The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-04-07
pound. Mr.. Cunningham expects his
clip to amount to 200, 900 pounds.
uMATILLA PROJECT is GOOD.
Diversion of the John Day Among the
Possible Water s.urcrs.

Diversion of the John Day Among the
Possible Water s.urcrs.
A special to the Spokesman Review
says:
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 laud 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 development of arid America.
Oregon has contributed largely to
the funds for this work, and, in re-
turn, naturally expects TO receive at
an early date the benefits of this law.
John t. Whistler, the resident en-
gineer, whose Office is at Pendleton,
has been for the past two years inves-
tigating various projects in the arid
part of the state. One of the most
important projects SO far considered
is one to irrigate large tract of land
lying along the Columbia river east
of the Umatilla river This tract is
productive of little at the present time.
The plans for its irrigation, SO far as
they have been developed, provide for
the watering of over 100000 acres
One scheme proposes to divert waters
of the Umatilla river a few miles
above Echo, carry the water across
Butter creek and irrigate 10000 to
100, 900 acres of bench land. The Sec
ond scheme contemplates the diversion
of the John Day river, carrying this
water to the same tract of land and ir-
rigating an area of 200,0 acres or
more.
One very important investigation
which must be carried on before this
project can be approved is the charac-
ter of soils and the agricultural posi-
bilities of the district. Thomas H.
Means, engineer Of soils in the recla-
nation service, has recently returned
from these lands along the lumbia,
where he has spent short time inves-
tigating the soils. While investiga-
tions will not be completed until the
samples of soil collected in the field
have been subjected to laboratory ex-
animation, some facts Of general inter
est have been brought out.
Mr.. Means says: "The soils of the
project are of the same general char
acter as those found over large areas OF
land in the basin drained by the Co
lumbia. Similar soils are found in
the Yakima valley of Washington,
around Walla Walla and in many Other
places in the northwest where irriga-
tion has been practiced for sufficient
time to show the tremendous possibili.
ties of this region. The most promi-
nent soil is light sandy loan, emf
nently adapted to the growing of fruit
alfalfa and the Class of crops known
as truck crops. Sweet potatoes, pea
nuts, beans, melons, strawberries, as
paragus and potatoes can probably be
produced here, with an adequate water
supply, with as much ease and profit
as any place in America. Other crops
such as alfalfa, hops and grain, can bt
grown in the heavier grades of. land
and thereby makes well balanced ag
ricultural district, whose prosperity il
not dependent alone upon the vicissi
tudes of a market for the more perish
able truck CROP"