Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-25
OREGON'S WATER LAWS
AND IRRIGABLE LANDS


capital does not hesitate to invest IL
works for the utilization of this sur
plus water. Wyoming Is nearly al
above four thousand feet In eleva
tion and has but few natural advan
tages, yet its agricultural develop
ment compares favorably with that
of California, with its great natura
advantages, but where the entire
burden of protecting water rights 1;
placed upon the owner, and where
no encouragement is given the in
vestor.
The Office of state engineer Is pc.
culiar to the arid west. In those
states having an administrative sys.
tenn for its public waters. the state
engineer is the head of said system
and in his Office can be found a com
plete record of all rights to the use
OF water. Through water masters,
one on each stream where necessary,
this officer has control of the di-
NeISlOnS lTOm SITedHS.
State Engineer in Oregon.
In Oregon, the office of state en-.
gineer was Grated in 1905. A COM
p'ete code of water law, following
closely that CT Idaho. and much sim
liar to laws which have since been
adopted fl North Dakota, South Da-
kota and oklahoma, was presented
10 the legislature for enactment.
This law was defeated, with the ex-
ception of few provisions. The
creation OF the Office OF state engl-
neer was strongly urged by the state
land board, TO assist in handling de-
tails in connection with the reclama-
tion of lands Ly the state under the
provisions of the Carey act. The
state engineer has at present no
or control over the APP
tropriation or distribution of water.
An appropriation Of Ave thousand
doilas per annum is provided for the
Of photographic and topo-
srlphic surveys, under his supTvls-
ion, contingent, however. upon the
by the Federal Gov
ernment of an equal amount to be
expended within the state for sim
liar purposes. During the past three
summers, over 2,4O0 square miles
Of the states area have been
showing all elevations by
roads. streams. buildings. etc. Daily
records OF the flow OF
many OF ne imnortant streams ~
The state have been kept and the re-
suits OF all surveys and measure
ments Of the states water supply
published IN tho first biennial re-
nort of his office.
AS the land surface does not
change in elevation. the topograph-
c maps. when once made, will serve
Tor all time. The maps assist greatly
IN the development OF the state. as
hey are made with great care.
Railroad lines can be projected upon
hem and profiles drawn In the Office
with sufficient accuracy TO enable a
estimate of cost to be
made. Owing 10 the fluctuatlon of
treams, no water power or irrigation
works will be constructed unless a
record of stream flow, extending over
q period OF three 20 FIVE years, Is
available II the amount OF vested
rights TO the use Of water from
stream can be determined, the
amount available for the proposed
works can then be readily ascertain
ed. without the collection of such
Information a. public expense, this
class of development would proceed
slowly and under a great handicap.
The state engineer acts as adviser
to the state lard board i'm engineer
Ing matters relating TO the reelama-
tion of lands by the state hnder the
provisions of the Carey act. Under
this set, the government will donate
arid lands TO the state to the extent
Of Que million acres, provided the
state will reclaim and dispose of the
same iii small tracts to actual set
tiers The details OF reclamation are
turned over by the state to construc-
tion companies, who build the sys-
TEN and settle the land under a con-
tract with the state land board.
FIRST Reclamation Projects.
During the first nine months of
this year, the state land broad has
entered into contract with construc- :
tion companies for the reclamation OF
? 03,SS4 acres of land, at cost to |
future settlers for water rights, of
S4,2S6,SO4, payable to the construc- /
tion companies. These contracts
cover every detail of construction |