The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-09-02

VISITS VALLEY.
Men who Have Supervision Over
Public Utilities of State are
Here Two Days
HANFORD-WHITE BLUFFS
PHONE DISPUTE HEARD
Members of Board Devote Time to
Study of General Farm Condi-
tions Throughout Valley

The state public service commission
arrived in the city Monday night and
devoted Tuesday and Wednesday to
consideration of matters under their
jurisdiction in the Columbia River
Valley between White Bluffs and Ken
newick.
The only formal hearing was held
at White Bluffs yesterday when the
protest of the Hanford people against
the proposed consolidation of the
White Bluffs and Hanford telephone
exchanges was heard. The CONSOLE
dation plan of the telephone company
contemplated the abandonment Of the
Hanford exchange. Although the
commission held formal session and
took evidence the controversy had
been practically settled in advance OF
the hearing. Certain inducements Of
fered by the Hanford people were ac-
cepted by the company and the two
exchanges will be continued.
The complaint of the White Bluffs
people against the moving Of the ex-
change to the new townsite was not
recognized by the commission as it
is a question over which it has no
jurisdiction.
Aside from this brief hearing the
commission has not been called into
formal session but every member has
been busy every hour acquainting
himself with general conditions up
and down the valley. This is being
done SO that they may be more famil-
lar with the evidence which will be
presented in the Hanford Irrigation
q Power .and the Pacific Power &
Light hearings. The date for the
Hanford hearing has not been def
nitely set but it will probably be about
the 25th of this month. Chairman
Reynolds of the commission, promised
at that time to also reopen the P. p.
and L. hearing so that the Hanford
and White Bluffs people might be
given an opportunity to state their
. side of the case.
The personnel of the commission
, follows: C. A. Reynolds, chairman,
, Commissioners Frank r. Spinning
and Arthur A. Lewis, Scott q. Hen
. derson, counsel; c. E. Boyle, chief
engineer of the telephone department,
. and L. B. Kaler, commission reporter.
Z The commissioners, particularly Mr..
Reynolds and Mr.. Spinning, who are
: west side men, expressed themselves
{ as highly pleased with the trip as i
5 has given them new insight into
:. conditions in the irrigated districts
: They expressed surprise at the fertil-
a ity of the valley and the possibilities
{ for further development. They were
likewise profoundly impressed with
the vital necessity for efficient irri.
CATION service. Tuesday they visited
2 number of farms in the Richlans
and Finley neighborhoods and across
= on the Pasco side.
: 1--WE have been very favorably Inn
,, pressed not only with the country bu
! with the class Of people we have me
both in the towns and on the farms,
e ID chairman Reynolds last evening
: fter he had returned from up tn
e river. "Mr. Spinning and were jus
' speaking of the fine lot Of clean-cu
? Young men we had met-the type o
le citizens who will make good in an,
: country if they are given fai
: chance. We fully realize that the YER
!, - life of the promising communities u
" and down this great valley depend
y upon the successful operation Of tn
= irrigation companies which suppl
- . the water. There is great work
. be done here and great possibilitie
n' for future growth and development.
Mr.. Reynolds and Engineer Boyl
% % left last evening for Olympia but tn
- other members of the party are sti
s' in the city. Commissioners Spinnin
: and Lewis and Reporter Kaler leay
:. tonight for Wawawai, where hearin
is will be held tomorrow and Mr.. Hel
'erson will return home tonight.