The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-12-23
SUNNYSlDE CITIZENS
ARE WARMING UP
Mr.. CaIvert's Letter Given In Full
Together with the Reply of
the Committee.

The Sunnyside Protective Association |
is making vigorous protest against the
reclamation of $4,000 acres of land by |
the Washington Irrigation Company,
and recently adopted resolutions setting
forth their objections, which were for
warded to Mr.. Calvert, the state land
commissioner. His reply t" tile COM
mittee, together with a letter in reply 10
Mr.. Calvert's, are given herewith.
Olympia. Dec. IL. 1903
Mr.. L. l.. Higgins Sunnyside. Wash.
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt Of your favor
of the Sth inst inclosing a copy. OF the
tective association against the reclama.
ton and irrigation Of q certain 56,ooO
acres Of government land In the eastern
pan In reply permit me to say that this Sc
lection was made by the arid land com
missioner some ten years ago after a
a canal paralleling the Washington !rri-
cation company's ditch but q little high.
er up. This matter was held up until It
was turned over to my office under an
government b by the first Of last November
q plan Of irrigation. The legisiatur,e at
| this to be done. and authorizing any per-
son or corporation to make proposal 10
| water any OF the ara Janus Vi the Stdee
accepted under the Carey act.
The Washington Irrigation company
| made its survey during last summer and
enlarging and deepening It's ditch from!
the same. This proposal with the sur
general land Office at Washington City.
D. c., with our selection.
You object to the state receiving only
one fourth Of the proceeds of the sale
and the company receiving the other
three fourths. suppose you realize the
fact that the legislature could have ave d.
sum per acre. Idaho has a law author
izing the sale Of the lands received by
state under the arid Ian st aW az
washington requires $1,000 per acre. The
proceeds Of these sales go into the arid
land fund to be used as the legislature
foundation that some arrangement has
pend this money in impounding the wat
. ers at the lakes for the benefit Of this
company. In this you are mistaken. as
> and does not intend to make any such ar
rangement for the DISPOSITION of this
money. unless the Legislature In Its wis.
the money to be expended in this man
ner. IT will be done with a view to not
only benefiting Won. but also every Other
citizen in the valley who desires water
at noroinal figure.
] You also object to this contract for the
: reason that the washington irrisati ITO,
posal Of the company. and IL. by extend
3 ing. the ditch the supplv is exhausted, the
4 peOnle will he left without water.
There would be some force in this II
4 the company had used up all of its supply
4 and failed to enlarge it's ditch. but under
the enlargement Of it's ditch. as contem-
ton, there would be but little danger of
know but very little about but. taking
pany as basis for my attitude. I do not
! think there is any reason to fear the re-
Sylt ho Your cont contracts acts may be at fault
BILE in the contract with the state.
There have been breaks in the canal.
erty. due no doubt in part to the manner amer
In which the canal is constructed and
this would be remedied by the contem-
plated enlargement of the same
You say in your protest that you are
not opposing the policy of the state in
entering into contract with a corpora
lands but in the protest itself you cSr-
tainiy make most vigorous objection
thereto. The state OF washington is
very much interested in the reclamation
OF these arid lands, and the citizens of
the state expect me to do at least what
can In that direction. and II fail to do
/ my duty ought to be condemned by the
II whole people.
i During the session of the board of
II equdiizttion III lSOZ, upon request made
by. your officials. the state reduced 'Se
valuation Of your wild lands. as made py
the county board. s74S, 1S7. 90, and in 1908,
under the same complaint. the state re-
duced the valuation of 81 .443. 100. This
| reduction was made for the reason that
you claimed that you had so much arid
and scab land that you were entitled to
some consideration of this nature and
| the board. realizing that fact made this
reduction. You will realize that this re-
duetion in favor Of your county. affected
| the assessment roll of the whole state,
and now. when we desire to transfer
| 100000 of these wild. worthless acres to
the other side Of the ledger IN order that
the people of the state may have some
nttie advantage as well as yourselves.
We receive vigorous protests from prom
inant citizens Of Yakima and sunnysde
This you realize doubtless ought to be
carefully looked into by all of us before
we go too far one way or the other II
wish to do the very best I can for the
safe OF Washington as well as for Yakima
county. and l desire to assure you that
propose to do my duty as l see it,
Very truly yours
s. A. CALVERT
Commissioner.
Office of The Industrial Protective Asso-
citation