The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1947-04-03
Note Progress
0nHiglllands;;
Fight Slashes


Happily opposed to pessi-
reports coming from
the nations capital on appro-
priations prospects for Wash
ington's vast Columbia Bas-
in development was the ac-
count of progress made to-
ward the Highlands Irriga-
tion project given by Frank
Maupin to the Kennewick
Chamber of Commerce last
Thursday. ....... -.....a.
Western congressman are meet
ing today on Capitol Hill, accord
ing to information from Senator
Harry p. Cain, to devise strategy
against the possibility of deep
slashes in reclamation and power
project funds. The action was
precipitated by rumors that a for
Incoming sub committe report may
recommend a l6 billion dollar APP
preparation for the Columbia bas-
in, made up by adding an addition
al 10 million dollars to an existing
6 million dollars of unexpended
reclamation funds. Such an APP
preparation would provide less
than one half of the amount re-
quested by President Truman.
Maupin's report to the Chamber
of Commerce relieved the dark
outlook at least locally. Although
the Kennewick project is not dir
ectly affected by the current status
of Columbia Basin appropriations,
he cautioned that any established
line of congressional thinking
might result in similar reactions
on the Kennewick project.
An inter-agency commission of
government agency heads has
been formed in Washington, Maui
pin told chamber members, to
correlate the activities that the
several agencies would be called
upon to perform in connection
with any irrigation development.
Upon his return from a recent
trip to Washington, Jay Perry re-
commended, Maupin continued,
that the Kennewick Irrigation
Project Committee take immediate
steps to secure approval from the
Bonneville Administration, the
Fish and Wildlife Service, and the
Department of Agriculture.
First action of the committee
was to arrange for visit to Ken
neWick of officials from the De-
partment of Agriculture. A party
headed by George T. Hudson of
Wenatchee came to Kennewick
last week to investigate the pro-
ject.
Hudson and his colleagues, DR..
Lee Wheeling, M. Taylor, and B.
d. Corliss, conferred with the
Kennewick committee at lunch
con meeting, announcing their in
tention to stay three days in the
area to thoroughly explore the
project, Maupin reported.
after we had disposed Of our
preliminary discussions" Maupin
said, "Mr. Hudson suggested that
the quickest way to acQuaint them
selves with the project would be
to drive over the area proposed
for irrigation.
Accordingly the party Of four
teen, drove throughout the pro-
ject locale from 1870 to a o'clock
in the afternoon. Arriving back
in the city, Hudson and his as
sociates announced after very
short meeting that they were fully
convinced of the desirability and
feasibility of the project, and that
they would at once prepare a re-
port recommending it to the Bur.
eau of Reclamation.
after our inspection of the pro-
ject, we have no reason to in.
vestigate further" Hudson said.
Officials from the Bonneville
Administration will meet Friday ir
Boise to consider the project, Maui
pin said, and Bureau of Reclama.
ton personnel will confer with re-
representatives. of the Department OF
Agriculture in Pullman within the
next several days.
The Department of Agriculture
party was accompanied on their
tour of the Kennewick project by
Frank d. Maupin, Jay Perry
Frank Lampson, F. r. Gragg, &c
Brand, Lee Boutelle, Dave James
Harold Cline, Linn Tinsman, and
Jack Mcclure.