East Oregonian : E.O

DONT HEED SUCH STUFF.

Absolutely no credence should be given the latest effort of the Byers people to discredit the quality of water taken from the Thorn Hollow springs. A careful test as to the quality of water was made before the present controversy began and the water was pronounced good. That should suffice.

The latest effort to discredit the springs is based on the alleged fact that Dr. Calvin S. White has condemned as impure some samples of water taken from somewhere by anonymous parties. Such tactics won't go. How are we to know that fair samples of the water were taken? How are we to know the water was taken from the springs at all? Perhaps it was taken from below the source of supply after the water had become contaminated. As far as the public knows the sample may have been taken from a hog wallow.

The whole thing smacks of skullduggery and it is on a par with other efforts put forth by the milling company to block the construction of a mountain water system for Pendleton.

For some reason the milling company is unwilling to wage a legitimate fight for its rights, if it has any rights that will be affected by the construction of a mountain water system. Instead of waiting for the proper time to come to seek redress under the law the company is carrying on a sneaking, lying, pernicious campaign to job those who want mountain water for Pendleton. The mill company does not care whether the water at Thorn Hollow is good or bad or whether the supply is ample or not. The company thinks its water right will be affected and so it is resorting to every means, fair or foul, to block proceedings.

Such tactics as this by the milling company should only make local people more determined than ever to obtain mountain water. Back the water commissioners and obtain good water either from the Thorn Hollow springs or from the north fork of the Umatilla river—whichever scheme seems the more feasible. But give no heed to advice from the enemy.

Let the Byers milling company go hang. That company and its supporters are engaged in improper business. They have no right to mix in this affair as they are doing. Let the milling company wait and prove its rights in court if it has any rights that will be affected.