The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-05-21
IRRIGATION QUESTION.
Eastern Oregon Profoundly Interested.
The DALLEs, May l6, 1892.

/
Editor TIMES. .MoUNTAINEER:
The privilege Of addressing the citizens Of
Eastern Oregon through your columns
upon question u common interest Is re-
spectfully solicited.
l wish to present for consideration the
fact that rapid settlement and entry Of the
lands east of the Cascade mountains has to
great extent changed the character Of the
| agricultural and accompanying interests of
this high land region.
The forfeiture of the lands granted to the
railroad by the government, and their entry
permitted by actual settlers has removed
the uncertainty as to title which delayed
the occupancy of large body of lands in
Eastern Oregon. This certainty Of obtain
ing immediate possession under cash entry
at minimum rates has induced the actual
purchase and occupancy of not only all of
the valuable lands lying within the railway
subsidy limits, but stimulated actual settle
ment upon most of the fruitful lands within
one hundred miles to the south of the Col
umbia river. This actual occupancy of
those lands for homes In Wasco, Sherman,
Gillian, Morrow, Umatilla, Grant and
Crook counties has. necessarily to great
extent, induced the change referred to IN
the character of the agriculture of the more
thickiy settled portions thereof.
The raising of CATTLE horses and sheep in
large bands which could be ranged at will,
where feed was best, has been abandoned or
moved to distance where the land was
not occupied by settlers and under the re-
striction OF fences and ownership. This
change in the character OF agricultural pur-
suits calls for cultivation OF the soil and the
production of diversity of grains. vegeta-
bles and fruits as well as domesticated ami
mails and fowls. THIS cultivation Of the
soil becomes the next step IN the progress of
civilization. The establishment of homes,
where domestic ties and comforts may be
gathered, school houses, churches, and stores
where requisite merchandise may be pur-
chased and products sold, shops of mechan-
les. etc., all are the associated factors which
unite in this change referred to. Z
This condition of progress, however. has
its demands upon the intelligence of those
who enjoy these blessings which make up
this community of interests. One of the
most important Of these demands is, that
there shall be no chance in the reception of
fair reward to honest effort.
The region referred to is storehouse of
natures most fruitful elements of We etable
and fruitful life. The surface soils Of the
most of Eastern Oregon is made up of the
sedimentarv wash Of ages and the eddies
and drift OF currents that were formed by
those repeated volcanic actions, which lifted
and formed the Cascade mountains and
opened an outlet for the slowly departing
floods into the Columbia river by its tribu-
taries, which now, following natures laws
Of cause and effect, drain the surplus sur
face waters of the great basin to the east
and souah OK us. These sedimentary de-
posits gathered from three to twenty feet in
depth and from one square mile of area to
four and i've hundred square miles Of area.
ln some parts of the bottom Of the great
basin are unquestioned evidences Of the
Of these surface soils. especially
as beneath them always, everywhere ia
found a conglomerate formation Of rounded
gravel, stones and volcanic scoria.
The reader may ask where are the evil
ience to be foundi Go from this city mp
the Columbia to the Deschutes and follow
It's tortuous deep channel Of evidences, and
study evidences Of the cause and effect Of
revulsions and changes as they
we're made early in the volcanic upheaval Of
,he earth and the course taken by this river
n the bot lava and basaltic formation for
over $50 miles. receiving all Of the surplus
water off of the mountains as they were
ormed at different periods of volcanic ao-
ION up to their present position, and ont Of
he many lakes Of water 5000, 5000 and
900 feet above the basin bottom till in
light. Examine the John Days river
which brings the surplus water from the
Blue mountains upon the southeast of the
yreat basin down through its bottom, but
Ipon higher leYel than the Deschutes
hannel. 'Nr.
have been explicit in this representa-
ion, because this formation now being en-
cred upon for homes, and the efforts Of an
gricultural population who have reasons to
ejoice on its peculiar deposits Of fruitful
oil, still have before them one Of the i'm
ortant demands referred to il they would
Intimate all uncertainty from their indus-
rial efforts. There is no doubt that from
he sum total of a farmers annual efforts
here must be subtracted the chance Of
lilure OF crop. This failure OF crop is fifty
er cent. greater upon these rich sedimen-
ary lands which have described, than up
n such lands as can rely upon adequate
ioisture to supply vegetation. Here the
ericuitural lands, orchard lands and those
a II n \.
land irrigation to be sure Of a successful
rop. With that supplied Its citizens may
sjoice in a warm, elevated, healthful ci-
late, sedimentary soil of unbounded fruit
illness, immense body Of all kinds Of tim
er which protects and qualities the air oyer
le territory east of 1t from the ocean
'inds; indeed, region Of advantages. To
g able to add to this surety Of success in
iltivation Of grams. vegetables and fruit
le people, settlers of Eastern Oregon, de-
Iand judicions and extended distribution
the rights, lying in the lakes, rivers and
pportunities for retentive reservoirs as
ublic necessities to the advancement Of
country, capable With such
rejected water privileges Of supplying
,lendid homes for an immense population.
The readers Of tins paper will undoubted-
remember the report Of Hon. John w.
oble. secretary Of the interior, in treating
the public character of extended irrIga-
on privileges. In that report he says,
The questions Of the water supply aud its
will be one Of vital interest, and
5 proper solution should be given now"
nd he goes on to say ''that there should be
served to the United States the power Of
rfeiture and resumption in case OF abuse"
The president In a recent message to con-
less says: THE government should not
lrt with its ownership of the water sources
Icept on the condition Of insuring water to
le settlers at reasonable rates." / cannot
1T call attention of your readers to the
ate law In force ON its signature by the
,vernor at the last session of the legisla-
re of Oregon which gives private capital,
cooperative capital, the privilege to nile
,on and hold all or any of these public
yhts, and that. under this law the most
lportant of our great irrigation privileges
Oh up on the Cascade mountains have
ZEN the last week entered in behalf of
rporation. In this view of the attempt
take control of one of these great privi-
ges by capital, 1t becomes the people to
ter their demand for the retention by the
In behalf Of a just distribution
such privileges, which are of such vital
lportance to all.
l have no disposition, whatever, to stand
the light Of honorable use OF capital IN
e improvement of public privileges or
but do protect with energy
ainst private capital or cooperative
rength, assuming to take possession Of one
the most important elements of advance
ent of the masses or seizing in any ex-
nded volume public privileQes which are