The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-05-12
MEAD VISIT rs
DISAPPOINTING
Irrigation Director Says
He will help Program
in Every Way

The large hall of the Highlands
club house was crowded Wednes-
day morning with farmers and
business men all anxious to hear
DR.. Ellwood Mead Of Washington
ID. c., commissioner Of the recla-
nation bureau and Mr.. Slotemeier
district counsel of the u. S. recla-
nation bureau and Mr.. Stotemeier
possibility of Immediately begin
ming work on the Kennewick High
Line canal.
In short Introductory talk, M.
M. Moulton, secretary of the Ken
newick Irrigation District, empha-
cized the necessity for beginning
work within the next eighteen
months. Mr.. Moulton pointed out
the urgent need of the ranchers
on the Highlands for an enhanced
water supply. That the highline
canal, or as much OF it as is re-
quired to bring water to that sec
tion of the district already improv-
ed, would be doubly valuable if
finished within the next two years.
DR.. Mead's address was brief and
not of the type to inspire any fer
vent enthusiasm, but it was con-
vincing and came straight from
the shoulder. He said that the
large number of people willing to
drop all work on busy spring
morning and attend such meeting
showed plainly that everyone in
the community was vitally inter-
ested in the proposed project. Mr..
Moulton, he declared. he had
known for some time and that he
had been very much impressed
with the sincerity and earnestness
which characterized the work of
the directors of the district to Sc
cure immediate construction Of the
ditch. However, DR.. Mead made it
clear that altho construction of
the Kennewick high line canal was
included in the ten year program
of the reclamation department as
approved by congress, under the
present plans work could not be
started in the time specified by
Mr.. Moulton; but that the congress
sional delegation if applied to,
might induce the national govern
ment to make a loan to the recla-
nation fund, which loan would be
repaid later within the ten year
period, and by this manouvering
construction could be started in
the near future.
Mr.. Stotemeier, stated that the
ten year program of the Washing
ton bureau called for the expen-
diture of $96,O00,0OO all Of which
will be utilized in completing irri-
cation projects now under way.
Sixty-five per cent of this amount,
he said, will be spent in Wash
ington, Oregon, and Idaho, the re-
naming thirty-five per cent to be
divided among nine other states.
Of the total amount expended in
Washington, the Yakima valley
will receive $25,OOO,00O, this in
cludes the finishing Of the Kittitas
work, and constructing of the Ken
newick High Line.
Mr.. Stotemeier also spoke of the
new laws passed by the national
government designed to prevent
speculation and excessive prices
on lands included in irrigation dis
tricts, and of the forty years re-
payment plan now extended to
new projects.
While DR.. Mead was unable to
give his hearers definite date for
the commencement of construction
of the Kennewick unit, yet he ex-
pressed his knowledge of the need
and the justice of our demands
and stated that he would do every
thing he could to hasten the time
when federal relief could be start
ed.