The Sunnyside Canal Water Dispute
Farmers from the Dunkard colony in North Yakima square off against the government, demanding a fix for their water rights after a season of devastating crop failure.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
NORTH YAKIMA, Aug. 5—The Dunkard colonists under the Sunnyside canal are much dissatisfied over the water rights under the receivership now held by Walter N. Granger. A committee has just returned from a visit to Senator John L. Wilson at Seattle. The committee of Dunkards, represented by Ezra Kiser and L. M. Shaver, claims that another prominent Dunkard, H. J. Harrison, has just lost 80 acres of alfalfa by reason of the poor supply of water, and that the colony has refitted from $10,000 to $2,000 in improving lands bought from the company, but that they will improve no more until secured their full water rights. A colony of 100 families which was to come soon from the East has been warned not to come until this matter is settled. The delegation was pleased with Senator John L. Wilson's reception, who promised to order an investigation.
“The colony has refitted from $10,000 to $2,000 in improving lands... but they will improve no more until secured their full water rights.”
Water rights and the development of arid land have been a constant point of friction in Washington State history, from the early irrigation projects of the Yakima Valley to modern concerns over water allocation and drought. The struggle of these farmers to secure basic infrastructure echoes today's ongoing debates over the sustainable management of the Yakima River Basin and the rights of agrarian communities against corporate or governmental neglect.
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