The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-12-23

with a channel laready cut. just for one
minute imagine the result OF break
when the canal carries water for some
10000 acres below this town. With
memories of Johnstown and Heppner in
mind. II you fail to guard against this
to warning and protest. II you sign this
contract without investigation, you need
not be surprised If some day the whole
ought to be condemned by them If you
fail to do your duty. The lay of the land
is such that any break in four miles OF the
main canal will pour a flood on this town
and to authorize this great increase in
the canal without safeguards, is for you
to invite disaster. These breaks can only
cementing and We certainly do regard IT
your duty to provide against danger and
damage in your contract with the Wash,
ington Irrigation company we stated
| vate cornorations. but were opposed to the
unjust terms of this contract.
We made our objections specific and the
Implication in your letter that some other
motive than those given in the resolu-
tions prompted us to oppose this contract
would come with better. grace from the at
torney OF the corporation interested. than
from the commissioner of public lands
Our objections may have been "vigor-
GUS" as you say. but they were also
honest and candid We have not threat
ened political influence or attempted to
bring to bear any other force than an
appeal to your reason and sense Of JUS
and are frank enough to say that your
letter does not bear the stamp Of a can
dor equal to ours Although mentioned
both in the resolutions and accompanying
letter. you have omitted to accept our
invitation to investigate conditions where
conditions are known although you came
as near as North Yakima to investigate
the claims OF rival corporation. While
II can easily be seen why interested par
ties might wish for secrecy we can see
no good reason why the commissioner of
public lands can have any good reason
for declining to send us copy for pub
LEGATION. but are compelled to note that
we have no copy and no promise of one
place large amount of wild land on the
right side OF the ledger for taxation. 1t
was our belief that none of the land that
could be irrigated by any canal was re-
leved from taxation it being exclusively
the always worthless scab land and hill !
tops. that were exempt. A statement of
the sections so exempt may prove us to
be mistaken and If We are will promptly |
admit this to be good argument for the /
policy of the state. although we do not
see that this bears on this specific con-
tract. unless it be SO perfect as to need
no amendemtn.
We respectfully urge that a special
knowledge of the subject is needed by
public officer whose duty ii is to represent
the rights of the people and hope you will l
recall your announced intention of sign II
ing this contract against the protest of H
those affected and who have that definite
knowledge when you are forced to admit
In the same letter that YOU know nothing
OF the subject except that furnished by
the party that hopes to profit thereby |
Hoping that you will see it as your duty
to inform us of the exact terms of this
contract and to give us a fair hearing
In regard to the terms that are for our
Yours respectfully
THE COMMITTEE.