The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-04
FARM, FIELD, GARDEN.
Kittitas County Irrigators Have
Inexhaustible Water Supply.
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOP CROP.
Pure Bred and Half Blood Draft Horse
-Ciun Forest sheep--A Hog
Feeding Floor.
From a Census Bulletin.

Washington, east OF the Cascade curtains
extending from the SUBMITS of that ranre
in generally southeasterly direction to
the Columbia river. 1t is bounded on the
north by the Wenatchee river. and on the
south contains the headwaters of the
Yakima river, which flows southerIv into
Yakima county. Among the mountain,
at the headwaters Of these streams are
numerous beautiful lakes several miles in
length. These tend to equalize the flow of
water in the streams and thus increase the
summer discharge.
The principal agricultural area within
thus county is in the Kittitas valley near the
center of which is the town of ElIensburp.
This valley is ten miles or more in width
and twenty miles long. 1t Is bounded on
the north and west by mountains contain.
ing deposits of valuable minerals. and
covered with timber. Within the valley
little, if anything, can be raised without
irrigation, as the precipitation during the
summer months is very small and the
winds which prevail tend to promote
rapid evaporation.
Water for irrigation is taken from the
Yakima river or from small tributaries of
that stream. In the case of the river itself
there is supply of water sufficient for all
demands now made upon it. The smaller
streams, however, do not furnish an
abundance during the summer, but there
Is such scarcity that only portion of the
crops cultivated can be thoroughly irri-
gated. and it often becomes necessary to
cut some of them for hay Some of the
farmers propose to increase the summer
flow OF the creeks by the construction of
reservoirs in the mountains to hold a DOR
ton, at least, of the flood waters which
now run to waste before the beginning of
the Irrigating season. AS q result of the
deficiency of the water supply con.
troversies regarding water rights have al
ready risen, and expensive litigation has
been entered upon by many of the farmers,
who can i'll afford this drain upon their
resources
The greater part of the eastern half of
the county is composed of broken lands
and sagebrush plains, on which crops can
scarcely be raised with the application of
water. There IS no visible means of
supply for the greater part of this area,
and it is difficult to obtain water even for
domestic purposes. Near the junction of
the Wenatchee with the Columbia q small
amount OF land is irrigated, principally by
means of the waters of springs. 1t
probable that portion, at least. of the
lower part OF the level lands here can be
irrigated by water taken from the Wen
atchee or the Pechastin, but the EXPENSE
OF constructing ditch of the length re-
CURED is beyond the means of the present
inhabitants. Near Ellenshurg two wells
have been sunk to considerable depths, in
the hope OF obtaining an artesian supply,
but as yet without success. In the Kitti-
tas valley the ordinary wells average
about thirty feet in depth.
There are many small bitches in this
county and few of large size. Among
the smaller bitches may be mentioned the
Masterson ditch, taking water from Team
away creek, which flows into the Yakima
river from the north or left-hand side The
ditch runs on the west side of the creek,
and carries the water in a southwesterly
direction for distance of five miles. The
width Is three feet. and the cost was ap-
proximately 1850. In 1889 about 800
acres, principally In timothy, were irri-
gated.
First creek ditch takes water out of a
stream tributary to Swauk creek, which
flows into the Yakima east of Teenaway
river. This ditch is about twelve miles
long and six feet wide 1t cost probably
5000 in all. 1t is owned by two irriga-
tors, who divide the water equally. In
1859 about go acres were irrigated, about
500 acres being i'll wheat and the remain
der In oats and vegetables.
Galloway ditch takes water from Wilson
CItek d1u Carries III out III n sOutnWesteTiy
direction for about eight miles. The aver
age width is five feet. The ditch was con-
structed in 1877 by irrigators, who took
advantage of an old channel OF the stream
which extends for great part of this dis
tance. In 1889 400 acres were irrigated.
Watt ditch takes water out of Manas-
fash creek, which flows into the Yakima
from the west side. nearly west of Eilens-
burg The water is taken out upon the
north side and carried distance of six
miles. The ditch is about five feet wide,
and cost probably s., 600. 1t is owned by
private parties. who divide the water
among themselves. The owners of this
ditch, as Is the case with many other irri-
gators, have been compelled to enter upon
suits at law for the protection of their
Claims TO the water.
Bull ditch takes water from the Yakima
riscr near Eilensburg, and carries il out
on the east side. The length of this ditch
Is seven miles, the width about seven feet,
and the cost was $3.50. 1t is owned by
farmers, who divide the water into tenths
and distribute II according to the number
OF shares or fenths owned by each. In
iss9 about 200 acres of meadow land and
90 acres OF grain were irrigated. In the
case of grain the water is turned into plow
fnrrows from sixty to 100 feet apart, but
the meadows are generally flooded. the
nooding being repeated from two to four
y
The principal bitches of the county are
those taking water from the Yakima river
ana carrying it out upon both sides IN the
vicinity of Eilensburg. The ditch on the
east SIDE Of the river, owned by the Eilens-
burg Water Company. is twenty-five miles
long, twelve feet wide. and cost for the
seventeen miles completed IN 1880 $4,000.
The owner of 3 share IN this corpora
Ron IS entitled TO one-half miners inch OF
water. this being considered sufficient To
Hrigate an acre. In 1889 about 1000 acres
were irrigated. the crops consisting o.
wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and hay
The capacity of the ditch is reported 10 he
iorty-eight second feet. The supply OF
water IN the river is very large. hut the
ditch does not carry an amount sufficient
Tor the demands made upon il. Above
aud north of this ditch is a large area of
land which it Is proposed to irrigate by
the construction of = much larger canal
taking water from point higher up the
stream.
The Westsde irrigating canal Is about
fourteen miles long and averages about
we've feet wide. Ii is estimated to cost
shen completed $4,000. At usual stages
OF the river there is no necessity OF dam
Tor diverting the water. The corporation
owning this ditch is composed OF irrigat-
ers who use its water. Work was begun
ls0