The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-08-29
! CONDENSED
HISTORY OF THE
HIGH LINE CANAL
History of the High Line Canal
Dates Back Twenty-Five Years

he government contract for the
bishiug of water to The kittitas
lamation District was signed in
shington, D. c., August 20, by
kretarv Walter Fisher, of the In
or Department. and the direct
of this big 5000, 900 project
now ready to go ahead with
We construction work.
This is the first contract signed
Ter the Warren act. There is
olutely no PRECEDENT to go back
said c. w. Johnsone, the Sec
Dry of the District.
THE officers of the department
The Intetior and the Reclamation
Vice wanted to be certain that
) was a model contract before
ming it. Several other similarly
kanized districts in every part of
West want water under this
All their projects have been
ID up pending the settlement of
s Kittitas project. Thus, though
have been delayed, every other
beet has been held back pending
settlement of our contract.
rain. this contract is not for a
hited time, but is for all timd to
me. The government wanted to
sure that the interests of the
Ablic-at-large were carefully safe
sarded. The directors of the dis
let wanted to obtain the most
vorable terms for the people of
|e valley. Consequently, it has
ken months of constant work to
btain a contract that would be
|tisfactory to the officers of the
bvernment and the directors of
lie Kittitas Reclamation district.
we could not have succeeded
ithout the untiring work and eff
)rts of Senator Wesley L. Jones.
[e has been with us from the start.
Ee has given his time and careful
.tention to our interests. He has
ept constantly in communication
18th us and has been a friend of
lie district, constantly doing every
ling in his power to have this
ontract favorable to us quickly
gned. Carroll B. Graves, the at
,rney of the district. has also been
} Washington city repeatedly and
luch of the success is to his
red;t.'
The officers of the district are
'homas Haley, president; A. c.
padding and John Catlln, direc-
'rs; c. w. Johnsone secretary and
rank c. Kelsey chief engineer of
le district.
The directors will advertise for
lie sale of the bonds in the near
,ture. Bond buyers from all
arts of the United States and
ven from Europe have had repre-
here and are expected to
i'd on the bonds. The advertising
n the contract will probably fol-
w the advertising for the sale of
lie bonds shortly and the directors
xpect to have the contract let and
irt flying late this fall.
Some of the largest contracting
rms in the United States have had
1eir heads or their chief engineers
ere going over the project and are
nown to be figuring on the con-
act.
An irrigation district under the
Tvs of the state of Washington is
'sentially an improvement district,
18th certain powers of government,
,gulation and control, for the pur-
ose of carrying out the objects of
S creation. Proceedings for its
rganization are commenced by a
to the board of county COM
lissioners, and on sufficient petit
on, this board calls an election of
lie resident land owners within
lie proposed district; and, at such
q election, the voters determine
neither or not to organize such a
lstrlct, and also to select a board
directors. If the proposition in
lvor of organization carries by a
majority. the district
rganlzes under the control Of the
irectors chosen at the election.
Flans are then adopted for an ir-
lgatlOn system. and the cost thara-