The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-01-27
der date of December %, 1920. The

report says:
''This district was organized under
the laws of the State of Washington
in the year 1917, and includes approx.
imately $4,000 acres of land to be irri.
gated with water pumper from the
Yakima river. ...-
"At the date of the examiners re.
port, it had not been determined
whether the system would be construc.
ted by the district or by the u. S. rec
lamatiOn service. However, at any rate
it was planned to obtain the water
through the reclamation service, this
proposed development being, to all in.
tents and purposes, a unit of the Yak
ima-Sunnyside project.
"In conclusion the examiner states
that this project is found to be planned
along sound and feasible lines, and
that it will take about two years to
build same after work is started.
I'm reports dated November and
Is, 1920, the acting director of the u.
s. reclamation service states that in
the opinion of his office this project
is feasible and meritori0us, and that,
while the estimated cost is higher than
would have been considered justified
a few years ago, it appears, on the
present basis of values, as well JUST
fled as was the undertaking in former
years of a number of their projects,
the success of which has been estab-
lished beyond question.
HE further states that pending ap-
preparation estimates for the fiscal
year 1922 include an item of $1,800,0 900
for the construction of this project,
and while it is their hope and expec-
tati0n that it shall be built, the matter
depends on the action by congress
and the procuring of satisfactory
agreement with the district. 49,
The acting director c0ncurs in the
recommendation of the examiner
In view Of these reports, may we
ask where does the Spokesman-Revie
writer get his information as to the
Complex engineering problems in
volved" in this district? Who is his
authority? Does he set his judgment
up against that Of the U. S. engineers
who have Investigated and passed up
on the merits of this project?
The writer further says, by infer
ence at least, that the Yakima River
Farms company of Kennewick and
Seattle, controlled on July 10, 1920,
1000 of the $4,000 privately owned
acres in the Kennewick project. This
is absolutely false. In the first place
the company referred to is not and
never has been "of Kennewick." The
company has never maintained an Of
flee here, none of its members have
ever lived here, and the company has
never carried an any OF its activities
from here. The records of Benton
county show that this company ac-
quired from it's organization in 1916
to date approximately $4,000 acres in
Benton county. Less than $500 acres
of this land is included within the
boundaries of the Kennewick project.
The state board had absolutely moth
ing to do with the fixing of the
boundaries of the project. The bound
aries were outlined by the U. s. rec
lamation service and adopted. by Ken
newick Irrigation district before the
state board came into existence Or was
even thought of. The Kennewick 1r-
rigation district was created Septem-
Der IL, 1917, or almost two years be-
fore the organization Of the state
board.
Furthermore, the county records
show that the Yakima Farms company
had sold under contract, more than
80 per cent Of their lands prior to the
time that the state reclamation board
became identified with the Kennewick
project.
In this connection may we not ask
why your correspondent made no mem
ton of the 6,4O0 acres Of vacant gov
eminent lands within the project, the
largest percentage of government
lands in any project within the state;
or the LOO acres Of state lands, maxi
ing a total of $500 acres Of lands
subject to soldier settlement upon the
most favorable terms?
Had your correspondent so desired
he could have easily obtained the facts
as to the quality and value of lands
embraced within the project. Their
value from the standpoint of produc-
ton is, not problematical but proven.
There are within the project approx
mately $500 acres in cultivation under
the Kennewick Highlands pumping
project. In year 1919 these $500 acres
produced crops which sold for more
than $1,250,OO0 or an average yield of
$500 per acre, and no orchard in the
project has yet reached an age of
maximum production. These figures
are taken from crop records carefully
compiled by directors Of the Kenne-
wick Irrigation district and were avail
able to your correspondent. Why
didn't he make use of them?
The lands now under cultivation are