The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-07
AGRICULTUKg IL OREGON.

MI F. II. NeWelPS monogram on Oregon,
which is published as Census Bulletin 17S.
is entitled Irrigation in Oregon" but it IS
really a succinct account Of the present
condition and prospects of agriculture in
that State. Irrigation cuts but little figure
in the tale; as a matter of fact it is only
used on about one-eighth of the farms
under cultivation. seven-eighths Of them
producing crops without that artificial slim
illus.
The State of Oregon is biseeted from
north to south by the Cascade Range at
distance of 40 miles from the coast, and the
climate and rainfall of the two sections
vary widely. In the willamette Valley,
which occurs in the center of the western
portion, the average precipitation is not
less than so inches and increases to 70
inches at points on the coast. In the east
ern section the rainfall varies from II to 10
inches. and the rain generally occurs IN the
winter season and strikes the earth in the
form OF snow. Hence, up to the present
time. the productive portions Of the State
have been the western counties. The Will
annette Valley compares quite favorably
with our Sacramento Valley, the soil being
alluvial, the climate genial, and the rainfall
sufficient without being extreme. la this
State we have no such laYa-cOvered plateau
as covers Eastern Oregon. II is simply an
extension of the lava-bed of Idaho. There,
as in Idaho, the rivers have cut beds for
themselves through the lava, sometimes TO a
depth OF thousand feet. and, though the
climate is mild, il requires conjunction OF
skill and luck to raise cereal crops every
alternate year. Wherever there is stream
the farmer. constructs his own ditch and
conveys the precious fluid to his fields; but
streams are scarce.
This unpromising area embraces all
Southeastern Oregon, considerably over one
half Of the State. 1t contains Crook. Klam-
ath, Lake, Grant, Harvey and Mathews
counties. In comparatively recent geo.
logical times this area was covered with
deep beds of lava, which were broken by
the latest disturbances of the eaTth's crust
and tilted into mountain ranges, some OF
which incline to the west and some TO the
east. At the close of the last glacial period
streams cut their way between the ranges
and emptied INTO the Snake or the Columbia,
aud in places the drift deposited consider
able alluvium. Sometimes, as in Harvey
County, obstacles impeded the flow OF the
streams to the rivers, and they emptied into
sinks or lakes, which avoided overflow by
evaporation. Here the record of curious
oscillations Of rainfall ana wateF-supply is
easily observed. On the borders Of some Of
these sinks, which are now 10 to Il feet
deep, ancient beaches are seen, VIII ch
slow that al some past time the depth Of
the water must have exceeded 100 feet,
while the bottom Of other sinks shows that
at one time they must have been dry.
Periods of ariditY must have succeeded
! periods OF excessive precipitation, and vice
versa. Harvey County contains Harvey
| Y alley, hich is the most extensive area Of
nearly level fertile land in Eastern Oregon,
| and would be capable OF supporting large
| agricultural community if water could be
secured for the irrigation Of its rich soil.
There are no streams of any consequence in
the valley, but water is struck by boring at
10 or 20 feet below the surface.
Irrigation is in a backward shape in
Oregon, and will so continue as long as
there are unoccupied areas in the western
counties near the railroad. which Will pro-
duce fine crops without artificial supplies OF
water. But the Oregonians are evidently
/ preparing to turn their water sources Ia
! account At the last session of the Legis-
latulc dA at was DdcoElAs hlUflAllie 4OA tue
appropriation OF water, the condemnation
of land for ditch purposes, and the eXtin-
guiShment Of riparian rights. Tie people
Of the three southwestern counties, Curry,
Josephine aud Jackson. though blessed with
a fair rainfall. have discovered that they
! can increase their crops by regulating tie
water supply ard are going extensively into
/ the ditch business. According to Mr..
Newell it seems to pay. In Oregon the
average cost of preparing land, including
the purchase money and putting water on it,
Is Sl3 81 per acre. and the average annual
cost of water is 81 cents per acre. about 10
! cents more than in Idaho and Nevada. But
when the water is put on the present
! average value Of the land is S57 per acre,
! which shows handsome profit per acre.
! At the present time the $4,000 inhabitants
! Of Oregon are distributed through the
counties bordering on the river, from the
! California border to the Columbia, and the
great bulk of the wheat, wool and hops
! which the State produces comes from those
! counties. But In the present decade it may
! be expected that they will spread over por-
! tions of the State which are now exclusively
| devoted to pasture and mining.
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