The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-11-01
sunnyside Canal to be Extended.

County will be turned over to the
state of Washington by the govern
ment for reclamation by the extension
of the Sunnyside canal under con-
tract to be entered into between the
state and the Washington irrigation
Company, owning the canal. The pc
ttiOn for selection of the lands by
the state was made early in the year,
but serious opposition was aroused
by the Yakima Development panypany,
which planned another irrigation
scheme involving the same lands. The
latter company enlisted the sympathy
of prominent business men OF North
Yakima and public meetings were held
and resolutions passed declaring
against the expediency of the pro-
posed selection by the state.
Protests were filed in Washington
city by the Yakima Commercial Club
and the Industrial Protective Asso-
citation, of Sunnyside. on the ground
that a larger area could be reclaimed
by the proposed plan of the Yakima
development Company, and on the
further ground that the Sunnyslde
canal did not carry enough water to
supply the new area. On the other
hand it passed a resolution, and petit
lions favorable to the selection and
nroposed manner of reclamation were
filed by the people of Kiona and Ken
newiclI the Sunnyside Commercial
Climb and the Prosser Board OF Trade
The decision in favor of the state
is in the form of a letter to the Land
Office at North Yakima, dlsmlss1ng
the protests and approving the selec-
ton. 1t quotes from reports OF gov
eminent experts showing that an aoe-
ouate volume of water can be supphed
by the Sunnyside canal, and declares
that no conflict exists between the
plans of the state and the plans OF the
Yakima Development Company. Other
matters presented in the protest are
declared to not be proper subjects LOT
consideration by the department..
The decision practically ends the
fight against the extension OF the sun
nvside canal to this large area OF state
lands and approval by the secretary Oh
the interior only awaits the correction
of minor details in the plats nled at
Washington. The contract between
the state and the Washington lrrlga-
ton Company, which will be entered
into as soon as the final action by the
interior department. Is ldheh' Will Pio
vide for the extension OF the canal
q distance of 60 miles. In addition
to 55.5S5 acres of land thus awarded
to the state, the canal will reclaim
an equal number of acres owned by
the railroad company upon which the
canal company has options. 1t Will
also reclaim a score or more OF COM
mon school land sections.
The selected state lands Will be SOL
nv the state at a rate OF $40 per acre
and the water right will be obtalT
for $50 per acre The state lands WI
thus be secured with water rights at
about two-thirds the present price for
similar lands under the Sunnyslde
ditch. The 100000 acres OF state and
railroad lands to be reclaimed are IN
the eastern part of Yakima county
and it is said that rivalry between Two
sections of the county and posslpil-
jtv of county division resulting from
the upbuilding of the undeveloped por-
ton caused much of the opposition TO
the reclamation of the land under
state supervision.
Work of the extension OF the canal
will be begun within six months AFTER
tho cioninp of the contract by the state