The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1903-03-06
WILL AID OREGON
GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THE IR-
RIGATIoN SCHEME.
To Take Water From the Umatilla
Below Pendleton- Ditch to be
Thirty Miles Long.

Representative Moody has secured
the withdrawal from entry, save under
the homestead law, of 100000 acres ly-
ing along Butter creek, in Umatilla and
Morrow counties in Eastern Oregon,
with view to its reclamation under the
National Irrigation act, passed last
session. Immediately on Mr.. Moody's
return to Washington at the beginning
of the present session, he had an ex-
pert irrigation engineer directed through
the geological survey to examine the
arid lands along the south bank of the
Columbia from Wallula, WASH, to a
point near Willows, Gillian county, Or,
.eith the view Of reclaiming,if possible, a
stretch of country along the Columbia
between these two points for from 10 to
Is miles back from the river
It was hoped that it might be possible
by building canal from Snake river, in
the neighborhood of Riparia, Wash,
not only to reclaim the arid flats around
Wallula, but also the sage plains along
the northern portions of Umatilla and
Morrow counties.
Upon a careful examination the engi-
neer reported that in order to get water
enough out OF Snake river to cover any
considerable portion of the public lands
in these plains, the length Of the canal
required would necessitate an expense
that would not be warranted for the
limited amount Of public lands there
available, as much of this territory is in
private ownership.
The engineer was then directed to ex-
anime all sections in that vicinity where
there was any considerable amount OF
arid public lands and report on the prac-
ticability Of reclailning with the waters
of the Umatllla and tributary streams
along that spur of the blue mountains.
His report on this latter investigation
results in the order just issued by the
secretary of the interior, withdrawing
from settlement townships 3 and 4 north,
range 27 east; township 2 and 3 north,
range % east; township 2 north, range
20 east; township and north, range
25 and 26, lying in the immediate vicin-
ity Of the town Of Galloway.
1t is the purpose of the geological sur
vey to build a dam on the Umatilla
river at point short distance below
Pendleton, and, by ditch approxi-
mately 80 miles long, convey the water
in a southwesterly direction to the head
OF Butter creek valley. On the route
the line OF canal passes through several
natural depressions, which 1t is proposed
shall, by means of earth dams, be con-
verted into reservoirs. The limited
volume OF water in the river to some ex-
tent governs the area that can be re-
claimed, but 1t is roughly estimated
that the 100000 acres withdrawn,
which il fertile, but dry, can be readily
made productive at $40, or at the out
side, $l2 per acre.
Already j. G. Camp, department
irrigation expert, has been sent to the
Withdrawn lands, upon which there is
very little settlement, and in few days
will be joined byD. w. Ross. Together
they will survey the proposed route of
canal to determine the best location and
will formulate plans for damming the
Umatilla river and completing the Fys-
tenn Of storage reservoirs. When the
most economical and practical plan has
been devised and the project approved
by the secretary Of the interior the work
of construction will commence immedi-
ately.
The Withdrawal of these lands was
ordered to prevent spectators from
rushing in and getting control of more
than 160-acre tracts. Bona fide home.
steads may be made at any time, as
elsewhere.
This Butter creek project is not on as
large ascale as some Others that will be
initiated under the irrigation law, but,
inyiew of the failure of the Oregon irri-
CATION committee to act and give the
department or the delegation the benefit
OF its suggestions, it was necessary in
order that the state be recognized, that
Representative Moody net on his own
responsibility.
Chief photographer Newell, of the
geological survey, who has charge of
the government reclamation works, has
promised Representative Moody that he
will send and maintain throughout the
summer force Of experts who will ex-
anime all feasible projects in Eastern
Oregon. This work will be done with
view to future operation, but actual con-
struction cannot be taken until the
Butter creek work is well under way.
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