The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-11
sCn CANAL MEETING
SATURDAY A SUCCESS

parts Of the Sa'le! ~ '"' '''o'"'
c,,h rooms in Ellensburg on last Sat
,r,.y evening to hear the report of the
,.,sss Of the Ellensburg High Line
r.n.l company, in their efforts to pro-
-. the building of the high line
ANAL in Kittitas valley.
mis- movement started early last fall
"A xss set in motion by some half
,.., NJ the most public spirited citi-
~. ~ the valley. 1t has long been
..N,sd that our people have allowed
.s.m.elyes 10 regard the promises Of
4. -.clamstion service, and others in
'.,hority aud influence, until the water
..,.hm which naturally belong to us
IVA been placed in permanent
jeopardy ,,,.,
-. NJ Mr.. Noble of the reclamation
..,rice. we were hypnotized into re.
Yoouishing to the government for the
h.osf, Of the Teton and Sunnyside
,,o;scts the surplus appropriations OF
-, various canals. These valuable
ishts we're relinquished with the
understanding that somehow it would
.,lv bring nearer the completion OF
ia Ki,titas project. There was only
,hs little Tieton pro- ect Of ~, 600 acres,
and the Sunnyside project of 10000
acres: and the Sunpyside project
already had appropriation from the
natural flow OF the river to the extent
n lie need, so that the water required
for this project would not come out Of
the storage waters of our lakes in this
county, except perhaps for use in an
emergency in extremely low water in
the river. After the completion Of
these small projects Mr.. Noble was very
sure that Kittitas would stand next in
line.
Well, the governm ent commenced
The Teton project, which was to cost
about million aud quarter The
reclamation service purchased the
Sunuyside canal, with its existing
water right, for about $3.50, 900 Two
Years have passed. The Insignificant
Teton project has been enlarged TO
cover about double the original area
contemplated, and already, with the
work less than half completed, more
than the original estimated cost OF its
entire construction has been paid out.
The Sunnyside project has been en-.
larged from its original contemplation
BY adding about 1000 acres on Snipes
mountain, and still further by adding
about IL, 900 acres on the south side Of
the Yakima river, in the vicinity of
Prosser, to be completed at an enormous
increase over the original estimated
cost Of this project.
And then comes along a new project
called the Wapato project. which it is
now assured will be the next project to
betaken up, covering more than 30, OOO
acres, upon the Yakima Indian reser-
vation, with very strong pressure now
being brought 10 bear upon the service
TO cover much larger area OF the
reservation by extending the Tieton
project so as to cover the entire reser-
ntiou.
Next comes the Benton project, COW
ering 10000 acres, with tremendous
pressure brought to bear upon the
reclamation service for it's completion.
And 10 the face Of this area TO be ir.
rgsted we have the statement. Of
Engineer Noble that the total available
water supply which can be stored in
toe lakes 10 this county is on y sufficient
Tor the irrigation OF 80, 600 acres.
But not only is the water supply be-
lugexhausted by these additions to the
o''S'nal projects, but there was only
about q, 5OO,o 900 set apart for the state
q Warrington. This entire sum will
doubtless be required to complete the
Ileton project, and any additions! APP
popriati0n for the state Of w ashingt ton
Wltnln the next ten or twenty years
Viii doubtless be used in paying for the
additions to the Sunnyside project, and
~ completing the Wapato project.
Twas this view of the situation that
'Foused the committee to the necessity
Waction, Or Klttitas valley would soon
"aad stripped not only OF money in tho
leclamation fund to build her canal,
Uus In the meantime all available
sources OF water would be absorbed by
'ne various Yakima projects.
Inc committee therefore first set