The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1906-05-19

ne lnSS-El6fdlu mas received
letter from W. f. Burke asking
that the people Of Harney Valley
appeal to the State Land Board
in behalf Of bis company in bring
ing about an adjustment of their
differences as to the amount of
water necessary to reclaim the
10000 acre Carey act segrega-
tion in Harney Valley Mr.. Burke
claims that the State Land BolrG
shows a disposition to hold the
matter up, requiring Is acre feet
OF water per season, which he
considers unreasonable.
The Times Herald and many
OF the citizens of this section who
desire the development OF Harvey
county, wonld certainly assist 10
any manner possible to this end,
but find upon Investigation that
the demand l. not unreasonable
in fact il is more leniru, and less
amount OF water than is required
OF an individual making proof on
a desert claim under the public
land laws.
BY comparison. using the gov
ernment rule of measuring water,
il has been found that IS acre
lee, is less than ! inch OF water,
miners inches measurement Al
most every proof on desert claims
under the public land laws show
claimants swearing to have a, least
one inch Of water per acre and IN
some instances more.
According to a high official in
the reclamation service, one inch
OF water will cover seven acres Of
land to a depth OF two feet IN @
years this demand, then, so un-
reasonable.
A representative OF this great
religious weekly talked TO Gov
ernor Chamberlain personally on
this matter las, "wednesday even
Ing over the telephone, and found
that the State Land Board is sim
ply complying with the require.
ments OF the government in the
matter Of q stipulated amount OF
water Governor Chamberlain
stated that the State Laud Board
has no inclination to hold up Carey
segregations but would rather
favor them. A. the same time
Il is absolutely necessary TO pro-
tect the settler ln order TO do
this the Board asked the govern
mvnt reclamation service to eslab-
lish certain amount of water to
BE- furnished. The government
says Is acre feet Is required to|
reclaim drser, land and when the
state applies for paten, 70 Carey
selections Il must show that the
contractor is able to put that
amoun, Of water upon the land.
otherwise patent will not issue
This requirement, certainly will
sound the death knel to many
Carey selections aud The Times
Herald is inclined 10 the opinion
that il is a good thing Tor Oregon.
The Carey act looked good 10
people at first-looked quite easy
in fact-but some failed to realize |
tina, Il would be necessary to re- |
claim the land absolutely and show |
a feasible plan whereby iis irriga-
lion is certain under all circum-
stances and conditions-perma-
nenl for all time.
Taking the reclamation service
estimate as being the amount of
water necessary to reclaim desert
land, there is a question as TO
whether much of the land in Hdr-
uey Valley is desert or not. MIR
Burke claims that eight inches is
sufficient. Would the govern
ment consider this really desert
land:
The progressive people Of this
section would like 10 see Mir \
Burke make a success of his pro-
ject as he has been at much eX-
pense aud worked faithfully, but
The Times Herald fails to see
that an appeal to the state would
assist him in any way.
-
sam AIothrrshrad who IL a