The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-07-11

STILL WE HOPE
cHIEF ENGINEER DAVIS who inspecting reclamation pro-
ects in the Yakima valley week, has announced that
until after the war because cannot
be economically the time Some little
mary carried the storage works at Kmrok
McAser dam project has been postponed indefinitely
for the will be five before the waters I'M
pounded by this could be available for irrigation
the necessity there little that can be said
favor of projects made contribute nothing 10
winning the arguments hold good
1.-The of the Sunyde canal? Aside from
high of construction materials does not appear 10
us that will hold here Here is pro-
ec of which is not remote In fact had con-
started last fall and rushed thru to COM
peon available for irrigation next spring. thousands
productive
production could been materially increased on thousands
already Much of the work
could have been done the winter time by farmers and farm
would been available for the emergencies Oh
the harvest
While in theory well enough not to begin new
projects during the anything which tends to curta food
production certainly be counted sound war economy
that food production the lands of the
Irrigation already under cultivation has been curtaled
year inadequate irrigation and likewise produc-
ton cuaed the lands OF the Columbia rgaton
because been diverted to the lands
proposed and this condition will only be aggra-
waited each year until the extension is built
There is another feature which believe the recla
entirely and that the question of
keeping faith with the land While the
legally bound extend its irrigation
system this district there does rest moral obligation
Virtually all the development the Highlands has
been made because of the promises The pumping
system by which these lands irrigated only intended
temporary until the should extend the Yakima
At the time the Highland farmers invested their money
develop homes there believe that
would be available by the time additional
Irrigation facilities would be needed.
This belief based upon promises made by the
the time the Yakima project started At that time
the Northern Pacific Irrigation held from
the Yakima river sufficient to gae all the lands included
the Kennewck Irrigation district This appropriation
coged valid by the who asked the to
renquish of its right in return for which the
would gate Kennewck part of the Yakima project
This granted and the Kennek lands included
Yakima the Benton unit Preliminary surveys
the unit made and the project feasible
and highly recommended by the AT na
included approximately 100000 OF land
and of the five units of the Yakima project
In brief the governments plan to build five storage
Lakes Gle Em Keecheus Kachess Dumping and
This work has progressed until now all but
the Mcster Meadows reservoirs either completed or
In the announced that It's
plan would be develop the Sunnysde the eton and the
units then the Benton and the Klttitas units
units consolidated as the Yakima project
of the secretary of interior March lsoS So
Yakima High Line not at that time part OF the pro-
thought Of 1t into existence TWO years
when private interests the to consider It. It's
building called of the original plans for the
Benton and Kta units The has never yet given
endorsement High Line included it In the Yakima
project of fact in their 1911 annual report the
engineers questioned its feasibility both from an
engineering and economical standpoint
AS to just much the High Line agitation has had to do
with the continued postponement sderacg of the
unit we Certain it is however, that
the Benton unit has about after until
has dnded from the original project OF 10000 acres to
lSunnysde extension of approximately 10000 acres
In the thousands of dollars have been invested
development of part of the lands by bona fde settlers
brought lands to high state of production When