White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-12-07

The announcement of Marvin
Chase, receiver for the Consumers
Ditch company and the Black Rock
Power & Irrigation Company, pub
lished elsewhere in this issue of the
Spokesman, together with the reason
for its being published, is of consider
able interest to all Hanford water
right owners. for it means that the
present receivership is to be brought
to close, and, what is more import
ant, there are indications that neither
Of the companies intend to operate
again.
Mr.. Chase recently filed with Judge
Webster his report for the season OF
1928, which covered all of the activities
of the receiver from the date of the
last report up until November LIST Of
this year. In this report, the receiver,
through his attorney, Judge ]. c.
Lloyd, asked the Court for instructions
regarding further proceedings in the
case. Judge Webster decided that be-
fore issuing such instructions ii
would be necessary to have the legal
representative of the companies before
him to determine, if possible, what
their intentions were in regard to again
assuming their position as trustees OF
the property and he postponed the
hearing to November a., or, Tuesday
of last week.
At this latter hearing it seemed
quite clear from the statements and
attitude Of the legal representative OF
the companies that the latter had no
intention of again taking over the
management and operation of the prop
critics. The Court thereupon issued ar
order to Receiver Chase, directing
him to proceed at once in the liquid
alton Of the assets Of the companies
and to the termination of the receiver
ship.
Mr.. Chase's announcement, publish
ed this week, is intended as notice
of the present status of the case, to all
interested parties, particularly the
water right owners, or beneficiaries
urjder the trust, who are not now rep
resented in court by counsel, that they
may take such steps as they deem adj
visable to safeguard their interests.
If, in the further proceedings in the
case, it is proven what now appears to
be trus-that the companies are quit
ting and passing out of the picture
it will mean that the water right own
ers must begin putting themselves in
share to acquire the title arid owner
ship of all Of the properties, including
the power plant. at Priest Rapids, at
the Receivers sale. This they can dc
by the formation of an irrigation dis
tr;ct or some other legal entity with
a standing in court.
At first glance the task Of the wate,
hight owners III taking OVER the prop.
critics in their present condition; and
building up from them an economical
and practical irrigation system, seems
stupendous one. But the more it is
studied, the greater the possibilities
seem. The first immediate concern
would be the laterals, for nearly all OF
them are in bad shape, but the main
canal and the pumping plar't can b,
put into serviceable condition with
very little expense. The same can
slso be said Of the power plant. Mr.
Chase says that through the expendi-
ture of a few thousand dollars on the
canal. at Priest Rapids, the power
tplant can be put in shape to develop
1000 horsepower the year round. AS
the demand at the pumping station
during the irrigation season never ex.
ceeds 1000 horsepower. there would
be available for Gale 1000 horsepower
for six months and 1000 horsepower
the remainder Of the year. If a market
can be found for this power, the reve-
nue. from its sale over period OF
years would go long way toward the
rehabilitation Of the irrigation system.
and with some additional funds II
could be made one of the most prac-
teal ard economical in the state. The