The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-11-22
BIG IRRIGATION MEETING
Hello IN PRoSSER
Congressman Jones and North Yak
ina Business Men Address the
Gathering in Prosser.

Last Friday evening in the Com
mercial Club Rooms at Prosser there
was held rousing irrigation meet
ing. A reporter for the Kiona Enter
prise was present. and the following
account of the meeting is taken from
that paper:
There was a goodly attendance at
the mass meeting last night at Pros
ser. and much interest was manifest
ed in the ubject--irrigation in gen.
eral and the extension of the Sunny
side canal in particular. The meet
ing was addressed by Congressman
Jones, Engineer Noble of the Recla-
nation Service, Mr.. Fraser and Mr.
Scudder of North Yakima, and sew
eral members of the Prosser Com
mercial club, including E. F. Benson
d. NJ. Angus and others.
Mr.. Jones was the speaker of the
evening. and his lucid explanations
of the adjustment of water rights in
| the valley, preparatory to the govern
ment taking hold, were listened to
with the most profound attention and
and solely in the interest of adjust
| ments by the people. and reclamation
| by the government.
Mr.. Noble talked exclusively from
the government standpoint, and his
propositions were somewhat disap-
| pointing. He does not hold out much
promise for the immediate extension
| of the Sunnyside canal even If the
government should purchase it. Yet
| he asks water owners to surrender to
the government all their holdings
save the actual quantity of water they
| may have used the past season.
He was, of course, not at liberty to
say all that he might have in mind
in regard to even what has been rec
| commended to the service Being a
subordinate he could not divulge
what had been approved by his SUI
periors. Personally Mr.. Noble could
promise little. He does not advise
| the Leadbetter project for some years
to come. and says in the most posi-
tive manner that the government will
not take hold in the valley if handi-
capped in any way whatever, and that
II is up to the people to adjust their
water rights among themselves and
In their own way, but always with the
definite object constantly in view of
adjustments of water rights without
litigation, and also with the view of
government control.
The adjustment of Mr.. Benson's
water right at Prosser promised at
one time during the evening to be
very difficult matter to settle. Not
only Mr.. Benson, but the wAole town
OF Prosser is extremely jealous of any
interference with their water power.
Different members of the CONNER
cial club were on the rostrum to safe
guard any attempt that might be
made to take away their water power
without giving adequate returns.
There was only one decidedly live
~ episode. man on the platform
took issue with Mr. Noble, disputed
some OF his statements and engaged
in fierce war of words Mr.. Noble
was incensed by the attack, and in
sisted that he be spoken to as though
he were gentleman" And the au-
dience applauded wildly and shouted
Good "More!" Afterwards mu-
tual apologies were in order.
Taken altogether, the meeting was
eminently successful. Mr.. Benson
seemed satisfied that the government
was not trying to do him, and the
meeting, when promised at one time
In the evening to be somewhat
stormy. adjourned in the utmost good
humor