The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-12-20
Will Win the Fight
For Irrigation

The question or government irri-
cation has not yet been settled, al
though the indications are favor
able. Chairman James Ii. Fraser,
who has done nothing but devote all
Of his time to this matter ever since
he was given the Craftsmanship of
the committee, was very optimistic
yesterday afternoon in talking to
reporter for the Morning Herald.
I'VE will win this fight" he said,
Gin spite of all opposition. because
we've got to win it. We have still
got lots of work before us. and there
yet remains about fifty cubic feet to
slice off before we can call the vic
tory ours"
The Herald was beseiged all yes
terday morning and afternoon by
those who are anxious to know the
conditions. and what the prObabili-
ties are for government irrigation.
The work of the committee is begin
ming to have effect.
On aturday afternoon at a meeting
OF the stockholders Of the Cowychie
and Natchez canals a concession of
five feet was obtained from them.
The Union Ditch stockholders met
Saturday night and knocked Off IN
feet The Taylor Ditch stockholders
have also signed the agreement.
Mayor Fechter at the meeting Of
the council Monday night was author
lied to meet the irrigation commit
tee and sign on behalf of the city
concession of all the water in the
appropriation of the city that is not
actually needed. This water Is car
ried in the bitches of the Cascade
Lumber company and in the Union
ditch.
every little bit helps. but fifty
feet Is a whole lot of water to get
shaved off. and that must be done.
The following letters from Congress
man Jones and Secretary Hitchcock
will be Of interest to all those who
are taking an interest in the prob
lem:
Dec. 70, 1905.
The Irrigation Committee, North
a great pleasure for me to send you
telegram today notifying you that
the secretary of the interior had ap-
proved the Tietan project. and had
allotted therefor one million dol
lars, and the Sunnyside project, and
had allotted therefor $75O,000.
1t has taken hard work to secure
$75O,0O0 more than the amount in
our restricted fund, but we have
done 1t. herewith hand you a copy
of the letter from the secretary of
the interior, which will show what
has to be done. The first, second
and sixth conditions are practically
the same. These are things that
will have to be done by our people.
The Sunnyside and the Indian reser-
walton propositions are matters
largely that are to be adjusted here.
and I feel that 1t will be very easy
to take care of both Of these II our
people do their part. 1t would seem
that it ought not to be difficult to
secure a satisfactory adjustment Of
the fourth proposition. / should
think that our state officials. when
they are convinced that the secretary
means business. and intends to be-
gin work in our valley and state
il things are adjusted will not stand
in the way of this great enterprise.
this respect, and would suggest that
our people would take the matter up
with the state officials, and especial
ly Mr.. Ross. at once. The secretary
of the interior assured me unequiv-
ocally that he would do everything
in his power to help us along, to get
this work under way. This, in my
judgment, insures the satisfactory
adjustment of the Indian reserva-
ton, so that the claims of the In
dians will never disturb the rights of
the present irrigators, and also in
sures the bringing under irrigation
of many thousands of acres of land
which otherwise would lie idle.
This leaves for settlement at home
by our people the claims of those
who are now irrigating from the riv-
er, and its tributaries, and those
who are using the water of the river
for power purposes. The govern
ment will not adjust the claims of
power, as II was suggested in the
Republic a few days ago. That is a
claim that we will have to settle just
the same, as the claims of all other
private users of the stream The
matter is now squarely up to us.
Heretofore we have not had the APP
proval of the secrtary. We now have
his approval and his assurance that
If the difficulties in the way are set
tied, construction will commence
soon. The settlemnt of these diff
culties will be of incalculable benefit