The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-03-22
ROBERT A. TURNER EDITOR.
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER,
THE DITCH MEETING.

AT the ditch meeting Saturday after
noon, the report of the ways and means
committee as submitted at Il previous
meeting and published in The DAWN,
was adopted. There was Il good attend
ance and both Propositions high
and intermediate line discussed, but
as no one could speak with authority as
to the high line, feasibility, cost of con-
struction, ETC., etc. although Mr., Bru
ton submitted figures, he stated that he
knew not us to practibility of the plan
and that no one could know until sur
vey was made. 1t was plain to see that
majority of those present desired Il
high line ditch if it could be built, but
question was, can it be built this sea
son and can the money be had to do il
with. The committee had made pref
ty thorough investigation of the line
known as the Burlingame survey as to
feasibility and cost of construction, and
it was thought best to encourage the
promoters, that an intermediate ditch
would be better than no ditch at all.
The one great trouble about the high
line proposition is that there is no or
ganized effort in that direction, all
talk but no concentrated action to that
end. The only way for us to get the
high line is to form corporation and
put up $1,000 to $4,000 to make proper
survey and ascertain the exact condi-
ton, costs of construction, ETC., etc.
but the question comes as to who is
going to put up the money. The peo-
pie have been fooled and duped so
much that they seem to have no conf
dence in Il scheme that will be of bene-
tit to them. Others hang back and
refuse to do anything whatever, they
want to see high line ditch, but want
someone else to do all the work, furnish
all the money and give them the Dene-
fits at nominal sum. That kind OF
work will never secure the desired OBJ
ject-the high line ditcn-it can be
built, but it will have to come by the
way of business organization and Il
hearty cooperation of all concerned,
by combining our capital and labor and
all pulling together in the same direc-
ton and with the same object in view,
the greatest good to all concerned.
We are satisfied in our mind that
there existed and still exists IL pre- udice
against high line ditch in the minds
of some of the committeeman and the
building of an intermediate line was
the only proposition considered, anG we
also believe that if the committee had
given the same consideration to the
Owens survey that they did to the Bur-
lingame survey, there would have been
much less feeling and the mass
of people much better satisfied but a,
the matter now stands, we believe our
people should get in and encourage the
new corporation for it is commenda-
BILE enterprise. whether we endorse the
route or not. The proposed line Will
cover 30, 600 acres, and while it covers
vast amount of outside land, it will OF
course cover the individual holdings oil
part of the committeeman, and in this
respect the committee has by many
been considered short sighted of the
public good.
We know that it is impossible to please
all and that people are apt to be too
hasty in jumping at conclusions and in
impugning the motives OF other peo-
pie, but let us be patient and charitable
and allow others the privileges we take.
Now that it has settled to an inter-
mediate ditch, let the people assist the
promoters in bringing about the de-
sired object. Even the intermediate
ditch, built as the promoters say they
will, covering all the land possible, will
mean much to Kittitas and Ellensburg.
1t will mean thrice us much land under
irrigation as we now have, and that
means a surplus product every year of at
least 81 800, 600 besides the many other
advantages. reduction in taxes. etc.
People going on this land must neces-
sarily build houses, barns, fences, etc,
buy plows, harrows, wagons, mowers,
rakes. household goods, etc. all or
nearly all of which will be supplied by
Ellensburg. Then it means much in
creased population for Ellensburg as
well as for the Kittitas valley.
o