East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-05-28

1t was an ideal day. The weather
was perfect. The wind behaved
nicely. The best of good cheer pre-
vailed Accommodation were plen-
tiful The exercises were appropri-
ate and flttingly rendered. The peo'
pie of Hermiston exhibited their fine
qualities as entertainers. The big ir-
rigation project was gracefully de-
iivered to the people and the excursion
to Hermiston was a success from the
toot of the whistle leaving Pendleton
until the wheels stopped at the plat
form on the return trip last evening.
1t is estimated that 500 people saw
the formal opening of the Umatilla
irrigation project yesterday and en-
joyed the abundant hospitality of the
people of the thriving little town. of
Hermiston. Two hundred people
went from this city on the o. r. &
\. excursion and everybody for miles
around came to the reservoir and to
Hermiston in rigs of all kinds and
uuIlHk Alit dlltlllOOil AAN AANNAN NpN'
was filled with the crowds.
The excursion from this city arriv-
ed at Hermiston at $3.50 and about so
teams were employed in hauling the
sightseers to the reservoir, six miles
distant. Everybody desiring to see
the reservoir found a way of going
there and there is absolutely no COM
plant from any source, of a lack of
accommodations.
At the big dam which is fully de-
ler's address published in todays
paper over 100 men and 25 teams
are still employed in completing the
work, and the crowd swarmed over
the scene, inspecting the dam, reser-
voir, intakei canals rock quarry, tow
er and headgates and enjoying the
$1,500,O00 project with keen delight.
The work is now about completed,
the principal part remaining unfinish-
ed at this time being about four feet
which will be added to the height of
te dam. About 500 acres of the area
of the 1900 acre reservoir is now
covered with water varying In depth
from 10 to 40 feet, the gauge at the
headgate registering 2S weet yester-
day.
Water is now flowing from the
reservoir through the 500-foot con-
crete outlet and is running through
the distributing canals to every part
of the project, crops are growing,
young orchards are in evidence and
the new homes being made in Her
miston and on the various parts of
the project show the substantial pros
perity which is already being expert
enced in that section of the county. |
Exercises at HermlstOn.
The principal exercises of the day !
were held at the new Baptist church |
az Hermiston and were presided over |
by Attorney Francis H. Bartlett. |
Judge Stephen A. Lowell of this city, |
was orator of the day and delivered |
an eloquent and forceful address on
the history of irrigation and its rela-
ton to civilization in all ages He !
was at his best as an orator, irriga-
tion being one of his favorite themes, |
and Judge Lowell perhaps delivered |
one OF his most impressive and elo-
quent addresses.
Will r. King, supreme court COM
missioner of Oregon, one of the new
associate judges appointed to the su-
preme bench of the state, also deliv-
cred an eloquent address on irriga-
ton, and Project Engineer John T.
Whistler reviewed the history and
Of the Umatilla project
in a graphic and forcible manner.
The addresses will all be printed in
and no review of them will be at
tempted in this brief account of the
opening of the project.
The streets and buildings of Her
miston were decorated with bunting
and presented a gala appearance.
Everybody in the little town seemed
to vie with his neighbor in making
the day pleasant for the visitors and
the event Is pronounced grand sue
cess by every one participating in 1t.
After the program was completed
at the church H. NJ. Cake, republican
for United States senator,
delivered an address at a platform
arranged for that purpose and gave
an excellent talk on the political is
sues Of the day to large and highly
,ppreclative audience. Mr.. Cake made
4 most convincing argument for the
election Of republican candidates. the !