topography and land forms, natural earth materiale available for use--gravel, sand, dement; cultural factors: distribution of population and industries, possibilities for expanding the market for electricity, present sources of power in the area. Chapter I11 .................. 54 Water Power Development --on the River. Water power sites located on the LOUDand its 3ributaries; early observations of the lower Loup Rlver as a power and irrigation site; genesis of the present power development project: an Idea for stimula- ting the growth of Columbus, the prelimi- nary engineering survey, new government interest In hydro-electric power development in Nebraska (the need for developing Nebraska's natural resources, the need for solving the unemployment problem), the allotment of federal funds, organization of the Loup Rlver Public Power District (legal problems involved, administrative organiza- tion, engineering organization, permanent organication). Chapter IV ...................86 Mechanical AsDeots of Construction -e. -e. Headworks--intake, weirs, dikes; settling basin--; canal, power houses; reservoir; siphons, drainage ditches, culverts, and inlets; bridges, relocated roads; fences; temporary roads; camp houses, movable shelter houses; transmission lines; office buildings. Chapter v .................. .154 ome Geo a hic Problems Presented b~ L+the Prolec . Factors Involved in locating -the project as a whole--stream gradient and hischarge, land form and mantle rock, cost of the land occupied, distance from other sources of power, distance to markets for electricity, desire for a water power projeot; other problems-- locatlng the storage reservoir and power houses, locating the best route for the canal, the silt problem, the ground water problem, seepage from the canal, canal breaks, erosion of canal banks, seeding of canal banks. Chapter VI ...........183 Human Aspects of the LOUDProject. Purchase of right-of-was: effect of project on the-communlty~-recreational posslbllities, trade and employment during construction, probable changes after con- structlon; the new cultural landscape; industrfal effects of the project; relation of the project to a program of conservation. Chapter VII ................. 198 $onclusion. Appendix: A ................. 201 B.. ............... 20g c.. ............... 215 D.. ..........a,... 220 Bibliography ................. 223 . LIST OF FIGURES Chapter I Page General Hap of the Loup River Project ... 9 Clearing and Ombbing for Excavation* ... 14 Section of Upper Portion of Canal*. 15 Map.. Location of Loup River Project in Mebr . 19 Gravel Pumping and Grading ......... 3 Position of Gravel Pit ........... 39 Chapter I11 Ground Fater Test Well No . 94 * ....... 71 Signing Bonds bf First Issue ........ 79 Chapter IV Readworks Arrangement .......*'.** s7 Aerial View. Control Weir and Intake ., . 88 Bank Protection Area. Looking upstresm .... 90 Control Weir. Looking Right:' . 92 Intake Gate Section and Sluice Way* ..... Ice in Intake Spillway*........... 9t9 Deck of Intake Gate Section and Sluiceway &tee .*................. 96 Cross Section of the Desilting Basin .... 98 Bridge Across Sludge Flume at Right of Skimming Weir: .............100 Skimming Weir. Looking Downstreamf ..102 Loup River Waters Flowing Over Skimming Weir*lOj Dragline Used in Excavating the Canal ...105 Cross Sections of Canal.. On Flood Plain Below Skimming Weir and On Shell Creek Terrace ...................107 Aerial View of Canal Excavation.*. ..108 Aerial View of Canal Exoavation Looking Downstream *................ 110 Left Canal Embankment and Borrow Pit*.... 112 Cross Section of the Tailrace Canal ....114 * Pho'co...rzp'.. s Lsken by !*. Francis Dischner . for the L.3.P.P.F. 26 . Left Tailrace Embankment at Weir % .... 27 . Ground Water in the Tailrace Canal .... 28 . Platte River. Looking Southeast from Right of tailrace weir .... 29 . Monroe Power House in Construction .... 30 . Monroe Power House. Looking Upstred*... 31 . Columbus Power House. Looking Upstream 1 . 32. Columbus Power House under Construction? . Columbus Power House Completed* ...... 3t3 . Penstock Erection. Columbus Power House? . Generator Erection. Columbus Power House* . 32 . Generator Erection. Columbus power House* . 37 . Slope Payment Reservoirf .......... 38 . Reservoir Weir From Upstream Sldet .... 9 . Water Pouring Over Reservoir Weirt .... t 0 . Looking Glass Creek Near Loup District Canal ................... 41. Beaver Creek Near the Loup District canal . 42 . Beaver Creek Siphon............ 4 . Looking Glass Siphon ........... 4: . Railroad Siphon, Looking North: ...... 4 . Flume and Drainage Inlet by Bridge No . $3: 42 . County Steel Bridge Across Canal (N0.9). 47 . Bridge No . 25 Across Tailrace Canal? ... 48 . Pipe Cine Bridge Across Tailrace Canal . 49 . Temporary Road Across Canal ........ 50. Unexcavated Section of Canal Used for Road* ................... 51 . Farm Bridge Across Canal* ......... 52. Bridge Across Drainage Ditch ....... Railroad Siding to Columbus Power House . Construction Materials st Columbus Power House Site ............. Chapter V . Pump Excavation at Columbus.* ....... 525 . Backwater Due to Columbus Power House Pumping.* ................. 57 . Tailrace Draining into Lost Creek.* .... 58 . Break in Canal *.............. rosion of Inner Side of Canal Bank? ... Dike Wall Washed Out*........... 61. Dressing Left Intake Canal Embankment? . 62 . Surf ace of Tailrace Spoil Bank *...... Chapter VI * 63. Aerial View of C~nalExcavation. ......190 64. Harvesting east (Erop Trom Reservoir Site . 191 6 . Farm on Reservoir Site ....191 62. F arm Site in Reservoir ...........191 67. Canal Section Through South Part of Genoa. 193 68. Schoolhouse, Playground Bordering Canal Bank ................... 69. Transmission ~inef............. 1919t Because of the newness of the subject and the consequent lack of printed information on many of its aspects, I have had to rely largely on observatior;, unpublished engineering data, and personal conferences in prep~xingthis study. -The Columbus Daily Telegram gave me free access to its excellent file of clippings concerning the Loup project, and without these the chapter on historical develonment could not have been mitten. A letter of introduction from Mr. J. A. Rorg, a family friend and a member of the board of directors of the Loup River Public Power District helped me gain access to nforbidden ground" both at the District office and at various points &Long the route of the canal. Hlr. Harold Kramer, Secretary and Genera-Manager of the District since its organization, and Mr. Ed Lusienski, Chairman of the Right-of-Fay Committee, procured for me a number of maps and made available mch statistical data. I am especially grateful to Xr. Fred Albert, Chief lbgineer, for criticisms of Chapters 11, 111, and IV, and for his kindly interest throughout the study. Mr. A. 0. Hasterlo, District Guide, because of his personal acquaintance with all parts of the project, gave me many useful sw;gest ions. To my father, Mr. A. E. Olson, I am indebted for valuable aid in describing local economic conditions, and for the use of a?, automobile throughout the period of study. Various members of the staff of the Department of Geography at the University of ITebraska ha.ve criticized all or part of the manuscript--Dr. Nels A. Sengtson, Dr. Willem Van Royen, Dr. Earl E. Lackey, and Dr. Esther 9. Anderson. Tne most valuable criticisms have been those of Dr. Bengtson, who has sponsored and supervised the entfre study, and ml~o has given much time and attention to Its successful completion. Dr. Vera E. Rigdon, of the University of Rebraska Extension Division, helped me both to unsplit infinitives and to smooth out rough places in ~vordingand phrasing. Ernest Gross, my friend and fellow thesis-penner, gave me much nmoral sup-)art '1 and encouragement during the trying weeks of miting and rewriting. Most of the pictures inclukd in the
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