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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 Years Ago in Washington: Columbia Basin irrigation project promoted

When the group rolled through the area around Quincy and Ephrata, the need for water was evident everywhere.  (Spokane Daily Chronicle archives)
By Jim Kershner The Spokesman-Review

A party of 40 editors, business people and political leaders toured arid Eastern and Central Washington in order to drum up enthusiasm for the gigantic Columbia Basin irrigation project.

Afterward, they entered into a “unanimous pledge” to support “the great reclamation enterprise.”

This “burning, almost idle waste” could be converted into a land “rich in possibilities beyond all dreams.” When the group rolled through the area around Quincy and Ephrata, the need for water was evident everywhere.

“A striking view of abandoned orchards and farms, with ruined homes, brought many exclamations from members of the party,” wrote Edward J. Crosby, who represented the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “It was explained that the present condition had been wrought by 12 failures in the last 15 seasons. Hundreds of fruit trees, cut down and lying about the homes, testified to the final victory of drouth over the hopes, ambitions and energies of Quincy farmers.”

One farmer told the group, “We only hope you will get us water. We ain’t had good crops for years. Once we get water, this is the best land there is.”

The group was planning to continue on to the Yakima Valley, to see the miracles that irrigation had already accomplished in that area.

The president of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce was pleased by the support.

“Seattle, Portland and Spokane are finally working together,” he said.

On this day

(From Associated Press)

1951: Armistice talks aimed at ending the Korean War began at Kaesong.