East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-08-03
IRRIGATION PROJECT ON THE UMATnLA

The reclamation service has an
nounced a feasible project from the
Umatilla river, on the east side, of
from $1,000 to $4,000 acres of land,
which can be supplied with full wa
ter supply and 10000 to 1900 acres,
which can at the same time be provid-
ed with flood water or winter irriga-
tion.
John T. Whistler district engineer
for the reclamation service in Oregon,
in an interview today, says: IAN eX-
cellent small project exists ON the east
side of the Umatilla river below Echo.
This region has generally been con-
ceded by the service to belong large
ly to the field of private interests,
since several enterprises are already
under process of construction or are
contemplated. The reclamation serv-
ice, however, has worked out a plan
for a feasible project of from $4,000
to 10000 acres. The greater part of
the land coming under the project is
either patented or entered upon, and
therefore the reclamation service can
only present the plans proposed to the
people interested for their acceptance
or rejection.
The general plan proposed is to di-
vert water from the Umatilla by a
feed canal between Is and 90 miles
long into what Is called Cold Springs
reservoir site. A dam there to hold
the water 90 feet deep will impound
a sufficient supply alone for $4,000
acres. About $4,000 acres of good
land is estimated to lie under the res
ervoir, and by using one irrigation in
the spring direct from the river it is
thought the entire $4,000 acres can be
provided with an absolute and assured
full supply.
Lying above the reservoir dlstrlbu-
taries, but below the feed canal will
be from 10000 to 10000 acres of irri-
gable land which can, by increasing
the size Of the feed canal, be supplied
with flood water or winter irrigation.
All plans PROPOSED Jy the reclama-
ton service provide for structures of
the most permanent character which
will thus reduce the cost of mainte-
nance to q minimum. The plans also
provide for all necessary drainage. A
permanent diversion weir or dam Will
be provided at the point of diversion
of the Umatilla river.
The reclamation act itself provides
that payments for government water
rights shall be made in 10 annual pay
ments without interest. The plan in
other projects has been to make the
first payment due in December after
the first full seasons irrigation.
The government lien required on all
patented lands before construction
will begin cannot, however, be fore
closed until another year, allowing,
therefore. two entire irrigating seasons
before the first payments can be re-
quired.
The cost per acre estimated on, in
cludes all maintenance for the 10
years during which payments are
made.
Final estimates cannot be worked
out for some time, but 1t seems proba
BILE the project will cost little If any
in excess of $50 per acre for the fully
irrigated land and $40 for the flood
or winter irrigated land.
It should be understood that these
figures are only approximate and that
final estimates may change them ma
terially. They are given now in order
that the project may be considered as
promptly as possible and to the end
that If 1t is desired by the people un-