The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-05-30
PLAN SURVEY IN
STEVENS COUNTY
10 BEGIN THERE THIS SUMMER
congressman Jones Receives the As
surance Of Department head,
Who Talks enthusiastically.

5 nca Congressman Jones took up
with fhe agricultural department
several months ago TILE question of
The Investigation and survey Of the
swamp lands in -,eycns county, he
has had a number of conferences with
The officials having particular charge
Of ths natter In view of The liberal
manner iii which congress is now pro-
vidms funds FOR the use of the Of
flee of irrigation and drainage in
yestigatiors. Mr. Jones thought It an
0pportune time TO again call the mat
ter o he attention OF MI Mead. the
chief Of the office, ANA he followed
up his thought by calling on this
official.
lic was informed that plans are
now beng formulated for the inves-
tigaticn and survey of these lands in
Ste, IS county during the coming
summer and that Mr. Elliott expect
ed 70 make a personal examination
OF the area next month, and arrange
for the carrying out Of this work
). O. Jayne OF Pullman. who FORM
erly assisted Prof. Waller in carrying
out irrigation Investigations in the
Yakima valley, has been given in
structions to begin special investiga-
tions in the kennewick district, and
The department Is pleased at the way
he is taking UP the matter. In ad-
dition o this work, Mr.. Jones was in
formed. he will take up. certain in
vestigatons in the Mckee valley, in
which II is claimed there is much
waste of water by seepage from the
bitches and from over-irrigation. pre-
senting both irrigation and drainage
problems Of considerable moment to
the valley
In his last conference with Mr.
Jones Mr. Mead said:
There is another problem which
has been suggested by he people in
connection with the establishment Of
the duty of water by the reclamation
service. II is claimed that in the
Mckee valley where a portion Of the
irrigated land is underaid with riv-
err gravel wash, and where there are
parts with the usual amount of deep
soil or clay, fiat water duty will
not meet with the requirements of
/ all rrigators II is our purpose dur
/ ing this season, therefore. to ascer-
tain what the minimum duty of water
is for these various classes of land,
not only for the information and use
of water users, but for the reclama-
ton service ard others constructing
canals who are entrusted with fixing
upon the quantity of water to be sup
piled to various areas. 1t is claimed,
and with some justice, that the duty
should vary with the character Of
the land served. 1t is our purpose
to ascertain the relation of these mat
tiers and. if possible. furnish some re-
liable information upon the subject
in that valley The demand for
drainage work in that valley has been
greater than this office anticipated.
We find that land owners now, how
ever, have no doubt but that their
lands can be effectually drained and
the water so controlled as TO work
no injury The difficulties Of the
work seem to be those connected
with the construction. a state of af-
fairs quite different from that we met
when we first investigated the sub
ject three years ago. | know of no
state in the irrigated west where the
sentiment of land owners upon this
subject has been more radically
changed, or where as much progress
has been made in the drainage of
lands made wet by seepage from
bitches or over irrigation. may con-
graduate Your state upon the pro-
gress it has made along both OF
these lines since this office first be-
gan investigations
Upon the recommendation Of Mr..
Jones the bureau of fisheries has de-
posted $4,000 brook trout and 1000
rainbow trout, fngerlings. in Che
halls county.