The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1920-08-26
CHANCES FOR
r US. FUNDS ARE
NOT SACRIFICED
Moulton Says Local Project Will
Not Lose Standing Because
of State Contract.
CHANCES MADE STRONGER
Points Out That State Can Come
Nearer Getting Government
Funds Than District.

Considerable interest is being
shown in the special election to be held
in Kennewick irrigation district next
Friday when the landowners will cast
their ballots for or against $4,000
600 bond issue for the construction
of the Kennewick irrigation project
comprising $4,000 acres.
This bond issue is the first step in
the program outlined by the state re-
clamation board for financing the pro-
ject details of which have been given
in this paper. A portion of this pro-
ject, the Kennewick Highlands, is al
ready developed and it is the votes Of
the Highland farmers that will decide
the election.
Insofar as the Courir- Reporter is
able to ascertain sentiment among
the Highlanders is unanimous for the
construction Of the project at the
earliest possible date. They all want
more water and are eager to replace
the present pumping system with a
gravity one. There seems to be little
or no objection to the proposed per
acre cost of the project. The only
questions on which there is any di-
vision of sentiment is the ability Of
the state to carry out its. proposal
and the possibility of jeopardizing
the districts chances of securing gov
ernment aid should money become
available for u. S. reclamation work.
In answer to the criticism that the
chances of securing federal money
might be lessened by accepting the
states proposal M. M. Moulton, Sec
retary Of the district, cites the fol-
lowing provision in contract between
the district and the state:
"The service (state) assents to the
matter of securing the cooperation of
the u. s. reclamation service in the
development of the district project if
such cooperation becomes available.
In the event funds for the project
construction may be obtained from the
u. S. reclamation service, or from any
other source, on terms acceptable to
the district, then and in that event
the service agrees TO- release the dis
trict from any and all obligations un-
der this contract upon repayment to
the service for all expenditures and
liabilities incurred under this agree
ment provided that such release shall
not be granted if the service shall
have already completed financial ar
rangements."
According to Mr.. Moulton this pro-
vision absolutely safeguards the dis
trict's chances with the U. S. recla-
nation service. Not only this but he
contends that in the event U. s. mon
ey does become available before the
state has completely financed the pro-
ject the district stands even better
chance Of securing federal money for
the reason that the state could more
effectually deal with the u. s. service
than could the district.
| He points out also that practically
/ all of the work on which the state pro-
poses to do would have TO be done by
the government before actual con-
| struction could be started and conse-
quently the expense would not be lost.
The sectionizing and establishing Of
farm units for instance, instead of
being wasted effort would advance
the project and hasten its completion
whether it was built as a state or a
government project.
AS to the states ability to sell the
undeveloped lands of the project it is
pointed out that the land settlement
board of the state has been devoting
months to study of this question
and it is ready to undertake the sale OF
the lands with confidence that it car
succeed along the lines set forth IN
the states proposal.
Then, too, there is reason to believe
that the next session of the legihlatur'
will enlarge the powers of the recla'
nation board and probably equiy it 81
that it will have at its disposal stats
funds for reclamation work. ShoulC
, this be done the local project would b'
! the first project to receive these
IContinued on Page Seven)