The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-05-14

Here is the water in the nature of an
immense lake, and two streams large
enough to he digniHed by the name of
rivers. The plain solution of the prot
lem of making the land profitable is to
put water on it, and if this done the
broad acres that are now barren will
in few years be yielding rich har-
vests and building fortunes for the own-
ers. 1t is simple proposition that has
been successfully worked out all over
the state. This section seems to be
the last to realize the Importance of
this combination of water and soil as "A
creator of wealth.
The big red apple, the product of ir-
rigation, is king. Wheat held that
distinction for years in eastern Wash
lngton, but has abdicated to the new
and lusty rival. No wheat yield, no
matter how heavy, could pry the acre
acre value to the 800 mark. Men
have become rich on the great plateaus
OF the state raising wheat, but to get
rich required the cultivation of hun
dreds of acres, at much cost and labor.
Under irrigation men have gotten rich
on 20, 10, 10, or even acres of land
Read the above extract. Off of llS
trees, not two acres, one man expects
to realize So, 400 What is the use of
braving the hardships of Klondyke
for the elusive gold when man can
make such money surrounded with the
luxury of u home and all the conven-
fences of civilization. Where is the
l60 or 320 acres of land in any grain
grown at no more expense than the
fruit grower is at, that will yield like
amount? 1t is like tale from the
Arabian Nights. With five acre under
irrigation IA man is independent and
enjoys a competency with ten acres
he has fortune. The evidence of this
statement is present wherever irriga-
ton has been introduced. At Wen
atchee, in the Yakima valley, or any
where that land has been reclaimed,
and bearing orchard exists, this state
ment can be verified. The same re-
suits can be attained around Oroville,
and will be some day. There is more
land along the Okanogan, Similka-
meen and Osoyoos lake in this vicinity
that can be placed under water than is
tributary to any other one place in the
state. Where orchard growing has
been tried around here indifferently
and carelessly, the proof is irreiragable
that the best fruits can be produced
unfailingly and abundantly. Let the
lands of this neighborhood be once re-
claimed, and become producing, and
the fruit will be found equal to that
grown anywhere on earth. Efforts
should be made, and inducements held
out, to secure men of capital to come
and take hold of irrigation projects.
Land owners should hold out some Of
fer that would justify the expenditure
of mony along that line. Now is the
time to act. BY the time orchards are
in bearing Orovile will have an out
let east and west on one OF the greatest
railroad systems in America, placing it
in touch with the great bulk of con-
sumers, insuring a market for the har-
vest. Then, with the land cut up into
small tracts, providing homes for a
large population enjoying the never
failing income flowing in from the red
ripe fruit Oroville would be the centre
of vast and rich garden, and largely
through that influence rapidly grow
up to be city of goodly size and i'm
portance. 1t is hoped sincerely that
initial steps looking to the reclama-
tion of the lands in this vicinity will be
taken this season, and grand results
will speedily follow.