White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-02-22
COMMITTEE MAKES
INTERESTING REPORT

What was without doubt one of tn,
most interesting and instructive water
meetings that mas ever been held il
the valley was the one held at the
high school auditorium last Saturday
evening when the new water com
mittee made the first report of it
activities to the water right owners.
In the absence of Secretary d. S
Wilkinson, who was at home i'll, l.
A. Codding acted as secretary ant
read the report of the committee
activities. These included discussions
with the project manager of the U
S. Reclamation service and others
familiar with reclamation problems
and finance in Yakima; interviews
with nonresident water right owners
Milwaukee railroad officials; state
officials; Attorney II. N. Snively OF
Yakima, who has done some work
Attorney George O. Beardsley OF
Prosser; Attorney Fre.l Cunningham
of Spokane, former assistant attorney
general of tie state and the attorney
who drew up and prepared the irri-
gation code passed by the state legisla-
ture few years ago and upon which all
laws affecting irrigation matters are
now based; Pacific Power & Light
company officials in Portland, and
with one of the largest bonding
houses in Spokane.
The information gained from these
various dis ussions and interviews,
which the committee passed on to water
right owners at the meeting, covered
nearly every phase of the problem and
was very instructive and illuminating,
The written report was amplified
Of the committee who took part in
the interviews, those who spoke being
L. A. Codding, john Nc Fee, Ira
Hawley and w. j. Kincaid.
The only information and data
missing in the report was that to be
gained by the interview with Receiv-
er Marvin Chase. That part of the COM
mittec delegated to secure this
information reported that it had been
unable to make the trip to Wenatchee
to talk 70 Mr.. Chase because all the
ferries were atill tied up on account
OF ice in the river. They said they
would make the trip as soon as the
river was again open fer navigation
In the belief that it will be several
months yet before the project energies
from receivership, and as the water
right owners are now entirely without
legal counsel or representation in the
receivership proceedings in the Fed
teral court, the committee recon-
mended the employment of counsel
and urged that some provision for
raising funds for this purpose be
made.
From all the information it has
beer able. to. gather, sh6 fatnn,ittee
reported that their investigation show
ed that irrigation projects are SUCCESS
fully operated through the medium
OF both a private corporation and an
district. But inasmuch as
the continent right now seemed to
favor the corporation idea as the one
best fitted for the present needs, more
study had been devoted to that form
OF organization rather than to an ir-
lisation district.
The committee recommended that
it be authorized to continue it's inves-
legations and study Of the corporation
form of organization to the end that
the best form possible could be
recommended to the water right
owners.
AS some funds will be necessary
when the property is taken over at
the rcceivership sale, and as whoever
turnishes these funds will no doubt
want to have something to say about
the nature of the organization to whom
it. furnishes the money, the committee
believes that the adoption of any set
form of organization at this time would
be premature.
The Spokesman believes that the
last two recommendations of the
committee are worth printing in full.
They read:
1T is recommended that the conf
mttee be authorized to continue n
study of the physical condition of the
irrigation system to determine the
pr Q b b l e money that will be
required to repair the distribution
.ystem SO that water can be properly
delivered when the system passes
from the hands of the receiver: also
that study be made OF the possibil-
ties OF improving and enlarging the
SUPPLY OF power at Priest Rapids to
the end that surplus of current may
DC generated and sold to increase the
revenue to the water right owners in the
OPERATION of these properties. 1t is be-
lieved by your committee that these
studies are necessary to determine the
amount of financing the organization
to be formed will necessarily have to
DO, when the properties arc taken
over.
IF this valley succeeds and makes
the progress its natural advantages
cntitle it to, it will be accomplished
only through the united effort of the
people in progressive and construc-
tive program. 1t is the recommends
ton OF your committee that it be the
sense OF this meeting that each indi-
vidual will devote himself to doing his
bit" in making this valley a better
place in which to live; that he will work
TO overcome any faults present and
will Broadcast" to his neiehbor
and the world the merits the valley
has"
A written report of the meeting and
the activities of the committee to dat,
was mailed out in circular form this
week to all water right owners.