The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1908-06-25

level channel where it would pass
throug h low grounds. In either OF
the latter two plans the Small's
creek will require to be diverted
into the Calispel river and thus
drain out.
The second project would en-
brace all the land lying in the
valley north of Tacoma creek, a
much smaller area, with no infall
streams to be diverted. and is
purely a diking proposition not
complicated by other problems. 1t
should, therefore, in the interests
of equity and economy be treated
as a separate project.
But the plans now afoot do not
provide for the diking of the first
described area as whole. One,
that may be termed the Tacoma
district, provides for diking an
area of about $500 acres, of which
about 5000 acres would be directly
benefited, lies between Tacoma
creek on the north, the hills on the
west. SmalPs creek on the south
and the big river, the source of the
flood, on the east. This district
offers no serious problems, having
only one small stream with inflow,
and it's waters would all be used
for irrigation purposes on the land
reclaimed.
Another project proposes to dixie
the area lying in triangle between
Calispel river Small's creek and
the hills, about 900 acres in extent,
involving the construction of pro-
portionately too much dixie per
acre of land reclaimed, but in
volving no other work than earth
bank erection.
AS will be seen these projects
now on foot would leave out very
much the largest of the several
areas described, and, as may be
expected, since much lateral dixie
would be required, would raise the
cost per acre above what has been
estimated for the cost of diking the
larger area and draining its inflow
water.
After this hasty survey of the
situation as it stands I may be per-
mitted to suggest objections to pro-
jects now in motion.
First it is proposed to dam the
Calispel river, navigable stream,
involving technical difficulty if
nothing more, and suggesting it's
own objection.
Second it is proposed to pump
out the inflow water from the Cali
spell river. Winchester and Small's
creeks, estimated at 100 to $50
cubic feet flow per second, and to
construct steam power pumping
plant sufficient to elevate that
quantity of water an average OF
sixteen feet. requiring plant, say
200 horse power, to be kept in
operation two months a year, and
maintained against interest and
depreciation. This objection is
perhaps the most serious to be
urged and engineers will need no
other objection to pronounce
against the plan.
| Third, these separate projects
involve too much expense per acre
as compared with possible benefits
if all the area between Tacoma
creek and the south boundary was
taken into one general scheme.
Naturally if am to be permitted
to criticise proposed plans l should
be able to propose something better,
The plan here submitted has at
least the value Of comprehensive
ness, for it will comprise all the
area before described as having
some $4,000 acres within its natural
! bounds.
/ Briefly. this plan is to dredge a
new channel from the mouth of
Calispel lake, at lake elevation, in
section II, township 32-43, to an
outlet in section 5, township 32-44,
a length of some % miles, much
OF which is slough, with very light
digging.
Dixie the north bank of this chan
mel where necessary to the eleva-
ton Of the natural dixie on Pend
Oreille river front. Dam the present
Calispel river bed near proposed
new channel in section II. Dr.
vert Small's creek from point in
section n, township 33-43 to a
point on Calispel lake, length
OF 3 miles, using it's water for ir-
rigation along the diverted chan
mel. Dam the Calispel river near
Its mouth, putting in a food gate
to permit the escape of water from
early local spring freshets. Raise