The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-11-11
SENATOR JONES HEARS
HORSE HEAVEN CLAIMS
Explains Probable Effect of the
Jones Bill Upon Irrigation
Projects of West

Senator Jones was q speaker at
of land owners and others in
terested in the Horse Heaven irriga-
ton project in Prosser Tuesday aft
ternoon.
In his few Introductory remarks,
President H. M. Street, of the Land
Owners association called attention to
the fact that six of the seven directors
of the Land Owners and all of the di-
rectors of the Irrigation District were
present. In introducing Senator Jones
Mr.. Street said at is surely not neces-
sary for me to introduce to these peo-
pie our senator who is fathering and
promoting through congress the bill
which bears his name, and which will
mean the solution to our aims and am
billions for securing water for our be-
loved project, the irrigation of the
Horse Heaven plateau"
Senator Jones then addressed the
meeting, explaining why the need OF
the Jones bill, or some kindred legis-
lation instead of the Reclamation Ser
vice constructing the irrigation inn
provements, and the government do
ing the work in that way. He said
also that he had seen the Horse Hea-
ven country many times, and that he
was well satisfied that there was no
finer project, with the land better sit
uated or with better topographic
condition than the Horse Heaven pro-
ject.
Reclamation Fund
In the work of the United States
Reclamation Service, Mr.. Jones re-
lated that the only funds originally
available were the receipts from gov
ernments lands, and that this all in
volved an early repayment. These to-
tai receipts in the very best years
reached only between six and seven
millions of dollars, whereas the an
nual demands on the fund for irriga-
ton projects is never less than $685.
100000. That these demands the
Secretary of the Interior pares down
to about S1O,OOO,O00 or less, and then
lets congress do the rest of the par
ing to the available funds. A few
years ago the Secretary Of the In.
terror asked for a special appropria-
ton for the reclamation fund, and fl.
| secured a loan Of $20,O0O,O0(
which lasted all too short a time. Las
year congress approved projects will
total estimated cost between sever
and eight millions, and then awoke II
the fact that there was only abou
SO ,OOO,OOO in the fund. That mean
long delays for those projects not full
ly ready when the appropriation wa
made.
| More Speed Desired
| With these preliminary remark
concerning the reclamation funds an
work, it was possible to see that Their
needed to be something done that vii
. help to get the reclamation work &C
complished with more speed, and s
: the Jones bill has been drafted. Tn
Senator explained that he did no
draw up this bill, that it is the join
! work of Judge Carol B. Graves an
!, L. M. Rice, counsel and engineer re
!, spectively for the Klickitat Irrigs
: ton & Power company, hence the hi
E was drafted primarily for the benef
: of Horse Heaven, although it is mad
Z broad enough to be of benefit to tn
. entire United States where any wor
: of reclamation is needed. 1t will hel
: to reclaim swamp land as well as ari
> lands, and because of this widenes
= will receive much additional supper
1 Briefly the bill is framed to secur
federal backing for the bonds OF an
e approved reclamation project. Tn
bill, in conjunction with state la
passed by the Washington legislator
is to secure the needed backing OF fet
Q eral and state governments for tt
bonds of the approved organized di
e tricts. The method of guarantee
e that the already-enacted state law wi
guarantee the bonds themselves, viii
O the government will guarantee the II
terest, which is not to exceed four p'
"a cent, and there is to be no interest
fall due until four years after Il
water is available for use in the di
II trict. The state law also provides +
separate assessment of about z p
v cent, beginning with the eleventh We
4 for the retiring Of the bonds with
forty years. Such legislation will
cure for the districts the complet
projects with no interest for the fir
80 four years, then four per cent Tor
;. years, then six per cent for less tn
,e thirty years, at which time the
would be enough funds to retire t
m ap+;ro conctruction bond issue.