White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-12-07
RECENERSHIP IN WATER CASE TOBE
BROUGHT TO CLOSE. COMPANIES QUITTING

fact that the power plant would be
tied in with tho irrigation system
would help materially in the floating
of bonds.
The present situation, while serious,
is not acute. There is no occasion for
water right owners being stampeded in
to premature action or started off on
some wild goose hunt. The successful
solution of the matter is vital, not only
to the water right owners, but to every
other interest in the valley, which will
be all affected directly or indirectly by
the outcome. There are enough practic-
al and constructive minds here to work
it out if they are set seriously to do it
And abope all. the pickering anc
auarrelling that have featured the water
case during the past few years must
stop or the whole project will go on the
rocks. This is the time, if ever, when
team work is needed and if the desired
results are to be accomplished individ-
ual interests will have to be submerged
in the interests of the whole, for it will
only upon the success of the whole that
the individuals interests can be saved.
Or in the words of Ben Franklin, eve
must hang togethe.s or we will hang
separately"
Mr.. Chase says he is hopeful that he
can close the receivership before the b.
ginning of another irrigation season, but
that in case the exigencies of the litiga-
ton involving the liquidation of the pro-
perties of the companies require the
continuance of the recievership for any
part of the next irrigation season he
expects to bei able to materially reduce
for the next season the maintenance tee
heretofore assessed under the receiver
ship. f4a
There is nothing in the situation that
makes it imperative for the water users
to take any sudden action. But they
should begin giving serious consider
alton in the matter, studying all depend
abe information available and, before
any great length of time. try to fornul-
ate some program and follow it out.
The case from now on will proceed in
regular orcer to the termination OF the
recievership and unless their interests
are represented by cousel at the court
hearings as the different steps are
taken the water right owners are run
ming grave risk and may lose out al
together unless they are organized and
IN shape to acquire all of the property
at the Receivers sale.4
If the companies 60 out OF business
and cease to exist at the termination OF
the recievershir, it will mean the end OF
the long years ct Irrigation and will also
mark the end of the attempt to clear
the title to Preist Rapids. or at leas,
that part of the site affected by the
water right lien, the companies appar'
ently passing 1T up as a hopeless TASK
The attempt of the companies to
accorr-ish this received its death blow
in the Circuit Court of Appeals decision,
now evidenced by the socalled Webster
decree, the one time that the water
right owners were all united and when
thew wcn their greatest victory. The
in;uu ton suit filed in the summer OF
1926 only hastened the end. for IN 1t
would have been determined all OF the
questions rot raised in the case IN
which the Circuit Court rendered its
DECISION.
This naturally raises the question.
what about the Priest Rapids dam?
eOn'y two or three conclusions are poss-
ible: either that that project is dead or
has been POSTPONED to som" INDEFINITE
date in the future; or, if they plan to go
/ ahead uncer the present permit that
the dam be built far enough above th'
present plant so as not 10
disturb it in any wav. Or. possibly
still some cheaner and practical meth
cd of clearing the title may have been
discovered, providing, Of course. that a
site below or at the location of the pre-
sent plant lie still desired. In any event,
the prospect for immediate construction
of the dam does not look so good.