The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-09-19

tion service, he reminded the dele
gates, proposed to irrigate every acre
of land that could be reached from its
Hon. Lee a. Johnson approved heart
lily the idea of a code to govern irri-
cation in the state. He thought the
great bug bear, the matter of the ad-
justment Of rights. was one that would
right itself without a great amount of
effort. simplicity, however, should be
one of the codes features, and ex-
penses should be curtailed wherever
possible.
III. b. Seudder was not enthusiastic
over the demand for a code, at least
the code proposed. He said our rights
were fixed here what we need is an
official to regulate the headgates and
attend to matters of this nature. In
securing code, wnen that becomes
necessary, it was the part of wisdom,
he thought. to proceed slowly. He
urged a course that would avoid rather
than provoke litigation. Mr.. Scud-
der's remarks called Richard Strobach
to his feet with the observation that
we are not the entire state, and that
in justice and fairness any legislation
attempted should be designed to bene-
fit all in the state.
Leigh r. Freeman suggested that a
committee of five, comprising -four
citizens and "A lawyer" be appointed
to draft an irrigation law for submits
sion to the legislature. He thought
the committe should be divided in
this manner because lawyers natural
ly are supposed to be looking for
I l.ns nd do =
many of them were on the committee.
Ed. c. Burlingame of Walla Walla
and f.. f. Benson of Prosser each
spoke from the point of view of the
owner or manager OF the small ditch.
They We're anxious to see a settlement
of difficulties that prevail under the
present conditions as regards water
appropriations.
Judge r. X. Nichols objected to the
term irrigation code" prefering
water code" The legislation sought,
he held. should be designed to benefit
all portions of the state, those in
which drainage was as essential as is
irrigation in the Yakima valley. He
advised great caution in the adoption
of new code to supplant the old one
Rather than being an amending and
improving of present laws, such a
course might prove to be a blowing up
and replantng of the irrigation laws
of the state, a proceeding that was not
without danger. He spoke in favor
Of comprehensive photographic sur
veys and a state engineer He said the
Asyrians We're governed by a code that
lasted for a thousand years. and
thought that some legislation answer
ing the needs of this state for some
time to come ought not be difficult
to obtain. The mention of the ancient
} code prompted the governor to remark
that It might be wise to appoint
committee to go and dig up the ancient
code and incorporate it in the legisla-
ton proposed for this state.
Jack Splawn was strenuously OPP
posed to delay in passing a code. He
was heartily in favor of the COM
mittee suggested being appointed.
Engineer D. C. Henry, being called
for. recounted the history of the work
in this valley and told in detail of the
: troubles encountered He outlined
reasons why state officials were neces-
sary, ana why police powers should
be delegated to them TO close head
gates and do such other acts as in the
discharge of their duties became ne
cessary.
: Mr.. Mccain of Spokane livened up
the session by criticising the move
ment In favor of the code as one that
) was largely in favor of Yakima. He
: admitted that he didn't blame Yakima
people for thinking theirs was the
only country on earth worth irrigat-
ing, for he had lived here once upon a
: time himself: but he reminded the
| delegates that there were other Sec
tions of the state interested in irrl-
gation-some that were now irrlgat-
ing lands and preparing to extend the
work. He insisted upon due con-
: sideration OF the rights Of every sec
! ton Of the state in selecting a COM
! mittee TO prepare a code.
The popularity OF Joseph Jacobs
engineer in charge Of the work of re-
clamation in the akima valley, and the
appreciation in which his services are
: held was attested when he aros to
speak. He recounted the difficulties
That had been encountered. and told
how they might be greatly lessened.
e a course OF mediate action was i'm
portant, he held, because there is no
state IN the union that knows less
about its resources and wealth. and
the sooner the proper legislation was
7 provided the sooner the greater
? growth Of the state would begin.
Prof Bryan Of Pullman college also
aiyised against too great delay In
securing beneficial legislation. He
thought an adequate irrigation code
pressing necessity. and urged that
az portions of the state and the gene
raj interest or the people Of Washing
ton should be kept in mind.
Mayor Walter ]. Reed believed that
any law formulated by this county or
:, rather by the irrigated portions OF
!. the STATE would h. nassnd rri.hn,A Az