The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-03-23
WASHINGTON IRRIGATION co.
UNFAIR TO HOMESTEADERS
Severely Criticised for Not Delivering
Them Water, and Forcing Them
to Buy Water Rights

/ Ill II ltttnl ISSUE Oh tne sunny sue sun
we notice resolutions published as those
of the Industrial Protective association
and lengthy editorial on another page
commenting severely on the same. We
believe Il wrong impression will be made
on the minds of strangers and all who
! do not fully understand the relative
conditions of the subject matter in
volved. Therefore we desire as Sun
reader and one familiar with nearly
every Sunnyside condition. having To-
Gated in the Sunnysidc district several
years ago. to correct the public in what
fcrred to.
First, we do not accept as the best
thing the manner of expression in those
resolutions. However Justly they apply.
Il, known to all fair minded citizens.
they could have been couchcd in Ian
guagc more appropriate with equal tell
ing effect. and given the editor of the
sun lighter club to WELD in the in
tere>t> of the irrigation company and
faction whose sentiment is supported by
/ the editors cutting remarks. He says
hi, paper is always open for publication
of proper matter. and then declares the
resolutions improper The facts in the
case are: notwithstanding the Indus
trial Protective association first voted
his paper their official organ. he ha,
persistently refused to publish matter
for them or give single editorial COM
mcnt helping or assisting them in over
coming the wrongs and injustice heaped
upon them by the conduct of the irriga-
ton company.
He classes the Industrial Protective
association as the enemies of the Wa ,h-
ington Irrigation company, which gives
Il wrong impression. They would be
only too glad to meet the Washington
Irrigation company on the most friend
~ terms upon amy reasonable basis of
business transactions. What the In
du>tiial Protective association is at en-
nifty with. is the management of the
company with its patrons, especially
with the home>teaders. wherein. by their
treatment. they rob the homesteaders
of any equity the government may have
coded to them in their patent to their
holdings The Washington Irrigation
company have acknowledged they own
no water. which, as matter of fact. are
common carriers. as railroads, and must
deliver water to anyone under their
ditch who demands ii and is willing to
pay for such delivery. Yet their man
ager has refused at various times to
furnish water to home tead land. ana at
present refuses to furnish said land with
water unless said parties purchase
water right of the company at $40 per
acre, which is Il larger price than the
company have sold the bulk of their own
land for, including water right
This explains the cause for any and
all friction between the Industrial Pro
tectiye association and the WASHINGTON
Irrigation company. The water com
pany have always been arbitrary in
their management, trying to force right
ofway through anybody's land with
application or settlement according to
the terms of their state charter. and in
every way possible deal with a certain
class of their patrons with a tyranical
hand of irony and injustice hardly ever
equalled between companies and their
constituency in the writer's experience.
There are many more reasons that might
be given for the radical expressions
made in the resolutions published by the
Sun, and with no intent to injure any
one, the fact still remains that the ma
jority of the business men of Sunnyside
have given very little sympathy to this
class of their patrons, who have and are
being robbed continually.
INTERESTED OBSERVER.