The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-02-22
HOOD RIVER WATER MATTERS
\ Meeting Which Everybody Attended
Last Saturday.

\ Meeting Which Everybody Attended
Last Saturday
AT the January term of the county
court among the last business trans
acted was the declaring of Hood river
to be public highway, and the leas-
ing of the same to the Hood River
Lumber Company, a recently formed
organization. The intent and object
of the lease was to have the river I'm
proved" so that it could be used for
driving sawlogs, piling, cordwood, etc,
to the town of Hood River. The lease
was made rather hurriedly, and in fact
was signed before large number OF
the riparian owners along the stream
had notice of the petition. Since then
an opposition to the lease has grown
up among Hood River people, that has
the endorsement of practically every
citizen of that valley. While many
are not interested in the use OF the
stream for the purpose of transporta-
N@~~S
deep and important interest in the
waters of the stream for irrigating pur-
poses. The fear was expressed that
the lease wonld give the holders there
of such rights as would necessarily in
terfere with the taking of water from
the stream for irrigating purposes.
One irrigating company that had ap-
propriated or claimed 1000 inches OF
water, but which also intended to use
the water for fuming lumber and fur
nishing power, had gone so far as to
put in mill, and arrange for logs,
which latter were 10 be cut and used in
building hume. The Hood River
Lumber Co. notified this corporation
that it would. or its stockholders who
owned riparian rights in the stream,
would, consent to the taking OF the
4, 900 inches of water from the stream,
provided said water should be used for
irrigating, household or domestic pur-
poses, but for no other. This attempt
at debating to all the riparian owners
by one or two aroused the Indignation
of the entire community, and pursuant
to call meeting was held at Hood
River Saturday afternoon for the pur-
pose of considering the water question
in general, and the irrigating COM
pany mentioned, and the lease OF the
river in particular. The meeting was
called to order by Chairman G. A. Bell,
and II. F. Davidson was elected secre-
tary. Messrs. Bell, Davidson and
Davenport, in behalf of the irrigating
company made statements concerning
the effect the lease of the river had on
this company. 1t was all ready to go
ahead, at the time the lease was made,
but as the lessees of the river claimed
the right under the lease to charge for
running logs down the river to the
mill, it made the cost thereof so great
thai it prevented further action. The
stock was subscribed in such manner
that only ten per cent could be collect
ed upon the completion of the first
mile of fiume. AS a lawsuit would
probably have to be fought. the COM
pany did not feel like going ahead
unless this clause could be changed, or
more stock subscribed, Internationally.
From this time the discussion became
general, getting quite tropical at times
as questions and answers were rapidly
asked and answered, but as the situa-
tion was unfolded and the legal rights
of all parties concerned explained, the
feeling that the rights of the commu-
nifty were in danger passed away.
The stock books of the irrigating
company were opened and in 20 mi n
utes S2,7OO additional stock was sub !
of the work on the irrigating fume. |
There may be lawsuit or two growing |
out of the matter, but if there is it will |
be found that the citizens of Hood |
river valley are unit on one side of |
the proposition. The writer hereof |
once remarked jestingly of a jury that
lit would not agree. since there were |
two Hood River men on it, and Hood
River people never agreed" He ad-
mits his mistake, for on this PROPOSE
tion there is an unanimous opinion.
All realize the necessity of having
Hood river put in condition to carry
the timber along it's branches to the
but oppose the granting of
of the river to anyone, as
they claim, and prove, the rates grant
ed by the county court would have
done. The action of the county court
in insisting that ''the company should
procure the riparian rights without ex-
Dense to the county puts the whole
matter in the power of the riparian
owners, for if they refuse to give the
lights of way, the company being un-
lble to comply with the terms under
which the lease was granted, will have
10 lease at all. These rights OF way
essees cannot purchase. This view of
he matter, did much towards remov-
ng the feeling against the commits
ioners court. and we believe that the
natter has been fully settled. The
Meeting was large one being held in
he Odd Fellows hall which was with
is anti-rooms and stairways packed
With the eager thrOng.