Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-11-08
IRRIGATION PLANS.
Two important Canals Ueder Con-
struct on.
IDAHO IRRIGATION LEGISLATION
Tie Report of Committeeman d w. Ross
to the Fourth National Irriga.
ton Congress.

The valley or the Wenatcnee river,
in the exact center of the state of WASH
ington, is being rapidly developed by
means of irrigation. writes Arthur
Gum in the Irrigation Age Two canals
are now under construction-the Pes
hastin Ditch canal and that of the We
natchee North Canal Company. Both
of these canals were originally planned
by the late G. f. B. Haskell, c. E., and
the construction of both is now under
the charge of Harvey Shotwell, the res
ident engineer.
The Peshastin Ditch Companys canal
takes its water from the Peshastin riv-
err, about two miles above the confiu-
ence Of that stream with the Wenatchee
river. The canal is IL feet wide at the
water line and will carry two feet of
water. It's length is IA miles, covering
a little over 5000 acres of land tributary
to the town of Mission. The earth work
of this canal is now finished, and there
remains but three-fourths of a mile of
fluming to be built before it will be COM
plete. 1t will be done in time for the
crop of 1896.
The Wenatchee North Canal Com
pany is SO named in distinction from
another proposed corporation, the We
natchee South Canal Company. The
North Canal Company is now actively
engaged in building canal which
when completed will be % miles in
length, and will completely cover the
arabic land upon the north side of
the Wenatchee river from opposite the
mouth of the Peshastin to the mouth
of the Wenatchee river. 1t Is proposed
to organize the Wenatchee South Canal
Company, which will take water from
the North canal two miles above its
lower terminus and carrying it across
the Wenatchee river, supply that part
of the valley Immediately surrounding
the town of Wenatchee.
None of these works present unusual
engineering difficulties, except the
South canal, which will have to cross
the valley of the Wenatchee from bluff
to bluff, a distance of about 1000 feet
The main point of interest arises from
the fact that these works are being sue
cessfully pushed to completion by the
local farmers, who are men of limited
means, entirely without aid from out
side capital; showing both energy and
faith in the future of the Wenatchee
valley under irrigation. The total value
of these canals when completed will
not be less than 100000.
In addition to these larger canals
there are numbers of smaller bitches;
all the small streams which here come
down from the mountains having long
since been diverted and used to their
entire capacity. However, the total
acreage covered by them will not ex-
coed 5000 acres, making the larger ca
nails necessity for the development
of the valley.
The Wenatchee valley is justly IA
nous for the quality of it's fruit, its
low altitude and sheltered position in
surfing early crops and freedom from
injury to trees in winter. Since the
building of the Great Northern railway
through this valley, three years ago.
fruit raising has taken a vigorous and
healthful impetus, and will soon make
the Wenatchee valley one of the most
beautiful garden spots on the Pacific
coast.
IRRIGATION IN IDAHO.
In his report to the Fourth National
Irrigation Congress, D. w. Ross the
member of the committee from Idaho,
very clearly outlines the work accom-
plished in his state during the past
year.
A portion of the report follows:
The Idaho legislature last winter en-
acted, not without bitter opposition,
three very important irrigation laws.
The first act emphasizes constitu-
tional provisions, defines more in detail
the relation of the irrigator to the COM
pany, prescribes for the care and SUI
pervision of laterals and compulsory
election of water masters by the irri-
gators themselves. In the case of irri-
cation companies (not mutuaD provis-
ions are made for an adjudication of
rates charged for water upon petition
by the irrigators to the district court
Such companies are to furnish a re-
lease to the purchaser of a so-called
water right from all it's liabilities and
bonded Indebtedness. All payments due
such companies for the use of water
shall become a first lien against the
land or crops upon which water
has been used.
The second law enacted is a district
irrigation law, so similar to the
Wright law of California that it
needs no description in these lines. This
law, based upon the local needs and
natural conditions of the state, was de-
manded by the people, and is believed to
be just and proper. 1t has for its OBJ
ject the construction and maintenance
of canals for irrigation by the district
which is to be benefited by them, the
merging of corporate interests into that
of the land owners in the case of canals
already constructed and owned by COM
panies.
The effect on the state at large will
be great, as the speculative feature will
be eliminated as nearly as possible,
and irrigation development in Idaho
will afford a safe investment for capt.
tai.
The immediate effect locally will be
an opportunity for the irrigator to
secure water at actual cost, a stimula-
ton of the business instincts of the
people and fostering of the spirit of
cooperation and home industry.
The last but by far the most import
ant measure adopted was the accept
ance by the state from the United
States of the 1000, 000-acre grant under
the provisions of the "Carey act" and
the adoption of business plan govern
ing the reclamation of the same. This
act also creates the Office of state en-
gineer.
1t would be impossible to even out
line In this brief report the far-reaching
effects to our state of the developments
made possible under this act.
oarfO,rIt,,ra mill hon1..,a one af kIa