The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-01-28
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
OF IRRIGATION ASSOCIATION
Prominent Men Gather From NariouS
Sections of the State and Dis
cuSS Leading Questions.

cuSs Leading Questions.
The Irrigation Association of the state
OF Washington held its first meet NC af-
ter organizing, in the Commercial club
rooms of the city, last Saturday after
noon. Some of the men present were
&. II. Plummer of Tacoma, assistant
land commissioner for tie Northern
Pacific railroad, +. +. Blaine, the we'll
known Seattle attorney, Ralph Kauf-
man.ofs Ellensburg, f. F. Benson of Ia
coma and others of equal note from diff
ferent localities OF the state aside from
many eminent local promoters 5. J.
Harrison of Sunnvside, president of the
association, called the meeting to order.
III. b. Scudder then read long lettef
fromsCongressman Jones discussing the
the new national irrigation law which
appears in another column of this paper.
The general discussion of the meeting
was then turned toward the best means
for reserving the waters of the Yakima
river and its tributaries, and as to the
steps necessary to bt taken whereby the
best interests of the whole people could
be considered. Some were Of the opin-
ion that the government would be too
slow in making progression of mater
ial nature, toward the constructing of
reservoirs at the headwaters of the Yak
ina river, and as steps should be taken
Immediately with this object in view,
they were in favor of taking the matter
up themselves, effect legislation that
would protect private individuals or cor
porations in the consumation of such
projects, and without waiting upon the
government, begin to act In support
of this plan E. f. Blaine had the secre-
tary read bill which he mad prepared
to have introduced during this session of
the legislature, but f ct he desired the
cooperation and endorsement of the r.
rigation Association. When Mr..
Blaine's bill had been read, it provoked
thoroughly interesting debate among
several of the gentlemen present.
The bill in substance favored imme-
date action looking to the construction
and maintenance of reservoirs at the
headwaters of the Yakima in order to
conserve the surplus waters for the use
and benefit of the people along its banks.
1t further gave this right to private in
dividuals or corporations. 1t was this
latter clause which aroused the suspic-
ions of some of those present and
brought on the argument
Another bill largely bearing upon the
same line of thought as that outlined in
Blaine's bill, and one which has already
been introduced in the legislature, was
read in the meeting, and neither were
found to answer the purpose of those
who are looking to the conservation of
rights and privileges that will subserve
the best interests of the whole people
! Under these circumstances therefore, f
f. Benson arose to the emergency and
suggested the a,!visability of a commit
tee of five being appointed to take both
bills, compare them, pick out the best
| points, insert advisable amendments
and with the full endorsement of the IT.
rigation Association, have it introduced
in this session of the legislature.
All Saturday evening was spent by
this committee in framing a bill that
they considered fair and impartial.
Those on the committee were +. F.
Blaine, Ira p. Englehart, Ralph Kauf-
man, f. F. Benson and IL. b. Scudder.
The bill is not yet in condition for publ
cation.
A matter was then taken up and DIS
cussed relating to the action of the secre-
tary of the interior in having withdrawn
from entry lands embracing the water
shed on the Yakima river. This was
unanimously agreed upon as being a
move of the greatest Importance to this
entire country, and the following resolu-
ton was introduced by Ralph kaufman,
carried by the members, ana copy
ordered forwarded to the secretary Of
the interior and to the members of con-
gress from this state:
Resolved, That the action of the
secretary of the interior in temporarily
withdrawing from entry lands embraced