The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1932-06-30
BOND ISSUE rs
EXPLAINED AT
MASSMEETING
Ditch Matters Discussed by
Valley Farmers; To Hold
Election Saturday After
noon; Contract Explained

About rs waterusers attended
the mass meeting held at the Val
ley club house Wednesday eve
ming for the purpose of having
che details explained regarding
the $4,000 bond issue to be voted
upon next Saturday Following the
explanation of the proposed issue
general discussion regarding ditch
matters was generally INDUCED in.
Mr.. Moulton, attorney for the
board, explained the proposition in
detail. He said that the state was
willing to advance the money nee
essary for the repairs on a bond
issue, repayment to be made over
period of ten years, the debt to
carry interest at the rate of one
percent per year. If the bond is
sue carries, the annual repayment
cost will be about IL cents per
acre.
In order to start the bond pro-
ceedings it was necessary to make
an estimate of cost before actual
cost was known, which estimate
was $4,000. Inasmuch as the re-
pairs on the ditch cost but slightly
over $4,000, many were unable to
see the necessity for the SIS,
issue. As matter of fact, while
the board had to follow the esti-
mate and call for the authorize
ton of $4,000, only the amount
to pay the actual cost of making
the repairs will be allowed by the
state or issued.
One of the waterusers present
asked the question as to what
would happen if the voters refused
to sanction the bond issue. Jas.
Johnston, chairman of the board
of directors, who acted as chair
man of the meeting, explained that
If the bonds failed to carry, the
money could not be secured from
the state. AS an alternative, the
! district would be forced to issue
warrants which carried interest
at the rate of seven percent, and
q correspondingly increased levy
would be made upon the property
In the district to retire the war
rants.
AS one water user expressed
himself after the matter had been
explained. owed rather borrow
the money from the state with
ten years to pay it back at one
percent interest than to have to
pay seven percent and have the
annual assessments loaded down
upon us in the next few years."
Discussion of various other
matters in connection with the
management and operation of the
canal were taken up. Among the
things discussed was the contract
with the Highlands system. But
few of the landowners in the low
er valley seem to be conversant
with the details of the contract
with the Highlands district.
The Columbia canal was con-
structed as. private enterprise,
sponsored by the Northern Pacific
railroad company, which, after the
trustbusting period, split into the
N. P. I. Co. AS this company was
one which promoted the Highlands
Development, when they turned
che ditch over to the waterusers,
the contract for water for the
Highlands had to be included.
This additional water for the
Highlands, contrary to popular
conception, is not purchased from
the Columbia district. The latte
merely serves as a transporter.
For water under the old contract
the Highlands district has been,
u years past, paying the Column
bia district $4,000 a year. Under
the new contract, which provides
for the additional water, this pay
nent has been increased by s2100
year, making total of $4,000
which the Highlands district will
pay to the Columbia district each
year.
The rehabilitation of the High
ands plant calls for additional
water deliveries. The money re-
eeIved from the government for
ms purpose includes the enlarge
nent OF the main canal from the
pump house to the headgates so
nat the water level will be lifted
seven inches. Three inches of the
sodltlonal level will be for the
highlands and the remaining four
ior the Columbia users. The cost
the enlargement has been esti-
mated at s14,520. Of this amount
.ae Highlands will pay 20 percent
ano the Columbia 80 percent.
Fart of the work was done this
sprlng and the Highlands district
sas already paid the Columbia dis
met $500 as it's share of this
so,k; The completion of the job
sm De undertaken this fall and
.e money is available for the rest
" the work. 20.