The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-09-20
u. S. Commissioner of Re
clamation Spends Day
on Local Project
ENGINEERS TO COME
MIDDLE OF OCTOBER
Says Yakima Project Has
Justified Government
Reclamation

d. w. Davis, U. S. commissioner of
reclamation and F. E. Weymouth.
chief engineer of the reclamation SER
vice spent yesterday inspecting the
Kennewick unit of the Yakima pro-
ject.
Commissioner Davis said his visit
to the Yakima project at this time
is not for the purpose of making a
decision as to which of the uncom-
pleted units is to be first construct
ed, but to familarize himself with gen
eral conditions on the entire project.
His department, the commissioners
says, has recommended that an ap-
preparation be made from the re-
clamation fund to carry on construc-
ton of some one of the units of the
Yakima project. Designation of the
unit for construction, however, is to
be made by board Of three reclama-
ton engineers who will come to the
Yakima Valley October Is. The three
are Engineers Mum, of Denver, Wiley
Of Boise, and Henney of Portland.
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Weymouth were
met here by L. j. Lytle, manager of
the Yakima project and other Yaki-
ma reclamation engineers. The party
was entertained at breakfast at the
home of w. C. Muldrow, manager of
the Columbia Irrigation district, and
were accompanied on their trip by
Mr.. Muldow, Directors John ]. Rud-
kin and M. N. Hudnall, and Secretary
N. M. Moulton, of the Kennewick r.
rigation district, David E. Gould, of
the N. P. I. Co., w. L. Craver, man
ager Of the Kennewick- -Richland
Fruitgrowers company and A. r.
Gardner of the Courier-Reporter.
The visitors were taken to some
Of the valley farms where they were
shown what can be accomplished in
intensive diversified farming with a
plentiful water supply. They were
shown over the 27O0 acres under cul-
ovation on the Highlands where ir-
rigation under a pumping system is
costing the farmers $3.50 an acre,
and where greater diversification and
greater yields would be possible with
an increased water supply.
Commissioner Davis expressed sur
prise at the small percentage of de-
linquencies in the Highlands district
in view of the high irrigation costs.
de was favorably impressed with the
productivity of the Highlands or
chards and the development that has
been carried on under the pumping
handicap.
He was shown the larger of the
Two pipelines which carry water to
the Highlands and was told by En-
slneer Weymouth that the condition
ee these pipelines is one Of the things
which gives urgency to the construc-
ton Of this project.
Out in the sagebrnsh the commits
s'oner was given a general idea as
% the quality of land and the loca-
tion of the $4,000 acres included in
the unit.
Returning from the Highlands the
party visited the Big "Y'' cold storage
plant and the grape juice factory
OF the Church Mfg. Co. where the
Pressing of the 1923 crop Of Concords
ana Worden grapes is in progress.
Inc party lunched in Benton City
and in the afternoon Mr.. Davis was
SHOWN the proposed site of the pump
ing plant near Chandler where water
from the power canal is dropped 135
.eet to generate power to lift water
!" the distribution canal on the OPP
posite side of the Yakima river. The
uam at Prosser which has been ac-
CURED by the Kennewick district, and
as which point diversion is to be made.
was also inspected.
IN Prosser the Kennewick party
.urned the reclamation officials over
20 a delegation representing the pro-
posed Yakima-Bento unit.
while Mr.. Davis was silent as to
~hat ne thinks of the relative merits
VI the several units he voiced his
praise of the record of the Yakima
project. He said that it is one of the