The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-08-06
DOWN TO THE SOLID SOIL
A Project Having for its Oh
iect the Reclamation of a
Large Tract Of Land.
COVERING WH|TEsTONE FLAT
Irrigation is the Solution of the
Problem of Building up
Okanogan County.

NJ. D. Winder, of Spokane, was an
outgoing passenger homeward bound
last Friday morning. For long time
Mr.. Winder, who is an experienced
and practical miner, has had charge
of the O. s. mine, as superintendent of
operations. and is still connected with
that property in the same capacity.
But he is now taking stock in things
not devoting his entire attention to the
@. s. at least not just at present. As
side line he is going into the irrigat-
ed land business on large scale, and
going into it in earnest. At the time
of the Whitestone fiat school land sale
Mr.. Winder, on behalf of himself and
associates, bid in large quantity of
Of that land. The purchase was not
made for the purpose of letting the
in value through the means of improve
ments that might be made by others
in the course of years. He had thor
Oughly looked over the ground, care
fully weighed the chances, had esti
mates of cost and surveys made long
before he figured as bidder, and for
mulated plans for conveying water on
the land in case he was successful in
securing the lands he was after. He
has not been quietly resting since the
purchase was made, but has been out
ON the ground several times for the
purpose of perfecting or impoving on
his original ideas, and securing water
rights. While not in a position to
positively just what lines he will fol-
low in carrying out the proposition he
has in contemplation, the general plan
under consideration is one that has for
its aim the storage of the surplus food
water of Sinlahekin creek in the
spring, and pipe line, or bitches and
Whitestone fiat at the season of the
year when moisture is most sorely
needed He has located Blue lake,
which is situated where Sinlahekin
creek breaks through the mountains
into the valley and the pond south OF
Blue lake, as a reservoir site. In the
40 of a
hekin creek will be diverted to that
reservoir, and later in the season will
be returned TO the creek, the water FOR
lrrigating purposes to be drawn from
the stream at the nearest practical
point within reach of the land upon
which it is to be used. At least that
by Mr.. Winder. TO reach Whitestone
Hat would require ditch, hume or pipe
line about five or six miles in length,
possibly somewhat longer, yet that IS
short distance in comparison with
other projects of like kind where water
Is carried for miles from the source OF
put to use. Mr.. Winder is in earnest
III this movement. He has the capital
behind him to meet the cost, and he
mas the energy and staying qualities 10
carry out his well matured design to Il
successful conclusion.
Whitestone Hat today is broad eX-
DanSp ot snV.p.l bouSup1 acres. bar
ren, unoccupied and uncultirated. AS
1t has been held under school lana
selection for number of years 1t mas
been exempt from settlement, when
accounts for its non-occupancy. Much
OF 1t would raise grain, and possibly
lrult, without irrigation, yet 1t woulu
be classed under the head of seml-arld
land and really requires water 10 ID
sure the best results. 1t Will not re-
qolre AS much water as the ard lanus
that have been and are now being re-
Claimed in large tracts, and Will gro"
Just as choice tru is, and yielding just
as prollticalty, as the best touted Or
chard lands IN eastern Washington
This claim is demonstrated by snal
orchard ON the Hat owned by DaVlu
smith. He has but "a meagre supply
OF water, yet the trees are IN thflls
condition, and every year are loaoeo
down with excellent fruit. IL Mr
Wlnder's efforts succeed great Trans
formation will take Mace on the big
nat in the next few years, for the place