, 1905-11-02

ins 100 acres, which is the limit Of
ownership that the government will
recognize. Several of the lane proprie-
tors in the valley have refused to sub
init to this condition. They prefer to
hOld their lands for speculative pur-
poses and deny the authority of the
government to compel them to sell or
TO limit the price. Their obstinacy
may delay the project somewhat, and
their lands will not be irrigated. The
government will not irrigate more than
100 acres for n one man. The public
lands, which comprise bou 10000
acres, will be Subdividcd into tracts of
eighty acres each and sold at an aver
age cost of SIS per acre. the lowest
price Of any project the construction Of
which the government has yet under
taken. There Will be no opportunity to
secure government land for several
years. however, for it is practically
confined to the water covered lakes
IL swamps, which must first be thor
Oughly drained and made ready for
cultivation. A considerable part of the
private lands are now offered for salo
ut prices ranging from $40 to SIS an
acre, according to its location and tho
quality of The soil. "
Klamath valley is surrounded by
magnificent forests of pine and red
FIR. The timber u of the imme-
dinte region have been estimated by
experts as high AS 1900 900 900 feet,
which is now being slowly cut by half
Il dozen sawmills. The surrounding
mountains and foothills. which are be-
yOnd the reach of irrigation. afford cX-
ccllcnt pasturagc, and even now an
average OF $4,000 head OF beef cattle
are driven to market annually and Il
Droportionate number Of sheep and
Horses. Most Of the horses raised
here IRE sold to the United States
army.
The reclaimed land is very rich. 1t
grows all kinds Of grain and vegeta-
bles. and especially celery. asparagus.
potatoes and forage plants for dairy
cattle. The climate Is similar to that
of central New York state. The lakes
and rivers are filed with fish. and tho
swamps are swarming with duck.
geese and other birds.
The 80, 0O0 acres of land that are
about to be irrigated Will 1T doubt be
extended whenever the demand re-
qulres ii. for at least 100000 acres may
easily be reached by irrigation. At
present the entire population of the
valley is not more thar 5000 or G.OOO-
tho local authorities claim 1O,OOO-and
they are scattered in n dozen villages.
klamath Falls is the largest town and
the commercial center. 1t claims 1850
population and probably has n little
more than 1000. 1t will increase rap
idly in numbers from this time Oh,
however. Not less than 1000 or 1.5OO
laborers will be required by the gov
crnment. and they must De fed, cloth
ed and taken care Of. Many of them
will doubtless bring their families and
settle in the ncighborhood. Already
the town Is SO crowded that no houses
room. Newcomers are compelled to
live in tents until they can provide
something better. There is a fringe of
white canvas all around the outskirts
OF the town.
klamath Falls is Il pretty place and
has an enterprising people. There are
banks and stores of NIL kinds. which
seem to be doing IL large business. anil
m excellent hotel. There Is IL fine
schoolhouse and various other features
OF modern civilization. and there will
be II railroad in there very o