The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-09-11

WESLEY II. JONES
United States Senator from Washing
ton.
Il have tried to represent not only
the interests of the people of this Sec
ton but those of the entire state. This
/ conceive to be my duty. However,
/ am glad that the opportunity has
arisen at various times when / could
be of service in some little way to the
people of this valley. The great thing
required in the Yakima valley from
it's sc rec to its mouth is irrigation,
and l am pleased that / have had an
opportunity to assist in some manner
in securing legislation that would help
to bring the lands of this valley under
irrigation.
THE people of this valley are
among the most prosperous, the most
happy and the most intelligent peo-
Pile of the United States. Irrigation
has made this section the wonder Of
every man, woman and child who has
passed through it.
Proud of Reclamation Act
"Of all my work in congress feel
prouder of what | had to do in secur-
ing the passage Of the reclamation act
than of any other legislation, because
it has and will do more to better the
conditions, of the people generally
than anything else. When l have gone
through the tenement districts of the
large eastern cities and observed the
conditions under which these people
exist, l sometimes wonder why they
car to live The reclamation of these
lands will give them homes where
they can enjoy fresh air, expand
physically, morally and mentally. and
livo under the clear sky which God
intended that they should live.
But, really, little credit is due me
for securing the irrigation of this
Redman, Frazier and many others,
whom | could mention and would be
! GLAD to mention.
My heart would be gladdened If
/ could have accomplished more de-
,velopznent OF irrigation in this valley,
bur the people must realize that these
great things car only be obtained
by continued earnest and conscien-
tious endeavor and not by one stroke.
There are thousands of acres in this
valley yet to be reclaimed, and they
will be reclaimed in due time, but
sometimes the accomplishment of
these things is very SLOW
Some sections of the valley per-
| heps have felt sighted because other
sections have obtained development
! first, but they should not feel this
| way. They have not been sighted,
and it is only because of the limited
facilities of the government for re-
claiming these lands, and the fact
thai these sections have had more IA :
vorable conditions, that the initial
steps have been taken where they
have.
This Locality Fortunate
1.-THE locality around North Yakima
| has been fortunate, not because l
have lived here, but because the con-
ditions were such that the govern
ment could take up the irrigation of
this section when it was absolutely
| impossible to take it up in other sec-
lions of the valley. While the benefits
of this development have been direct
| l. to this community yet the ultimate
benefit to other sections of the valley
will be even greater. The people OF
ou~ sister county, Kittitas, are now
about to realize their aspirations.
While the high line is not yet COM
| pleted and settled, yet it is assured
and this means the greatest benefit
to every section of the Yakima valley.
as well as the entire state of Wash
| ington. The people of Ellensburg
are just beginning to dig, and it be-
hooves the people of North Yakima to
keep digging or they will be surpassed
| by Kittitas
"The people of Kennewick and
Benton county have felt that the de-
velopment of their section has been
| slow. 1t is true it has, but they have
had many difficult problems to solve
which require much time. However,
the time is near at hand when these
| problems will be solved, and the vast
amount of land in that section will be
reclaimed, and both Yakima and Kit
titas counties will have to hustle to
keep from being surpassed by the
lower section of the valley.
Acted Conscientiously
81 again want to thank the people
F, of this valley from the bottom of my
heart said the senator in closing.
For this kind expression of good
WILL and I want to assure you that
will do all in my power to develop
this section and this state, and WHAT
ever action 1 Vay take in my repre-
sentative capacity Will be according to
my conscience and my best judgment
as to what is for the best interests of
the valley, the state and the nation"
At the conclusion of the senator's
remarks the audience pressed forward
and shook him warmly by the hand
and extended best wishes and hearty
good will.
Changes of Program
The original committee appointed