East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-02-06
BETTER WATER LAWS.

The perennial question of better
water laws for Oregon will be con-
spicuous in the coming campaign and
in the next legislative session and to
enable the voters Of the state to
understand the situation as it is in
this state today, State Engineer John
II. Lewis has been requested by Gov
ernor Chamberlain to prepare a
pamphlet setting forth present laws,
conditions in the irrigated sections
and the need for better water laws.
That pamphlet is now out and can
be had by addressing the state en-
gineer and the East Oregonian hopes
that every voter in the state secures
copy and reads it carefully in or
der to understand the urgent need Of
more modern water laws in this
state
Mr.. Lewis has gone into the sub
ject carefully and has presented every
logical reason in the world why a bet
ter water code should be adopted in
Oregon. The development Of the
state actually depends upon the i'm
provement Of water laws now in
force. The next session of the leg
islature must meet this question fair
ly and squarely and nobody must
shirk their responsibility.
Summing up the situation in a nut
shell in this valuable publication,
Mr.. Lewis says of the irrigated area
of oregon and of the need of better
laws to insure continued develop
ment:
There is approximately 100000
acres of irrigated land in Oregon,
the irrigation systems for which are
of the simplest kind, and cost about
S2,1OO,O0O Over so per cent of this
area is estimated to be reclaimed by
natural overflow of streams, with but
little artificial construction.
During the first nine months of
1907, the state land board, ander the
provisions of the Carey act, entered
into contract for the reclamation of
1S3,S34 acres Of land, at cost to fu-
ture settlers of $4,692, 700. The United
States reclamation service has under
construction in oregon reclamation
works which will cost, when COM
pleted, about $4,OOO,O0O, and irrigate
f65, 900 acres Of land About $4,000
acres will be reclaimed in the near
future by private irrigation works
now under construction, at an esti-
mated cost of $4,000.
Within a few years, therefore, the
irrigated area of the state will be
doubled, the irrigation systems for
which will cost nearly five times as
much per acre as the, early systems.
The more expensive systems still re-
main for the future. AS the amount
Of money to be invested in an irriga-
ton project increases, the more GER
tain and definite must be the title to
land and the necessary water supply
to induce capital to invest II as
surance of clear title to sufficient
water supply cannot be had in ad-
vance, capital will not invest in the
project.
In order to make a success of the
projects now under way, settlers will
have to be found to purchase nearly
100000 acres Of irrigated land. This
means that We must bring into the
state within the next few Years $4,000
settlers, assuming a family Of five up
on each so acres Of irrigated land.
These settlers will doubtless inquire
into the conditions Of land and water
titles. 1t is becoming generally known
that some states and countries have
better water laws than others, and to
facilitate the settlement of irrigated
ands, and to encourage new enter
1rises, Oregon should not hesitate
onger to place upon her statute books
he very best laws governing the use
# water that human wisdom can de-
Use.