East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-02-21

weather that has been enjoyed here
during the past few weeks, rapid
progress has been made on the work
going on all parts Of the Umati la
project. Experiments have been
made this week in turning the water
from the feed canal, which runs from
below Echo through the bypass and
the different places through which
| 1t is necessary for The water to flow
toward the reservoir. The concrete
drop is about ready for use. and all
portions OF the work Is being rapidly
pushed to completion. Excellent
progress is being made. according to
/ the reports of the engineers and
there will be water for use for this
seasons crops. The big celebration
will be held here when excursions
will be run from Pendleton and 9TH
er points as soon as the water Is
turned from the reservoir into tie
laterals, which will he early in June,
according to the present expectations.
Walla Walla People Buy Land.
A party of Walla Walla people,
among them being j. D. Smith, DR..
Group. Professor Burke and others,
were here a few days ago and have
purchased considerable land. much
of which is under the project. Sew
eral hundred acres were sold to these
men. who have great faith in this
country, and they will make arrange
ments to improve the land at once.
Preparing the Laud.
The development which will go on
in the way of improving The lands,
setting out fruit trees, raising vege-
tables, alfalfa, wheat, etc, IN the next
year will do more for Hermiston than
any other one thing. Hundreds of
acres of land in the vicinity of Her
miston are now being prepared. The
people who have purchased land and
have not yet located here have men
at work getting the land in condition
for the next crop. A potato growers
association is being formed, and 1t is
the intention of the FRUIT growers to
form an association, also. Trees and
seed potatoes have been sent for, and
two carloads of the potatoes are ex-
pected to arrive here in a very few
days
To Close ut Six.
The Hermiston merchants are max
ling arrangements to close al stores
at o'clock in the evening after
March l.
r. E. Allen, the popular druggist,
was called to Ridgeway. Iowa. We'd
lnesday on account of the serious i'll
hess Of his mother.
Charles H. Alexander Of Helena,
Montana, who purchased 40 acres OF
land near Hermiston some months
ago. has been here this week to look
after the improving of this land, and
he is delighted with the prospects of
the country.
Preparations are being made for
a big dance to be given on Saturday
evening, February 22. The Hermis-
ton orchestra will furnish the music
Col. ]. F. McNaught, who has been
very seriously i'll with pneumonia,
continues to improve, and is now out
of all danger, and it is thought that
he will be able to be out in a few
days time.
Messrs. Devlin, Cook and Edward
son of Pendleton, were visitors here
last Thursday evening to assist lin
Initiating a class of Redmen in the
newly organized lodge at this place.
Captain j. H. Alexander, who for
merly was inspector at the U. $. land
office at La Grande, and who some
time ago purchased 40 acres of land
near here, is arranging to come here
to locate soon.
DR.. NJ. S. Kern has purchased the
Jones place near here. and it is un-
derstood that he will build a home
and begin to improve the place at
once.
Mrs. E. P. Dodd entertained few
of her friends at a whist party Fri
day evening. There were three ta-
bles, and a very enjoyable evening
was passed.
Mrs. Birch entertained the mem
bers of the Thimble club few even
lngs ago, very enjoyably.
Mrs. Lay of Tacoma, who has been
visiting with her daughter Mrs. A
c. Crawford for some weeks, has re-
turned to her home.
Mr.. and Mrs II. G. Newport went
over to Kenniwick a few days age
for a short time They went from
here to Irrigon and took a launch
across to the north bank. They en-
joyed the trip very much.
The Hermiston Mercantile com.
pany is now employing seven people
, and keeps two delivery teams going
great deal of the time. This is one
OF the biggest mercantile establish
ments in the west end Of the county
H. NJ. Hughes, an employe Of the
o. r. & N. Pullman service between
Portland and the east, has arranged
to come to Hermiston to open bar
Der shop.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. II. Ried entertain-
ed a party Of friends at their home
Tuesday evening in a most delightful
manner.
Mr.. b. H. Davis. superintendent OF
the Cold Springs dam, was agreeably
surprised by a number Of his friends
last Friday evening in honor Of his