The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-11-26
THE RESERVATION CANAL
A Work Of More Importance Than
Some People Think.
MANY NILES OF SUBSTANTIAL bitches
A system That Reflects Great Credits
Upon the Promoters and Benefits
she Whole CoUnty-The Foot Hall
Contest and Other Notes.

1
papers and the filing Of an injunction in
the federal court during the early part of
the work by hostile parties, Agent Erwin q
course has not at all times been sire Sn
with flowers in his effort to accomplish a
work on the Yakima Indian reservation
that would be not only an expedient but
an achievement permanent and far
reaching In its results as civilizing in
ment." Weaker men might have quailed
at the determined opposition but being q
man valiant in purpose, like Governor
Jere Rusk he "seen his duty and he done
it," and the result lie an irrigation system
on the Yakima reservation that Mr.. Err.
win may we'll be proud Of as a lasting
m onument to his labor and fidelity as a
government official and also an enduring
work of untold value to the Indians
themselves now and for generations to
come
Doubtless many readers Of The HERALD
have little idea Of the scope and magni-
tude of this work that has been going on
during the past summer and fall and now
about completed. For the purpose OF
getting the facts for its readers a reporter
sccosted Mr.. Redman, the engineer on
the work, as follows:
Mr.. Redman, as engineer of the reser-
walton canal, will you please state where
the canal is located and something of its
dimensions and capacity?
Yes sir; it would no doubt interest the
people to know something about this
canal, or system of canals, being, as II is,
on the Indian reservation and out of the
white mans usual road of travel. l be.
lieye few of them know what has been
done within the last few months in the
way Of improving the Indians estate
here in Yakima county.
The "intake" OF the main canal is d.
rect from the Yakima river at point
about two miles southeast of Union gap
which latter point is at the northeast cor.
ner OF the reservation; from the intake
the canal runs for a mile and halt in a
generally southwest direction and thence
southwark eleven and q half miles to a
point on Toppenish creek about seven
miles southwest of Toppenish station on
the Northern Pacific railway. This main
canal is thirteen miles long, and is twelve
feet wide on the bottom and thirty feet at
the top for the first three miles, gauged
to carry three and half feet or alter,
and is gradually reduced in widsh from
thence as it proceeds across the reserva-
ton to width OF six feet on the bottom
near it's outfall. Besides this there is a
lateral taken out at q point about half
way on the above line the lateral is @ We
miles long, and is five feet wide on the
bottom. twenty feet on top and is built
to carry depth of three feet of water.
In addition to the above still another
canal has been constructed the intake
of which is from the Yakima river at a
point three miles north Of Toppenish sta
ton and runs south distance OF three
miles. This latter canal is five feet on
the bottom and will carry three feet depth
of water. In all there are 81 miles OF
canal, all built 10 the most substantial
and durable manner as you will know
when l tell You there is no timber work
on the entire system other than head and
waste gates except one hundred feet OF
fume which is on the last mentioned
canal.
What effect, If any, did the late food
have on the new reservation canals?
This food which was the highest by all
odds ever known in the Yakima valley,
washing away bridges and suspending
railway traffic, put the reservation canals
to the severest test, far more than they
will ever have again. Our headgstes
were not completed and besides the river
spread all over the low lands and filled
the canals to depth beyond what they
were ever intended to carry and ran them
bank full for several days but the damage
resulting therefrom is very slight which
will be repaired at trifilng expense.
The embankments being newly built Of
dry dust it was feared the result OF the
food might be somewhat serious but ex-
animation of them since shows the dam
age to have been practically nothing,
another evidence of the substantial char
acter Of the work. When the head and
waste gates are completed no future
trouble need be .apprehended.
How much land lies under this system
OF canals that can be irrigated from them
Something over fifty thousand acres Of
as fine land as can be found anywhere.
How does the cost Of this work com.
pare with the cost Of other irrigation
works in this locality?
This system is second in magnitude in
this county and for that matter believe
in the state Of Washington, and while l
am unable to state the exact cost of 9TH
er similar works yet from those l have
had opportunity TO know / will hazard
the opinion that this work has cost prac-