The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-08-25

X. "A. BalilnRer, secretary of the In
terror of the United States, made clear
his attitude toward the Yakima val
ley irrigation projects. in an informal
talk to the business men of the city
at the Commercial club last night,
when he said that he considers that
the Yakima projects the equal in i'm
portance of any in the country and
the superior of most. He stated that
the projects now under way will be
completed before any others are I'M
dertaken and expressed the belief that
congress would provide a means of
getting funds to hasten that work.
Policy Toward Reclamation
Secretary Ballinger also made clear
his policy toward the reclamation SER
vice in general when he said that he
considered the reclamation act one of
the most beneficient laws on the sta
tute books and in his announcement
that no further projects would be UNI
dertaken until the present ones are
completed.
More than $50 prominent business
men and ranchers of the city and val
ley greeted Secretary Ballinger at the
smoker given in his honor at the club
roms last night. Alex. Miller, presi-
dent of the Commercial club presid-
ed and speeches were made by Mr.
Miller, DR.. Granville Lowther, who
welcomed Secretary Ballinger and by
II. j. Snively. DR.. Lowther told of
the accomplishm ents of irrigation in
the Yakima valley and what the gov
eminent projects would do for this
section. He expressed the hope that
there would be no delay in the gov
eminent work.
SnivcIy Talks Dn Reservation.
Mr.. Snively spoke of the problems
on the Yakima Indian reservation.
and said that the trouble would be
removed If the government would pay
back to the Indians what they have
paid for the water rights, the Indians
to eXpcnd this money In improving
the roads on the reservation which.
Mr.. Snively declared. were hindering
the development of that country.
Secretary Ballinger said that his
present tour through the Yakima val
ley has shown him that there are big
problems to solve here and that they
are complicated He expressed the
belief that by Intelligent action on the
part of the white people and of the
Indians, these problems would be SOL
we'd soon. Regarding the policy Of
the national administration toward
reclamation, he said:
Taft Favors Reclamation.
president Taft requested me to
make this trip through the west that
might become better informed on
irrigation. The president Is alive to
the importance of reclamation in the
west. | consider the reclamation act
one of the most beneficent ones on our
statute books. | believe that the peo-
pie of the west appreciate the import
ance of it and understand what is
required of them"
Secretary Ballinger said that there
are now available to complete recla-
nation projects 100000 and that
S27. 900, 900 is needed for this work.
'To undertake new projects before
the present ones are completed. | do
not consider good business policy" he
declared. 81 believe. however that
congress will provide means for Sc
curing the funds needed to complete
at once the work now in hand"
Yakima Projects Important.
Regarding the Yakima projects,
Secretary Ballinger said: 81 have
visited IL of the government projects
throughout the country, and l have
found none where the possibilities are
greater than here. None has better
soil, and none In the northwest hav
better climate or markets than you
have. | find everywhere that other
irrigated sections are measuring their
capacity by what the Yakima valley
has done. The projects here take first
rank among those of the entire coun-
try"
Prospects of WapatO Canal.
Referring to the Wapato project.
Secretary Balinger said that he was
satisfied the future OF that section de-
ponds more or less on stock raising
and general farming and that the val
ne of these would have to be consd
cred in carrying out the immense
canal proposed for the reservation. He