The Elbert County tribune., 1908-10-01

The klamath basin In California
and Oregon, even to citizens OF those
states. until recently was terra fncog
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 centers
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 focks and herds fattened 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
of the country
True, here and there were hamlets,
struggling and scattered communities,
and family traced in blue In broad
landscape of dusty sagebrush were
few tiny lines of irrigation bitches
that encircled small stretches of vivid
/
of emerald resting in 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 in the subjugation of ma
| ture.
The federal engineers, backed by "A
J 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.
4 From the inception of actual work
of construction the Klamath basin be-
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 1t. The millions which the
government has been expending in stu
pendous canals and tunnels have
brought in an army of laborers and
! thousands of horses, the feeding of
which has furnished a market for all
the products of ths farms such as was
rever before known. The hamlets
have become towns, the towns are
growing into cities which are assum-
ing metropolitan airs. Electric roads
are projected aEd 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 reced-
ing Of the sea of brown.
The Klamath project stands unique
among the &c 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 $4,000 acres are in
cluded in this system. Tome of the
topographic features arG singularly
Interesting and are easily understood
from a study of the map. Elevated so
feet above the main valley is Upper
| 10 n lot of xxybi &c,
Link river, which flows through Lake
Ewauna at klamath falls into Klamath
river. Upper klamath lake is the
principal source of supply to the lower
part of the project. BY means of a
deep cut and tunnel the waters of this
lake are drawn into large canal and
carried southwark into the valley.
Lost river, which rises in Clear lake,
winds its tortuous way for 60 miles,
finally emptying into Tule lake, of
which 1t is the Gnly source of supply.
Tule lake is Only six miles from the
source OF Last river. 1t is proposed
to create a reservoir in Clear lake by
means of n dam and to utilize the
stored water. as well as the entire flow
of Lost river to irrigate several very
fertile and attractive valleys in its
course. Tule lake, robbed of its sup.
ply. will dry up. The lake will be ir-
rigated from the main canals sup.
piled from Upper Klamath lake. Low
er klamath lake will be partially
drained by canals and by means OF
pumps electrically driven by power de.
veloped In klamath river. Its ex.
posed bed will also be irrigated from
the main system
Owing to the remoteness of the
basin from transportation and the
scarcity of laborers. the. work of con