East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-11

Echo, Dec. 11.-(Special to the
East Oregonian.) jim compliance
with the requirements of the govern
ment, the citizens of Echo who are
interested in the irrigation projects
which will be affected by the govern
ment project known as the East Uma-
tilla in the Cold Springs district, met
in this place on Saturday evening to
take preliminary steps toward the or
ganization Of the Echo Water Users
association.
John T. Whistler, government en-
gineer for Oregon represented the
government in the meeting and out
lined the requirements of the govern
ment in the matter of the surrender
of private lands which might be az
fected by the East Umatilla project.
Before the government will pro-
coed with the reclamation of the land
under this project, as with all other
government irrigation schemes pri-
vate owners of land within the bound
enter into a contract and submit to o
set of bylaws and resolutions in
dorsed by the secretary of the interior
and must agree to surrender their
holdings under such government pro-
ject down to the amount of 100 acres.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor L. A. Esteb, who was elected
~, irY, T.
elected secretary and a committee of
seven, consisting of the following
named gentlemen was appointed to
draft bylaws and resolutions to be
submitted to Secretary Hitchcock for
his approval: ]. F. McNaught. D. C.
Brownell. L. Scholl, jr., w. r. How
ard, T. c. Irwin, L. C. Crawford and
H. G. Newport.
A set of resolutions and bylaws
was prepared and forwarded Satur-
day night by Mr.. Whistler. to the sec
retary of the interior. If found sat
isfactory, the bylaws will be in
dorsed by the secretary and returned,
with authority for completion of the
organization.
As soon as the reply Of the secre-
tary to the bylaws and resolutions Is
received at Echo a meeting of the
water users under all the projects af-
fected by the government project win
be called and the association wnl be
completed by the election of presi-
dent, secretary. treasurer and board
of trustees or directors.
Companies Affected.
Six irrigation companies already
organized and now working in that
vicinity will be affected by the East
Umatilla government project. as fol-
lows: The Furnish Ditch company,
which is now rapidly completing a
main canal, will be affected to the
extent of about $500 acres: Cold
Springs Ditch company, Beitle Ditch
company, Maxwell Ditch company.
Brownell Ditch company, and the
Three-Mile Falls Ditch company.
The six companies interested now
have about 25 miles of main bitches
already built and about 25 miles more
projected. About 1000 acres OF land
will be covered by these ditch COM
panies, all of which have signified
their willingness to come under the
government regulations if satisfactory
arrangements can be made.
An effort will be made to secure
test of winter irrigation along the
main government canal in the hilly
district west of Foster.
Great enthusiasm prevails in the
entire Echo and Umatilla district
over the prospect of reclaiming this
desert land. 1t is understood that 40
acres will be he limit of a homestead
entry under the government project,
thus adding an enormous population
to- that norton of the county.