East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-04-04

During last week Thomas H.
Means. chief of the soil division of
the United States reclamation serv-
ice, made an investigation of the arid
lands lying southwest OF Pendleton,
in Umatilla and Morrow counties, and
this morning the following statement
concerning the reclamation work in
this section was secured from the To-
cal office:
Eastern Oregon offers facilities for
irrigation surpassed by few parts of
the arid West. Lack of railroads
through the central part of the state
has prevented the settlement of the
country, and there are today great
rivers running to waste and large
areas of the most fertile land lying
idle or at the best producing but
scanty crops of forage. Upon the
passage of the reclamation law in
June, 1902, the general government
commenced work upon the develop
ment of arid America oregon has
contributed largely to the funds for
this work, and. in return, naturally
expects to receive at an early date the
benefits of this law.
Mr.. John I. Whistler. the resident
engineer, whose office is at Pendle-
ton, has been for the past two years
investigating various projects in the
arid part of the state. One Of the
most important projects so far consid-
cred Is the one to irrigate a large
tract of land lying along the COlum-
bia river east OF the Umatilla river.
This tract is productive of little at the
present time. The plans for its irri-
CATION, so far as they have been de-
over 100000 acres. One scheme pro-
poses to divert waters of the Umatil-
la river a few miles above Echo, car
ry the water across Butter Creek and
irrigate $4,000 to 100000 acres of
bench land. The second scheme con-
templates the diversion Of the John
Day river, carrying this water to the
same tract of land and irrigating an
area of 100000 acres or more.
Character OF Soils
One very important investigation
which must be carried on before this
project can be approved is the char
acter of soils and the agricultural
possibilities of the district. Mr..
Thomas II. Means, engineer of soils
In the reclamation service. has re-
Gently returned from these lands
along the Columbia, where he has
spent a short time investigating the
NIL Ao L.. Mil
not be completed until the samples
OF soil collected in the field have been
subjected to laboratory examination.
some facts of general interest have
been brought out. Mr.. Means says:
The soils of the project are Of the
same general character as those found
over large areas of land in the basin
drained by the Columbia river. Simi-
lar soils are found in the Yakima val
ley, Of Washington, around Walla
Walla and in many other places in the
Northwest where irrigation has been
practiced for a sufficient time to
show the tremendous possibilities of
this region. The most prominent soil
10 q light sandy loan eminently adapt
ed to the growing OF fruit, alfalfa, and
the class of crops known as truck
crops Sweet potatoes. peanuts, beans,
melons, Strawberries asparagus and
potatoes can probably be produced
here, with an adequate water supply,
with as much ease and profit as In
any place in America. other crops,
such as alfalfa, hops and grain, can
be grown in the heavier grades Of
land, and thereby make a well balan-
ced agricultural district whose pros