The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1941-01-09
James Johnston
Begins 23rd Year
Service i'm G. l. ID.
Director tells Of many in
teresting incidents in
irrigation history; at
tends every meeting.

NNAANA0 - ~ y
Ole Brue was elected president OF
the Board Of Directors Of Columbia
Irrigation District at their regular
meeting held last Saturday, sue
ceeding Ed Frauen. At this meet
ing the oath Of office Of Jas. john
ston, reelected director, was approx
ed.
In entering into this year as di-
rector, Mr.. Johnston begins his 23rd
year Of service with Columbia Irri-
CATION District. He was elected for
the first time to take office for a
one year term, beginning January
z, 1919, and has been reelected
every three years since that time.
In interviewing Mr.. Johnston, he
reveals some very interesting his
tory concerning the varied activities
of the districts organization. He has
always been in close touch with all
activities. and can boast, and be
confirmed by the record, Of having
attended every regular monthly
meeting during the twenty-five
years. Not more than half dozen
of the special meetings were miss
ed, and these missed because Of
minor illnesses.
"Our first job" said Mr.. john
ston, was to issue and sell the big
$440, 10000 bond issue during the
month Of January, 1919. We sold
them to the best bidders, the Lum-
berman's Trust Company Of Port
land for 93c on the dollar. After
finishing this deal, we had TO dick
er with the Warren Construction
Company to get the whole canal sys-
TEN rebuilt. We held a lot Of meet
ings with their engineers and other
representatives, and finally made q
contract with them to do the work
at cost plus 10 percent. The World
War was on, and that was the only
kind Of a contract any construction
company would consider"
Mr.. Johnston recalled many more
interesting incidents during the re-
construction work, and also many Of
the difficulties with canal breaks
Immediately following this job. In
1920 the directors again had the
work OF bond issue necessary TO
complete the work started the year
before. For several years following
matters went smoothly as could be
expected until the time preceding
1929 when the district was no longer
able to pay its bond interest total
ling So, 900 per year. When this hap
pened, the directors went to the
bondholders with the request for
some relief from these enormous
payments. Their efforts resulted
in the organization Of the Benton
County Columbia Company as a
bondholders committee, and a plan
was completed and placed in opera
ton. 1t proved to be impractical
after two or three years OF operation
and it was then necessary to again
refinance with the RFC, which plan
is the one now in operation.
Another interesting feature was
that the newly organized irrigation
district received from the Northern
Pacific Irrigation Company a team
Of horses for the "extra crew" In
1913. Shortly after Mr.. Johnston
took office. the district bought its
first motor truck, a Model T. Ford.
for the extra crew and sold the team
to Irving Gleason, who was farming
at that time.
Paying the bills is always one OF
the chief duties of the Board Of Di-
rectors, and during the reconstruc-
ton work in 1919 and 1920, the di-
rectors found it necessary to employ
a special auditor to check the War
rem Construction Company's bills as
they were presented. Mr.. Johnston
recalled that the auditor employed
cost $500 and saved the District
$1,000 in just one item where they
had been oyercharged.