White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-08-19
SADDLE MOUNTAIN
MEET ATTRACTS MANY

hand something about the real facts
in connection with the proposed
Columbia Basin project as we'll as
to get closeup of a number of
Congressman and Senators. was the
magnet that attracted many visitors
from this valley to the big meeting
held on the top of Saddle Mountain
Wednesday. Between 20 and 80
cars. loaded with residents from
this valley, made the trip to the
top Of the mountain.
The special train from Spokane
over the Milwaukee carried ap-
proximately ITS Congressman and
Senators and officers and members
of the Columbia Basin League and
boosters for the project. There
were fully twice that number who
made the trip to the meeting in
autos from various parts of the
proposed project. 1t is estimated
that there were five hundred peo-
pie and three hundred cars there
when all Of the crowd had arrived.
The meeting was held in a large
tent which was pitched on the top
of the mountain, near the road.
Long tables with benches took up
good deal of room in the tent
and on the tables picnic lunch,
tastefully arranged, was served.
Iced tea, ice water, and ice cold
lemonade were there to quench
the thirst, and loads and loads of
watermelons and cantaloupes, most
Of them from this valley, were no
small part Of the lunch and helped
to put everyone in a good humor.
A splendid display of vegetables
from this valley. collected by F j.
Bonn, was on display on table in
the center Of the tent. 1t attract
ed the interest and attention of
everybody and was the subject of
much favorable comment,
The White Bluffs Band, aug
mented by the addition of several
players fromsPasco, furnished the
music while the lunch was being
eaten and came in for several nice
compliments from the visitors.
While. smoky haze somewhat
obscured the vision, splendid
view of the large expanse of coun-
try on both sides Of the mountain
was possible. The orchards and
alfalfa fields surrounding White
Bluffs, checkerboard of vivid
graasas borderea by the silver RIB
bon of the Columbia river. made a
striking picture against the back
ground of thousands of acres OF
brown sagebrush.
Following the lunch, the meeting
was called to order and speeches
were made by officials and MEM
bers of the Columbia Basin League
explaining the scope of the project,
the source of water supply, the
number of acres in the project, the
estimated cost and time required
for construction of the main canal
and laterals, together with the
reading of considerable statistical
data from engineers and other au-
thorities touching on the economic
features of production and market
ing when the project is settled and
developed. which, it was estimated,
would be in about 20 years. Sen
ators Jones and Dill and Congress
man John w. Summers OF this
state spoke for the project. and
speeches were also made by several
other members of the congressional
committee who are here investl-
eating the project.
The special train carrying the
delegation had pulled out OF Corfu
and the visitors who came in autos
had left for home before a big
wind storm from the east arrived:
The dirt road along the foot OF
the mountain. after the three hun
dred cars had passed over it, was
in a terrible condition and the
trip home was anything but pleas
ant. The wind finally became so
strong that the Wahluke ferry had
to suspend operation about dark
and seven cars from White Bluffs
had TO be left on the other side,
altho the passengers were brought