White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-12-05
Outline Aims, Accomplishments
Of Utility District During Year

forty three miles of holes. This Is an
all-labor project and amounts to about
$4,000. We expect action on this from
Washington at any time.
An application was made to the
WPA for a power survey of Benton
county This is also in Washington and
will give three men work for six
months This is statistical work.
At the request of j. S. Moore, Sup
erintended Of the Yakima division OF
the Bureau of Reclamation, a formal
application was made for $50 kiloWatts
of unalloted power from the Prosser
power plant. This was rejected on the
grounds that the Bureau expected to
use this power on the Roza project
This matter was turned over to Sen
ators Bone and Schwellenbach, who
telegraphed Commissioner Mead for
action and after several kilograms and
letters we now expect to not only get
the 1870 XIV. but to abrogate the Pacific
Power and Light companys contract
to the extent that we may use all this
power we want. We believe that the
people of Benton county are entitled
to the first right to this cheap power
after the irrigation needs are supplied.
(In August, the peak irrigation season
of this year, the irrigation districts
used 1,198671 kilowatt hours and 1885,
TIA to the Pacific Power and Light)
In order to establish the constitu-
tionality of the Utility Act, the state
Grange brought friendly suit through
Preston Roger against the Utility Dis
trict. The Pacific Power and Light in
tervened. The case was heard before
Judge Arthur Mcguire of Ellensburg
and in a long opinion he sustained the
Utility District in every point raised.
This will be heard in the Supreme
Court in Olympia in January.
Several meetings have been held at
Hartford and White Bluffs in an en-
deavor to work out a plan of using
the Priest Rapids power for domestic
use as we'll as irrigation pumping. The
Pacific Power and Light company has
expressed willingness to work with
as in alnyos.. any plan that will help
the farmers in that district. The prob
lens are so complicated and SO many
factors have to be considered that the
commissioners felt that it was job
for an expert municipal consultant SO
at our last meeting, Kenneth G.. Har-
Ian, a nationally known engineer was
employed to work out plan Of devel-
oping and coordinating the various
projects useful to Benton county and
to establish feasible method of pro-
cedure by which the Utility District
may build or acquire all or part of the
equipment necessary for the genera
ton and distribution of electric en-
ergy in Benton county.
Application was made, hearing held
and a franchise granted to this Utility
District by the county commissioners
to build power lines along the county
roads.
To carry on this work some expenses
are incurred, and to meet them small
tax levy was made. There is differ
ence of opinion as to what control
!; Initiative 81 has on this levy. A writ
the county commissioners and county
treasurer to establish this point Of law.
, This is a friendly suit. The prosecuting
attorney, county treasurer, county COM
missoners, Oranges and many business
men have contributed to a fund to test
this part Of 81.
Guy j. Storey of Kennewick has been
nominated to fill the office of Com
; missioner G. c. Williams, who is re-
firing at this time from District three.
? An election will be held December 7th
r from am. to 8 pm. in all precincts
i of the county. All registered voters in
: terested in the success of this Utility
District should go and vote for Mr..
e Storey. Don't forget the date: Satur-
day. December z.