East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-05-11
IRRIGATION TO REDEEM WILLAMETTE

| rant the operation of beet sugar fac
tories in the valley Modern irriga-
tion will make the Willamette valley
tthe greatest deciduous fEuit, dairy
farm and stock feeding section in the
entire northwest.
II you will view this matter impair
TALLY you should be able to convince
yourself that the agricultural and
horticultural production of this VAL
ley, at this late day, Is only in its In
fancy until modern irrigation Is ap-
pied, that diversified farming will then
become, realty that ten, twenty and
forty acres intensely cultivated farms
will then become the rule instead of
the present 160 800 and 640-acre
poorly cultivated farms, that 1t will
more than quadruple the rural pop
ulatlon in the districts irrigated, and
more than double the population and
volume Of business in towns In such
districts; but very few men realize
the great possibilities Of production
from the soil in this valley.
Water can be made available to ir-
rigate the entire Willamette valley
without transgressing on vested
rights. That the land in the VILLAIN
ette valley was not put under irriga-
ton twenty-five years ago, has been
and is great detriment to western
Oregon.
Diversified farming under irrlga
oil Jnt.
pigs, poultry and stock feeding COM
bined will largely increase their own,
ers' bank account, make him inde-
pendent of the summer drouth, enrich
his land each year and enable the
farmers to produce more from forty
acres than they now can from a hun
dred acres without irrigation, quad
ruple the dairy industry, establish
many new creameries and canning
plants and build and support thou
sands of desirable new homes In the
valley.
This article is not intended to cast
any reflection on the present produc-
tion from the soil in the Willamette
valley; nevertheless the fact cannot
be denied that the burning sun in the
last half Of June and In July and Au-
gust, without the necessary moisture,
causes decreased yields. Remedy this
defect with irrigation and you will
create new production from natures
storehouse of undeveloped resources.
Modern irrigation In the VILLAIN
cite valley Is feasible and practicable,
also commercially advisable. It will
Insure a bountiful agricultural and
horticultural yield as long as crops
grow and water runs, When this
valley is irrigated 1t will support
larger population that Southern Cali
fornia, The business men and the
press of the cities and towns in the
valley can well afford to give the i'm
portant subject of developing the lat
ent agricultural and horticultural re-
sources their hearty support
The present generation, without
any further delay, should apply the
water to the dry land, utilize the
summer sunshine and heat to create
new agricultural and horticultural pro-
duction, make the conditions more in
yiting for rural homeseekers from
other states, establish the most de-
sirable little empire within itself on
this continent, secure and hold our
equitable share. of the population OF
the coming coast empire, and place
the people of the Willamette valley
in the light In which they, should
strive to stand, viz. as active and en-
terprising as the people of any section
of any state or nation.