East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-12-13

government water flowing through
the bitches Of the government distrib
uting system. and over the Hermis
ton unit of the Umatilla project, say
the Hermiston Independent
The flow was In its nature expert
mental, and served as test OF the
strength of the bitches whose course
1t followed. The result was most
gratifying to the engineers in charge
and to the settlers, amounting in itseli
to an assurance OF the water neces-
sary for irrigation during the coming
spring.
or the result Of the test OF the
bitches in carrying water Project En-
gineer John T. Whistler this morning
said: rs
THE progress OF the water in both
feed canal and distribution mains was
much more rapid than anticipated
and there would appear to be no rea-
son whatever why water should not
be on the 1000 acres of the Hermis-
ton unit In the spring of 1908. as
planned in time for a full seasons
irrigation.
However. II should be understood
by everyone that this is the first year
for both the 25 miles of feed canal
as well as the distributing mains and
and that therefore considerable
trouble should be expected. There
VIII doubtless be periods of a few
days and possibly a few weeks at a
time when the water VIII have to be
shut off, but I feel that In all reason
able probability and barring acci-
dents not foreseen, 1t win be entirely
safe to begin tilling the soil and to
sow to usual crops"
Water was turned into the bitches
from the feed canal on Thursday of
last week, and ran until on Tuesday !
evening, when II was shut off. Dur |
ing that time the feed canal was car |
rying As second feet OF water all of |
which went into the bitches. The
progress was very rapid and the
water flowed for something like 10
miles altogether. through the "a. 4
"C' and sc" lines. In all this dis
tance there was not break.
on Tuesday evening the engineers
were forced to turn the water off on
account of the fact that the lands
were unprepared to care for It. They
are most pleased with the result.
Where II Went.
The water was turned from the
feed canal into the "a" line. or main
distributing lateral through the by
pass and flowed from that point about
seven miles westerly to the railroad
crossing southwest OF Hermiston. II
also backed up ss far as the Cold
Springs dam. Water was then vast
ID into the &c" line where Il covered
| distance OF about two miles. and
again II was turned into the "E"
ateral which course II followed for
Ibout a mile, to the crossing of the
liagonal road. In the whole course
here were three breaks, all small
mes in the feed canal, and due to
adger holes. Otherwise the trip
vas without accident.
Time TO Get Ready.
Although the policy of the recla-
nation service is against advising the
ettlers what to do, there is general n
ceiling among the engineers that the
Experiment. has shown beyond ques-
lon that there will be water, barring
nforseen difficulties and that the
ettler will be wise to 60 ahead. pre-
are his land for irrigation, and get
eady for the water. The engineers.
8 Mr.. Whistler's statement shows,
re expecting some trouble with the
itches when they are taxed to their
init, but they have foreseen and
repaired for any ordinary breaks,
nd some extraordinary ones.
Are Pushing Work.
Work is being pushed along in the
instruction of laterals, small bitches.
C.. and the government will be
lady to furnish the water to what
nd is ready for It. There are about
miles OF bitches in the Hermiston
nit, and of there about 80 miles Of
mailer laterals are being now con-
ructed and work is being rushed
BON them This includes the mile
pipe line, now being constructed
Ist OF town to carry water to the
wer lands of the Umatilla butte,
Id furnish water to the Hermiston
wn site. The one pipe line will cost
5, 900 to build.
AT the dam the embankment work
now about so per cent done and
e concrete gate tower lacks but
W feet of completion, while the tun-
i under the dam through which
o waters will find egress is complet-
A. The steel supports for the foot
idge from dam to gate house are
the freight yard at Hermiston
rating to be taken out and put
place. The engineers expect to run
tier into the reservoir after March
1908, possibly before, and without
estion enough water will be stored
furnish a full year'srirrigation' for
the lands ready for II.
The result of the experiment now
ows that II is up to the individual
nd owners In the Hermlston unit
II he gets water next spring, he
lst prepare for 1t.
The old Pennsylvania Dutch Dunk
fis recommend Hickory Bark