The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-04-01
THE STORAGE RESERVOIR
QUESTION STILL kGITATED
Some of the People Are Anxious to
Have the Water Stored--
Leading Opinions.

1t has been rumored recently on good
authority that steps are to be taken soon
by the people of Yakima and Kittitas
valleys looking to the conservation of
waters at the sources of the streams
passing through these valleys.
Under the existing state laws these
waters can be appropriated and stored
behind dams, and since it seems hardly
probable that the federal government
will lend their aid to the project within
the next long while, perhaps combina
ton could be formed among the people
most vitality intere ted by which the
problem can be solved.
Some opinions of leading men along
this line are as follows:
r. X. NIcHoLs-The people of Yakima
and Kittitas valleys should at once com
bne, get together, formulate and put
into execution some broad measure for
the storage of water'at the head Of our
rivers for the supply and development
watersheds of the Yakima river.
II. B. SCUDDER-The people OF kittitas
and Yakima valleys are not in a position
to undertake any such project as the
building of reservoirs at the head OF its
streams. The government for the pres
ent at least will do nothing, and in
order to perfect such an undertaking it
will require capital behind the scheme
beyond the realization of these two val
leys. If the Northern Pacific can be
induced with their millions of money to
appropriate these waters, put in these
reservoirs and then dish it out to the
people proportionately it will be a move
ment of the greatest import to this sec
ton of the country. 1t is possible that
such proposition will be effected.
EDWARD WHITsoN-I would like very
much to see something done in connec-
ton with the storage of waters at the
head of these streams. 1t occurs to me
that the various canal companies, who
are dependent upon the waters of the
Yakima river might get together, formu-
late plan and by cooperation make
some positive movement looking to the
conservation of these waters. | am
convinced that for the future develop
ment of the country through here some
thing of this nature must be accom-
plished.
ROBERT DuNN-I would strongly favor
a movement on the part of the people OF
these valleys taking the initiative in the
proposition of putting in storage reser-
voirs, but this same question was dis
cussed at Olympia last winter and it was
thought impracticable, for the reason
that in handling such a project some
body must take the reins and do the
hustling, and as to who this would be or
the matter of inducing some one to pro-
mote the scheme was a hard nut to
crack. | feel positive the necessity for
some definite action in the project and
would like to see someone engineer it
through.
w. II. REDMAN - The people of
Kittitas and Yakima valleys might pos
sibly form a satisfactory combination
and make it possible to construct stor-
age reservoirs at the heads OF the valley
streams. | should much rather see the
n. p. railroad company, who has the
money to undertake such project, jump
in and to do this work. They are the
people in my opinion to assume such
responsibility, and would under all the
existing circumstances be compelled to
deal fairly and equitably with the whole