The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-10-18
Representatives Of Four
High Line Units Pre-
sent Arguments
INVESTIGATORS TO
COME HERE SUNDAY
Moulton and Others Tell of
Superior Advantages
of Kennewick Unit


Representatives of the four high
line units of the u. S. Yakima pro-
ject, one of which is to be selected
for immediate development, presented
their arguments to special investi-
eating board of engineers at public
hearing in Yakima yesterday. The
board is composed of ID. C. Henny,
Portland, chairman, James Mum,
Denver, and A. j. Wiley, Boise.
Yesterdays hearing completed the
oral arguments to be heard by the
board. Chairman Henny requested the
several representatives to submit fur
ther facts and arguments in writing.
The engineers today are personally
inspecting the Klittitas unit. They
will spend tomorrow and Saturday
looking over the Selah-M Mckee and the
Yakima Benton units and Sunday will
be devoted to the Kennewick project.
From here they will go to inspect the
big storage dam at Rimrock, after
which they will begin the preparation
of their report which is to be sub
mitted to the Chief Engineer F. E.
Weymouth, who will forward it to
Commissioner Davis, head of the rec
lamation bureau.
Kennewick's claim for first consid-
Grafton We're presented yesterday by
M. M. Moulton, j. J. Rudlin, H. N.
Hudnall, HI. S. Hughes, w. G. Null
drow, Lee M. Lampson, H. w. Des-
oranges and ]. w. Nickers.
In their arguments three main
points were stressed, namely, the pos
ability Of the farmers to repay the
cost of construction, and relief to the
farmers of the Kennewick Highlands.
A crop chart prepared by Mr.. Null
drow showed the diversity of crops
raised here and the marketing dates
of leach. This was used to show that
because of the early seasons the Ken
newicls unit can be so farmed that
large percentage of its products meet
little or no competition in the markets.
BY reason of this advantage over the
other districts farther up the valley
settlers on this project can not only
meet up the repayments to the gov
ernment but can make an additional
profit on their operations.
Mr.. Moulton pointed out that while
some of the other units upon which
| it is proposed to grow wheat and
forage crops, would come into open
competition with the great cereal and
hay producing sections of the West
.I rsoIr
grow crops that are not and cannot
be produced in these sections. 1t was
pointed out by Mr.. Moulton that it
cannot be considered sound economies
on the part of the government TO re-
claim large area which would pro-
duce wheat in competition with the
farmers of North Dakota, for in
stance. The reclamation Of the Kenne-
wick unit would bring about no such
competition. Rather the North Dalxo-
ia wheat farmers would be large
buyers of those crops to which the
Kennewick district is best adapted.
1t was forcibly brought to the at
tention Of the engineers that unless
the government does undertake the
construction of the Kennewick unit
at an early date the ESQ homes on the
Highland will be jeopardized.
Yesterdays hearing was opened by
Ralph Williamson, Of Yakima, who
presented arguments in favor of the
Selah-Moxee unit. He was followed
by Ora McDermith, Judge Ralph
Kaufman, F. A. Kern, and Bruce
Bonny, who spoke for the Kittitas
unit.
The Kennewick speakers followed
the Kitittas advocates. The Yakima
Benton unit was the last to be con-
sidered with H. Lloyd Miller of SUM-
nyside presenting the argument.
Prior to yesterdays hearing Chair
man Henny announced that the ability
of the settlers to meet the govern
ment's repayment plan would be the
chief factor in determining the desir-
ability of the several projects.
While the men who appeared be-
fore the board plugged hard for their
respective projects the best Of spirit
prevailed and there was a marked
readiness Of all to recognize that each
of the units is of distinctive merit
from reclamation standpoint.
The three men who are to make the
decision are veteran reclamation en-
ployes. Each is familiar with the Yak
ina project as a whole and for that
reason it was easy for the members
to follow the arguments presented.