East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-07-06

shington.-"Taking into con-
sideratlon the present price of land
and the time required to obtain re-
suits from permanent crops, the av-
erage settler should not undertake to
establish home in an irrigated coun-
try with less than $4,000" This Is
the advice given by the department
of agriculture in a 64-page circular
on irrigation in the state of Wash
ington. Some men starting with al
most nothing make a success of it,"
continues the author of this docu-
ment. "These, however, are the ex-
ceptions" The average settler, with
little or no money, must suffer many
hardships and in the end is likely to
fail"
The object and scope of this new
pamphlet is explained in the intro
ductory paragraph. In part 1t reads
as follows:
"The progress made in irrigation
development In the state of Washing
ton has been so rapid, the capital in
vested so large and the advertising
by companies and promoters so ex-
tensive during the last five years that
there has developed both at the ex-
pertinent stations and in the depart
ment a large volume of correspond
ence, consisting of inquiries concern
ing such lands. Men who want to
make homes in the west are anxious
TO know Of the conditions that obtain
under the many irrigation enter
prises now being opened up In the
state.
Aid for Strangers.
ITO meet this demand an effort has
been made to assemble in this bulle-
tin the salient features of irrigation
developments in Washington The in
tent has been to compile from reli-
able sources ana from personal OBJ
servation such Information as would
assist an eastern farmer a stranger
to the west, in selecting a location"
The bulletin goes into much detail
as to the climate OF the irrigated sec
tions Of Washington. the water re-
sources. transportation facilities. pow
er possibilities, the products of its
farms and. ranches and also gives a
general summary of the natural re-
sources of the whole state Each of
the various irrigation projects, both
government and private enterprises,
are described somewhat in detail, the
advantages and the peculiarities of
each being set forth briefly. In con-
clusion the document says:
Large Area Yet Open.
AT present there are more than
100000 acres under the ditch in the
state Of Washington. Of which some
thing over 100000 acres are under
cultivation and are using water. This
estimate OF lands now irrigated is
likely to be too low, owing to the very |
many small farms taking water from |
small creeks. springs and wells. Tn |
addition to the above, there are about |
390.0 900 acres, plans for the watering |
of which are pretty we'll worked out !
or upon which work has already been |
done. Federal projects cover $4,000 |
acres OF the latter
Besides this, there are other lands
In the Big Bend country-about 100,-
600 acres near Pasco-that could be
watered from the Palouse river If
suitable economical storage could be
secured There is quite n tract along
the east bank of the Columbia river
upon which water could be pumped,
power being developed at the rapids
below.
A company has been formed to di-
vert the waters Of the Klickitat for the
purpose of irrigating a fine, rich body
OF land lying between the Lower Yak
ina river and the Columbia The air
is full of projects and no doubt fu-
ture development in irrigation will be
very rapid"