The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-12-13
High Line Near Ellensburg
is Recommended for
Construction Next
BUT BUDGET DOES
NOT PROVIDE FUNDS
Moulton Declares He has
Not Yet Abandoned Hope
for Kennewick Unit

Commenting upon the action Of the
u. S. Reclamation bureau in recon-
mending the Kittitas unit as the next
for construction in the Yakima pro-
ject, M. M. Moulton, secretary Of the
Kennewick Irrigation district, de-
clared that he had not abandoned
hopes for the Kennewickl high line
nor had he given up the fight to have
it given favorable consideration by the
government Mr.. Moulton was not pre-
pared to say definitely what the next
step in the Kennewick campaign
would be other than to request that
if an appropriation is made for con-
struction on the Yakima project it
be made general so in the event the
Kittitas unit cannot meet the bu.-
reau's requirements the money may
be used on some one of the other
units
The first news of the bureaus de-
cision reached Kennewick last Thurs
day evening in telegram from Con-
gressman Summers to Mr.. Moulton.
1t stated that while the Kittitas unit
had been recommended the reclama-
tion budget made no provision for
financing construction.
Since then Mr.. Moulton has receiv-
ed from the reclamation bureau a
copy Of the report Of the three engin-
eers who investigated the several
units. In their report the engineers do
not discuss the relative merits Of the
units but decide in favor of the Kit
titas because of its lower per acre
cost.
"We have come to the conclusion
that the Kittitas unit should be Sc
lected for first construction condi-
toned upon landowners signing con-
tracts, to be approved by the depart
ment, tending to satisfactorily sub
divide the land. and that the policy
of even distribution of construction
charges can and will be adopted by
the district and can be legally en-
forced" is the sum total of the rec
ommendation, though it is preceded
by lengthy statement of general
policy. The report in detail is:
Eve are Of the opinion that esti-
mates as heretofore made must be
increased, and we find that acre cost
for all four units is very high in rela-
tion to past costs under similar con-
ditions. We have used revised cost
figures for the purpose of making a
selection, understanding that the
question of economic feasibility has
not been submitted to this board.
"In the case of the Kittitas unit
revision of cost has been made on the
assumption that reclassification of
the land will result in eliminating all
timbered areas along the main canal
"A serious problem has further pre-
sented itself in the consideration of
the Kittitas unit, in that it contains
about 10000 acres of partially irri-
gated land which may have an aver
age present value of 500 per acre as
compared with So per acre for the
unimproveed lands. 1t was stated by
representatives of this unit that the
improved lands were to be assessed
for construction charges the same as
unimproved lands, it being explained
that the owners could recover part Of
the charge through sale of water TO
higher land. If this were not done
the construction cost assessed to un-
improved lands might easily become
excessive.
Consideration Of this unit has been
based upon the assumption that by
contract with individual landowners
or otherwise an even distribution OF
construction cost over all irrigable
lands in the district can be legally
enforced and that the present district
debt will be paid within the next
three years from annual assessments.