Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-04-29
OREGON DRAINAGE STREAMS.
Interesting Figures on irrigation
Work.

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the ceusus bureau says in a recent
report;
"a vast area in the southern part
Of Eastern Oregon, lying between
the klamath region and the owyhee
and Malhuer regions on the east, is
drained by a large number OF small
streams that discharge their waters
into small lakes or sinks. 1t extends
n%orthward to the divide separating
this portion from the John Day and
Crooked rivers and has the peculiar
characteristics of the great interior
basin of which 1t is an arm,
"The largest streams are Silvies
river, which rises among the Straw
berry mountains, and flows south in,
to Lake Malhuer; Bonner and BlitE,
en- river, which drains the western
slope of the Stems mountains, flows
north and discharges an occasional
food into the same lake; and Silver
creek which enters Harvey lake from
the north.
Methods Of irrigation.
From these streams and the
springs and wells within the drain
age basins in 1902, 167, 1892 acres were
irrigated at an average cost per acre
of $1,95. This low average cost per
acre shows that most Of the irrlga'
ton in this section is by the simple
and inexpensive method OF flooding,
Many of the ~irrigators use the water
on grazing lands, or to increase the
yield of native hay. The SOL farms
on which irrigation was reported
we're supplied with water by 4S1 sys,
tens, costing $S26, 705. The aggregate
length of the main canals and bitches
was CAT miles.
"Silvies river and tributaries sup.
piled water to ia farms, and irri.
gated 26,O41 acres through sc sys.
TENS. whose initial construction
cost was $74,S1O, an average Of
$2.S5 per irrigated acre. There were
1875 miles of main canals and bitches.
Twenty-Five systems received water
from Bonner and Bitten river and
tributaries, and irrigated 34,701 acres
belonging to SO farms at an average
cost per acre of $1.02. The 25 sys,
TENS cost $S5, 400, and the combined
length of the main canals and ditche1
was "a miles.
water from the Harvey county
Silver creek and tributaries was util'
lied to irrigate 1900 acres, belong.
ing to 2S farms. The 22 irrigation
systems cost $21. S45, the average
cost per irrigated acre being $1.61
There were As miles of main bitches,
Klamath Drainage Basin.
Just east of the Cascade range In
Southern Oregon Is an area of about
5000 square miles drainel by Kla,
math river and tributaries. The whole
Of upper and half OF lower Klamath
lakes cover nearly 1870 square miles
Of this surface.
The principal Oregon tributary of
Klamath river is Sprague river, which
joins Williamson's river to form the
main stream about three miles east
Of upper klamath lake. Very little
irrigation is reported from the main
stream, most OF the irrigated area
in this basin being reported from
various small tributaries, entering
either the main str am or klamath
lake.
In 1902 the different sources OF
water we're drawn upon by Sc sys-
TENS. There were 26 ga acres on
16l farms irrigated. at an average cost
of 1897. The total cost OF construct.
lon was $3.50 ,01O, n the combined
length OF main canals and bitches was
17S miles. Sprague river and trlbu-
taries alone furnished water to $500
acres on 25 farms. The IS systems
cost s26. $780,. an average OF 1920 per
acre. There were 80 miles OF main
canals and bitches.
"of the several drainage basins,
the Snake river and the Independent
drainage basins. each included more
than one-third OF the total irrigated
area of the state; the former, 1902
acres, and the latter 159,O99 acres.