The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-12-24
A man Who KNOWS HOW
Has Become Interested in IRRIGATED
Lands and Will Apply Science
to Carry Out Reclamation.


iand IN the Okanogan valley during
the past few months is f. ID. Warner.
and among all of those who have thus
secured real estate holdings there is
not one who brings with him the ex-
perience in, and knowledge Of irriya-
ton and fruit culture as this same Mr..
Warner. Others are novices in the
science of reclamation. and have been
attracted to the Okanogan valley by
reading of the success that has attend
ed the efforts of those engaged in ap-
pie growing elsewhere in the state.
and are anxious to try their fortune in
the same industry. Mr.. Warner comes
as professional in the art of making
barren land to fructify with a wealth
OF golden and crimson fruit by the sim
pie application of water. 1t is no ex-
pertinent with him. He knows the
business from A to lizard, and con- es
to put his knowledge and experiende
to practical use, and reap the riches
that are the reward of reclamation 1t
is cheering to see such men come into
the Okanogan valley to carry out their
plans, for it is evident if there was not
an absolute certainty of success in such
venture in the valley such men as
Mr.. Warner would go elsewhere to
apply their effort, their money and
their talent
Mr.. Warner is civil engineer, and
for number of years has been en-
ployed by companies the sole business
of which is to secure large tracts of
arid land, install an irrigation sys-
TEN, plant fruit trees, and dispose of
the land in small tracts at large price
per acre. There is no sentiment in this
proposition. 1t is not individual effort
to better the condition of the individ-
ual. The investment is not made with
the object of advancing the interest of
the particular locality where the in
vestment is made. There is no inten-
tion to go on from year to year watch
ing, and nursing, and training the tree
to rejoice in the fl nal fruitage and en-
ioy the substantial returns from labor
well spent upon a praiseworthy object.
1t is just like any other speculative
venture where the speculator goes to
it with the aim of selling so soon as he
sees chance of gain on the original
outlay. No matter what price those
companies pay for the land so soon as
they can get it in shape to net them
$50 an acre above the purchase cost
and subsequent outlay for improve
ments they sell with avidity, and spy
out more raw land where they can
work the same scheme over again. 1t
makes no difference to them whether
the land they handle ever produces
single box of fruit, or whether the
fruit is worth the picking after 1t is
produced. They are in the game be-
cause there is money in it. and people
will buy irrigated land without invest
igating as to its adaptibility for the
purpose it has been applied. OF course
these companies make good Job OF IL,
and have reclamation down to science,
otherwise their efforts would spell
failure. They are in it for the money
to be made on quick turns, and to ac-
complish their object it is necessary to
employ only the very best and most
modern method of procedure.
It is from this work that Mr.. Warner
comes into this field, but he comes not
to continue the work in which he was
emploved as a subordinate. He comes
to make the desert blossom, and to
reap the benefit himself from the bios
SONS. AS he he figures 1t out thao IL
land can be made worth from S2oo 10
$500 per acre before trees are In pear
iny. and then it jumps to $1,000, or
more. after the crops are ready to har-
vest, the person who does the work OF
is short-sighted In not
L
holding on few years and securing
the benefits of the accretion produced
bv nature. That is what he proposes
tn do. Mr.. Warner, says, ana ne SPEAKS
from knowledge gained by careful ana
extended investigation, that there are
only few localities in the northwest
that will produce frst-class apples no
what may be said to the con-
,rarv. and of those fortunate, anu
choicest, localities is the Okanogan
valley. He travelled far, and made
close study and inquiry before casting
his lot, and that he cast 1t IN Okanog-
IN county is sufficient evidence that ne
is sincere in his expression OF Juog-
ment re egarding the Okanogan valley
os n fruit growing paradise. tie sue
ceeded in purchasing the OLD NJ ~
Griffin ranch, on the west slde OF ehe
O<anoean river, short distance be-
low Tonasket. This piece OF land has