The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-06-28
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tract. Mr.. Davis replied that i
was too far in advance of the ses'
sion of Congress to enter into &
contract but suggested that HI
continue the work with their at.
torney in preparing the contract
This was done with the result
that about July l of that year Mr.
Davis advised that practicallJ
everything had ben completed and
urged that some definite arrange.
ment be entered into. The con.
nection of Mr.. Davis was distinued
d day or two later.
KITTITAS FIRST
Following the resignation of A
p. Davis, D. w. Davis of Idaho
was appointed as acting commits
sioner. This resulted in q new
survey of the Kittitas, the Kenne-
wick and what is now Roza divi-
sions, with a view to determine
which should be constructed first.
The choice fell upon the Kittitas.
Later, in 1925, the Secretary Of
Interior formulated 10 year plan
of construction work, which invol-
we'd the commencement of both
the KenneWick and the Roza at
the same time, which would not
result in completion of the Ken
newick Unit until about 1898.
BY that time the condition of
the Highlands had become such
we knew that unless we obtained
some substantial assistance the en-
tire project would be destroyed.
Mr.. Moulton went to Washing
ton in January, 1927 to see what
could be accomplished and while
there DR.. Mead came to q definite
conclusion and advised both SEN
ator Jones and Mr.. Moulton that
he had definitely concluded to
commence construction of the
Kennewick Unit in advance of the
then existing plan and told Mr..
Moulton that in March at Denver
they would be able to tell us when
they would be in position to take
up construction. In reply to a di-
rect question from Senator Jones
he informed us that It had been
definitely and unqualifiedly de-
cided to advance the. Kennewick
project.
In March, 1927, Mr.. Rudkin and
Mr.. Moulton went to Denver and
met DR.. Mead with the hope that
we might ascertain what their def
mite plans would be. At that time
DR.. Mead was unwilling to enter
into any definite arrangement but
instead caused a further survey to
be made Of the Roza and Kenne-
wick Divisions with the view to
determine which should be con-
structed first. The result of that
survey announced in 1880 was that
the Roza should be first con.
structed.
WATER RIGHTS SOLD
When the first construction of
the Kennewick unit was aban.
doned the condition Of the High
lands had become so deplorable
that it became necessary that
something be done in order to sal
wage as much as possible of the
investment of the landowners.
The reclamation Bureau then pro-
posed to purchase from the district
the water rights and dam at Pros
ser and the canal right of way,
in consideration of which they
reconstructed the pumping plant
and main pipe lines, the cost of
which was approximately $780,.
600, that being approximately the
amount which the district had put
into the water right, dam and
right Of way.
This also involved the con-
struction by the Reclamation Bur.
eau of power plant about two
and one-haf miles below Prosser
along the right Of way conveyed
by the district. This power plant
was to be operated and the district
was to secure power at a rate
Substantially lower than II had
been paying the Pacific Power &
Light Company.
Our contract with the Recla.
nation Bureau provides that when
the receipts from the sale Of power
rom the Prosser plant are suffici.
ent to repay the cost Of construc.
ton, the net earnings win then
be used for the payment Of our
bonds. To date there have been
practically no net returns to apply
to the repayment Of the cost Of
construction.
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