The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-11-29
|kennewick 10
Hear Of Project;
To Ask Funds

Kennewick people will have an
opportunity to hear details OF the
proposed Highlands Irrigation pro-
ject explained Saturday. That has
been designated as "Kennewick
Irrigation Project Day."
A series Of speakers will be
heard on the downtown streets
during the afternoon from a sound
wagon. They will explain the pro-
jcct. what il means to the COM
munity and what needs to be done
to secure its approval.
Petitions urging congressional
action on the project will be cir
culated. Individuals are urged to
ask any questions they want an
swered to give full understand
ing Of the project.
A number Of out Of town guests
have signified their intention Of
visiting Kennewick that day and
will view the project. They will be
entertained with a dinner at the
Highlands clubhouse at six o'clock
that evening.
From washington. DC, comes
information that Senator Hugh
Mitchell will ask for an immediate
appropriation by congress Of funds
for the construction.
He has been assured by the ex-
ecutives Of the Reclamation Blu
made by the Bureau to COM
made by the Bureau would COM
plete the feasibility report in time
for Mitchell to introduce the mea-
sure as an amendment to the In
terror deficiency appropriation bill
scheduled to come before the SEN
ate soon. Passage in this manner
would provide funds SO that con-
structiOn could start early next
spring and crops could be produc-
| ed on the new project by l947.
Mitchell pointed out that power
production at Grand Coulee dam
will be nearly twice as great dur
ing summer highwater as at other
times Of the year. Irrigation
pumping is the logical way to uti-
lie this summer pump power.
Part of il will be used to pump
water into the balancing reservoir
for the Columbia Basin project,
and can be used to irrigate bench
land along the river.
"This Kennewick Highland unit
Is only q fraction OF the tens of
| Thousands Of acres which can be
irrigated merely by installing the
pumps along the banks Of the
Columbia and Yakima rivers to
Lift the water direct to the land.
California Il far ahead Of our
state In pump irrigation" said Nit
chell, even though their power
rates are several times as high AZ
ourS."
"The pump irrigation program
opens up new irrigated land for
| the veterans who are now return
ing and wanting 70 settle on west
e1n farms immediately" said the
senator. Hundreds Of letters are
on Tile from oervicomen who are
anxious 10 start building farm
homes In this region. We must
move now TO make land available
earlier than Columbia Basin can
be opened"
This contention q borne out by
I statements made by the US. En-
ployment Service here that that
office has received hundreds Of re-
quests Tor information by return.
Inc ooevicemen and former en-
|ployes Of the Hanford project a.
|ep the land possibilities In this
| region.
The bureau Of Reclamation has
letters from Dr.. Paul J. Raver Of
the Bonneville Administration In
which he urges the use OF power
b pump irrigation water.
Senator Mitchell pointed out
that IA the State Of Warrington
I'VE have the power and we have
the water and Ne have the fertile
|lands 70 justify q Wide expansion
o4 pCmp-irTiGation, not only In
Eastern Warrington but at many
points up and down the West
S3de."
Even with The compilation Of the
| Columbia Basin project, the state
Of Warrington, with all it, streams
and rich land, viii stiu be behind
other western states. Today we
have only 6l6, 900 acres Of irTigat-
ed land IN Warrington, or about
the same % Nebraska. California
has 5,070, 900 acres; Idaho $780,
600; Oregon l,050, 900; Montana,
1.700, 900; Colorado 3,z20, 900, Wy.
oming l,lo0, 900; Utah l,l76, 900;
Nevada $50. 900; Arizona CSC, 900.
~ .