The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-03-31
PROJECTSAPPR0VED
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT TAKES
FINAL ACTION IN MATTER.

Representative Jones Says It |,
the Greatest Event for the
State Since Its Formation-Ul'
innate Expenditure Will Be
Upwards of $1O,OOO,00O
Washington, March 28.-Mr. Ryan,
facting secretary of the interior, yes
terday affixed his signature to an or
der finally approving the Sunnyside
and Teton irrigation projects. Thus
nearly four years after the enactment
Of the reclamation law the struggle
for irrigation in the state of Washing
ton was brought to close.
So far as any body can perceive there
no longer exists any excuse for delay
in carrying out the Washington pro-
jects.
Specifications for the construction
of works in the Okanogan project are
already in preparation. A lot Of sur
veying and minor Typographical work
must be done in the Yakima valley,
but this ought to be completed during
the summer, and there would be cause
for complaint if the reclamation serv-
ice is not ready late in the present
year to advertise for construction con-
tracts in that valley.
The concluding act performed by
Assistant Secretary Ryan yesterday
consisted simply in approving a legal
opinion written by the assistant attor-
ney general, declaring that all the
conditions imposed by the secretary
of the interior at the time the funds
for Washington irrigation were set
aside had been complied with. The
department will, before the end of the
week, close the deal for the purchase
of the Washington Irrigation Com
pany, the proposition of sale peing ap-
proved yesterday.
Representative Jones, who had been
by common consent the leader of the
state delegation in matters relating to
irrigation, is much pleased over the
final outcome. He said:
Great Event for State.
every water right is definite, GER
tain and perpetual. l venture the as
sertion that the projects in our state
will come nearer to vindicating the
wisdom and benefcence of the reclaim
alton act than any others approved
and undertaken by the government.
''The definite approva of this pro-
ject is the greatest event for our state
since its formation. It means more
for our material growth and develop
ment than any other one thing that
could have happened. It is great in
itself, but positively greater in what
naturally results from it. There is
much qualification that definite action
has been taken by the secretary in the
approval of irrigation for the state.
''The Yakima project contemplates
the ultimate expenditure of from $780,
900, 600 to $15, OOO,O and the ulti-
mate reclamation and cultivation of
from 400, 900 to 500. 5000 acres of land
now desert.
Take Up Other Projects.
"With the reclamation of this land
will also come an increase in our por-
ton of the reclamation fund and soon
our other projects can be taken up and
pressed to conclusion.
Zone million seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars has been set
aside to commence the work in the
valley. The Tieton sub-project for
reclaiming %, 600 acres west of North
Yakima and the Sunnyside sub-project
for the retaining Of 10000 acres in
connection herewith and the general
development of irrigation on the Yak
lima Indian reservation will be taken
up 1st and the development of the
whole valley will be pressed just as
rapidly as funds will permit. The next
sub-project to be taken up will, am
sure, be in Kittitas county, and after
that the Ledbetter. which is the larg-
est of all the sub-projects and the low
est down on the river.
1.-THE people of the Yakima valley
are to be congratulated most heartily
not only upon the Inauguration Of this
work, but upon the amicable adjust
ment of the difficulties encountered,
which bid fair to embroil the whole
valley in long drawn. out, expensive
and almost endless litiagtion. It is an
achievement of which I know no par
allel. Conflicting rights of $1,000
people of different counties to the wa
ters Of the Yakima river and it's trib-
utaries have been adjusted without
the aid of courts by mutual agreement
and, paradoxical as it may seem, each
person has more than he had before.
There will be no danger of water
shortage"
RECLAMATIONSERVIC
| PROMISES QUICK ACTION