The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-10-30

The Klamath basin I'm California
and Oregon. even To citizens of those
states, until recently was terra incog-
nito. Historically connected with the
Modoc warfare and massacre. this
strangely interesting region of burnt
out fires" has remained almost an un-
discovered country until few years
ago.
Remote from railroads and ccnters
Of population, surrounded by noun
tains clad in primeval forests Of pine
and fir. the beautiful valleys OF this
broad basin remained almost un-
touched by plow. The stockman.
whose Gocks and herds fattcned on
the rich grasses which covered the
slopes and grew rank along the shores
of the numerous lakes and marshes.
was an Indifferent farmer and did but
little TO develop the natural resources
ofsthc country.
True, here and there were hamets,
struggling and scattered communities,
and family traced in blue in broad
landscape OF dusty Gagebrush were a
few tiny lines Of irrigation bitches
that encircled small stretches Of vivid
green-the alfalfa fields-littlc islands
of emerald resting in a sea of brown
that threatened to submerge them.
Such was my impression when first
looked over the Klamath plateau, the
work of man seemed to have been so
ineffective i'm the subjugation of ma
ture.
The federal engineers, backed by a
generous government. came to this vir-
gin field few years ago. attracted by
the almost limitless possibilities which
| this region possesses and which were
so apparent. Their report was so favor
able that plans for "A most unusual
and unique irrigation work were ap.
proved May II. 1905, and work begun
in the spring Of 1906.
From the inception OF actual work
OF construction the Klamath basin he.
gan TO be talked about. Settlers com.
menced to flock In and the upbuilding
OF the commonwealth has progressed
with a rapidity almost unbelievable
except to those who have actually
witnessed II. The millions which the
government has been expendlng in stu
pendous canals and tunnels have
brought in an army of laborers and
thousands of horses, the feeding of
which has furnished n market for all
the products OF the farms such as was
never before known The hamlets
have become towns, the towns are
growing into cities which are assum-
ing metropolitan airs. Electric roads
are projected and building. steam
railway is about to enter the basin.
power plants are being erected. sugar
beet factories are suggested, and
sugar beet factories are suggested,
and everywhere there is an at.
mosphere OF hustle and hustle that be
tokens an awakening to the potential
greatness Of region which has long
been dormant Best OF ALL the sage
brush is disappearing and the settlers
modest home marks the beginning OF
a new square OF green and the reccd
ing of the sea of brown.
The klamath project stands unique
among the rs irrigation works of the
reclamation service. 1t involves fea
lures of irrigation, drainage and sto'
rage in unusual combination. Desert
and swamp lie close together, one
worthless because of lack of moist
ure, the other OF equal uselessness
because of an excess of water.
In the basin are about 100000 acres
of land, Of which 1877 900 acres are in
cluded i'm this system. Some of the
Topographic features are singularly
interesting and are easily understood
from a study of the map. Elevated 81
feet above the main valley Is Upper
Klamath lake, the outlet of which Is
Link river, which flows through Lake
Ewauna at Klamath falls into klamath
river Upper Klamath lake is tht
principal source of supply to the lower
part of the project BY means OF q
deep cut and tunnel the waters of this
lake are drawn into large canal anC
carried southwark into the valley
Lost river, which rises in Clear lake
winds its tortuous way for 60 miles
finally emptying into Tule lake, o
which IL is the only source or supply
Tule lake is only six miles from the
source OF Lost river. II is proposed
to create a reservoir in Clear lake by
means of a dam and TO utilize th'
stored water as well as the entire flow
OF Lost river to irrigate several yer!
fertile and attractive valleys In III
course. Tule lake. robbed of its sup
ply, will dry up. The lake will be IL
rigated from the main canals sup
piled from Upper Klamath lake. Low
er Klamath lake will be PARTIAL,
drained by canals and by means o
pumps electrically driven by power dc
veloped in Klamath river. Its eN
posed bed will also be irrigated fror
:he main system
Owing to the remoteness of tn
basin from transportation and tn
scarcity OF laboFers, the work OF cor