The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1908-06-01
The
Klamath
Project

Project ton Of about 100000 acres of land now
under the overflow Of the klamath
RiV"r and OF Lower Klamath Lake and Tulc, Lake
and the irrigation Of about 10000 acres Of valley
nnd adJaccnt to the Klamath River along the course
OF Lost River and the tributary portion Of the great
plateau lying chiefly in klamath County, Oregon, but
also embracing part Of Siskiyou and Modoc Coun
tics, California. Il total area Of 200 600 acres.
The Project embraces the construction Of very
great mileage Of canals lateras and drainage canals
ana will have its principal source in Upper klamath
Lake. Clear Lake and IIorsciy are reservoir sites
where flood water will be impounded and utilized for
irrigation Of land included IN the upper portion Of
the Project.
Work on the main canal was started in the Spring
OF 1906 and the first unit Of nine miles is com.
Ilcted. About $4,000 acrcs Of land viii be irrigated
From the first unit the atcrals for which being
constructed under the supervision OF the engineers
having charge of the Project BY far the largest
proportion Of the land under the first unit is in
sagcbrush and must be cleared and broken in time
for crops in the Spring Of 1903. Work on the
ond unit IL being done by the Government and EN-.
braces nineteen miles Of main canal and twenty.sx
miles Of lacrals 10 furnish water to about 10000
additional acres of land Work on this unit will be
prosecuted as rapidly as possible
Nearly onchaf of the area to be irrigated is now
under water to depth of from one TO fifteen feet
and will be reclaimed by system Of drainage to
lower the level Of the rivers and lakes. large part
Of the swamp land and practically all Of the valley
land in the klamath Basin are held in private own.
crship and in very large tracts which must be
sold in tracts Of 100 less under the regua.
tons governing the perfection Of n water-right.
KLAMATHS Tor its development and pros
GREATEST perity the klamath Basin must have
NEED people, and the right kind Of people
at that Its great need Is intelli.
gent, practical farmers, who understand the meaning
Of intensified and diversified farming; men who will
buy land not for speculative purposes, but with the
idea OF clearing of the sagebrush and making per.
manent and comfortable homes. Such men are bound
10 succeed There is room for thousands OF them.
Developing Sugar beets have been grown ex.
Various pcrmcntally throughout the Klam-
Industries a,h Valley. The percentage OF sugar
is high, as will be noted from the
following analysis made by the United States DE.
par,mcnt of Agriculture from bcets grown near
sugar in bccts, per cent 2l.7; sugar in juice, per
cent, % ; coeiicient of purity, s3.i.
Experience has demonstrated that excellent as
paragtls onions and celery can be grown, the tulc
lands being very similar 10 those of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin Valleys of California, where such
vegetables successfully cultivated Through
the world the reclaimed marshlands are the best
suited for the highest development OF dairy inter-
ests
There is no question that this will become a sugar
beet producing section and that number OF facto.
ries will be built and operated with the development
Of the industry.
All kinds of frui, adapted TO the temperate zone
thrive hcrc-appes, peaches pears, cherries, prunes,
pIlilnS, AprlcOlS ana necl1rits 90 wei, ana Shial
fruits bear abundantly and of excellent quality.
There are n great many small orchards throughout
the basin that prove the adapab!lity of the region
to the profitable production of fruit.
l.. l.. Smith former president of the Oregon State
Board of Horticulture, gives il his opinion that
the foo,.ill lands specially adapted to apple
growing.
Cultivation of the potato has passed beyond the
experimental stage, the sandy loan OF the uplands
producing them in great abundance.
Klamath County wheat, grown without irrigation,
took the premium at the New Orleans Exposition.
The most important forage crop is alfalfa, the soil
being peculiarly adapted TO its growth.
Excess All landowners being required
Holdings Must TO sell their excess holdings, there
Re Bold ISL large area OF good land for sale
at reasonable figures, prices rang
ing from about $l5 to $35 for unimproved and $50
10 $50 per acre Tor improved land. Land adjacent
10 the principal towns commands higher prices The
purchaser pays for the water right at cost OF about
SIS per acre to be paid for in ten equal annual in.
stallments without interest This amounts to less
than the ordinary annual rental paid private ditch
companies. Some Of the rrigators OF klamath Val
ley land they are the most prosperous farmers) have
already paid out such companies for water 500 per
acre and WI no water All of these companies have
been purchased by the Government and included in
the system.
No public lands will be open for settlement for
several years.
Climate The upland soil is mainly rich sandy
and loan Of great uniformity and composed
Soil largely of dsntcgrated and eroded lava
with an admiXture OF volcanic ash and