The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-05-26
LETTER SENT
TO BALL|NGER
CONCERNING TETON TROUBLE
Commercial Club Points Out That
Great Hardship VIII Result if
Uaterals are Not Constructed.

To make certain that water will be
distributed to one unit of the Tieton
reclamation project by 1910 the Com
mercial club, through its secretary
DR.. H. p. James, has sent a letter to
Washington to Secretary Ballinger
asking that he give favorable consid-
GRAFTON to the offer of assistance in
money or labor made by the Tieton
Water Users association. This letter
was written after a session of the gov
erning board of the club Monday at
which consideration was given to the
accredited reports that the govern
ment has only money enough at this
time within the reach of the reclama-
ton officials here to complete the
main canals but not the laterals.
While there is no doubt that the gov
eminent will be able to bring the wa
ter to the land there is doubt that it
will be able to distribute it. As
stated in the Herald Sunday morning,
an offer of assistance has been made
by the Tieton Water Users, they to
receive credits for their money or la
Dor, those credits to be turned back
to the government again in lieu of the
water payments due from the land
owners after water is applied.
Delay May Be General
In his letter DR.. James calls atten-
ton to the fact that experts who have
made it a point to inform themselves
declare that the Teton lands are the
most valuable of any of those which
the government is irrigating in any
section. These lands are selling at
from 500 to $500 an acre without
water, which will mean an aggregate
of 100000 or more. Thousands of
prospective homemakers he says, will
be inconvenience if the water is not
distributed as has been understood
would be the case. If the laterals are
not constructed on the first unit there
will be no cultivation in 1910 If
there is no cultivation on the first
unit in 1910 it follows that the second
and third units will undergo delay in
procuring water.
Hardships on Owners.
Owners of land who have had orch
ards planted in anticipation of the de-
livery of water by the government at
the time first specified, Dr. James
points out, will be great sufferers
Many of these have made contracts
for water for their young trees at SIS
per acre. These contracts, which
Were for three years, have expired and
the price now asked is $25 per acre.
In view of these facts and other mat
ters set forth relating to the Tieton
situation the Commercial club asks of
Secretary Ballinger favorable consid-
GRAFTON of the plan of cooperation
suggested by the Teton Water Users
association.
Senate Committee Coming.
North Yakima will be visited Sep
TENDER 16 and the three succeeding
days by the committee on irrigation
of the United States senate. A letter
to this effect has been received by the
Commercial club from Senator G. e.
Chamberlain of Oregon. who says:
THE schedule arranged is that we
will reach North Yakima on Thurs
day, September 10, at $40 p. m, and
will make a tour of the works during
the days of September II, IS and 49,,
leaving North Yakima early on the
morning of September 20. This you
will understand is subject to change,
and l will inform you a day or two
ahead Of our proposed arrival in case
there is a change. If not. l presume
that the newspapers will keep you
advised