The Lamar register., 1908-11-18
MONTANA MEN INTERESTED IN
WALDO LAKE.
A. R. Black Sells Interest in Irrisa-
ton Reservoir for $4,000

ton Reservoir for $4,000
As forecasted by The Guard last
summer, F. H. Ray and his associ-
ates, of Helena, Mont have purchas-
ed large interest in A. r. Blacks
Waldo Lake reservoir, irrigation and
power enterprise.
Deeds filed for record today show
that for the consideration Of $4,000.
A. r. Black has sold and transferred
to F. H. Ray the undeveloped por-
ton Of his Waldo Lake enterprise.
Mr.. Black reserying an interest
therein to the extent Of SS.5o0 acre
feet ID. developd reservoir capacity
and an annual, free and perpetual
right to the use of 38.5O0 acre feet
OF water from the reservoir. The
deeds have been in escrow in the
bank until the final payment was
made.
As soon as the weather and the
snow in the mountains will permit,
Mr.. Ray and his associates. who are
well posted on irrigation develop
ment and the benefits to be derived
therefrom, will proceed to develop
the balance of the Waldo Lake
reservoir capacity. and store flood
waters for future use, for power pur-
poses and irrigation. Sufficient de-
velopment on those lines will enable
the willamette valley to support
a larger population than Southern
California, and will also encourage
and hasten the building of connecting
railway lines to Eugene.
Mt. Black has trongly advocated
irrigation in the Willamette valley
and diligentely prosecuted the work
OF this enterprise for over three year
under adverse conditions. He has
been ridiculed for advocating irriga-
ton in this valley and for spending
money on what many have seen fit to
term a foolhardy undertaking. He
has also undergone many hardships
in the construction work in. the
mountains. That he presevered un-
der such conditions and brought the
enterprise to the present degree of
success entities him to much credit
for his foresight and energy.
Mr.. Blacks reservation of said 49,
500 acre feet OF water annually is
amply sufficient to irrigate 10000
acres Of land in the Willamette val
ley. There are over two million acres
of arabic land in the willamette
valley which irrigation will greatly
benefit. The commercial advisable
ity of irrigation in this valley is no
longer q question. 1t will be great
and lasting benefit, establish a foun-
dalton upon which new developments
will be made and insure permanent
prosperity. The following para
graph plainly illustrates that flood
water stored in a reservoir suffi-
Gent to annually irrigate 10000
acres Of land in this valley is a very
valuable property:
Water rights for irrigation from
the United States reclamation works
are sold at an average price Of $500
per acre. The Willamette river is a
navigable stream and the United
States government will not permit
the diversion of water for irrig alton
to the detriment of navigation. The
entire low water flow Of the William
cite river Is applied to power pur-
poses, which is beneficial use, and
has become vested right. The
courts respect and uphold vested wa
ter rights based on priority of appli-
cation to beneficial use, hence the
great value Of flood water stored
for future use is self evident. Not
withstanding the above, the entire
Willamette valley can be irrigated
without transgressing upon vested
rights. by storing flood waters, which
now run to waste to the ocean. in
reservoirs in the foothills on both
sides Of the valley, and toward the
head Of the streams. The precipi-
tation in eight months OF each year
is amply sufficient to fill such reser-
voirs. It is commercially advisable
to construct such reservoirs on &C.
count of the great future demand for
irrigation in this valley. The people
will eventually be compelled to do so
in order to support the increase in
population in the Willamette valley
by production from the soil.-Eugene
IOregon,) Guard, Nov. 9Th, 1908.