White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-02-26
Settlers Buy
Properties
At Sale

Irrigation Districts Bio
OF rs, 900 Made by Keal
Only One Offered
The water question is settled. To
the uniformed that statement may
not mean much, but to those who
have lived here any length of time, the
purchase Of the irrigation properties
by the settlers at the receivership
sale in Yakima last Saturday, marks
an epoch in the history of the valley.
The sale clinaxed a controversy
between the water right owners and
the power company that has existed
over a period Of 10 years. The
litigation was conducted almost en-
tirely in the Federal Courts and the
project passed through two receiver
ships. The Circuit Court Of Appeals
at San Francisco wrote the most far
reaching decision in the case when it
determined the extent of the water
right lien. The case also appeared
briefly in the Supreme Court of the
United States on motion of the
power company to appeal from the
Circuit Court of Appeals decision.
The late w. H. Taft, at that time
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
wrote the opinion denying the motion
to appeal.
The sale last Saturday included
all of the rights, title and equity of
the Black Rock Power & Irriga-
ton Company and the Consumers
Ditch Company in the project, which
includes the power plant at Priest
Rapids, the transmission line to
Coyote Rapids the pumping plant
and irrigation system.
The sale attracted between $50 and
200 residents of the valley who were
interested directly or indirectly in the
outcome. Promptly at one o'clock
Marvin Chase, who had been APP
pointed by the Court as Special
Master in Chancery to conduct the
sale, read the description of the pro-
perty that was to be sold and an
nounced he was ready to receive
bids. w. H. Keal of White Bluffs,
acting on behalf Of the Priest Rapids
Irrigation District, offered bid of
$45,000 and at the same time tend
cred a certified check for $4,000,
which was required in the order of
sale, as evidence of good faith. No
other bids were made and the pro-
perty was declared sold to w. H.
Keal as trustee for the irrigation
district, subject to the confirma-
ton of the sale by the Court.
Mr.. Chase, who has been operat-
ing the property as receiver for the
past four years, will continue in
charge until after the sale has been
confirmed and the receivership ter
minated. This will probably be some
time in April. Having previously de-
terrnined the immediate necessary re-
pairs at the two plants and to the
irrigation system, Mr.. Chase, i'm.
mediately following the sale. sent
kilograms to various supply house
to ship the needed equipment. This
material is expected to arrive here
this week and will be installed at
once so that the system will be ready
to function at the beginning of this
irrigation season.
Through the acquisition of the
properties sold last Saturday, pre-
Stunning that the Court confirms the
sale, all of the right, title and in
terest in the project now rests in
the land owners in the district and
the uncertainties Of the past that
plagued the water users so long and
slowed up progress, have been largely
eliminated.
The most encouraging aspect of the
future is the promise of the Mil
waukee railroad to purchase 100000
of the districts valid bonds at par
The promise to take the bonds at par
means "a saving Of about $4,000 to
the district as this class of invest
ment usually sells for about 10 per
cent discount.
This 100000 should be sufficient
to take care of all of the immediate
needs of the district, including the
$4,000 deposit made by MIR. Kea1; the
$4,000 still due on the purchase
price and payable on or before May
/, 1881; the $4,000 now being spent
for repairs and still leave a sizeable
sum for improvements on the irriga-
ton system or power plant.
The bond election cannot be called
until after March 3rd, the date Of
the hearing on the petitions for ex-
clusion now being advertised. # it is
possible to clear up all exclusion
matters on this date, legal
notice can be given and the election
held the latter part of March or the
fore part Of April.
Officials Of the Milwaukee railroad
have made it plain that the roads in
terest in the case is solely that of
helping the settlers to help them
selves by the purchase Of bonds of
the irrigation district, should such
bonds be voted by the landowners in
the district, UP to the sum of $780,