Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-05-07
VAST Sims OE MONEY SPENT
IN NORTHWEST.
:. nis+ribute Water Over the Land Dur
,rp Dry Season to Insure crOps-1n-
land Empire Rapidly Coming to the
r-,,+ as a Producer-Federal Govern
.on+ Takes Part in Irrigation.

nr0iectS, CONellhS ~
p P.re Of land in the west; possibilities
1or intensive cultivation and the ad-
atooas of community life in locali-
w., where orchards and fields and gar
,sns are watered by artificial means,
and problems of forestry, deep water
novs reclamation of swamp lands, good
aas conservation of resources and
lomp building, will be brought promi-
nontIv to the fore during the seven
+aentb sessions of the National lrriga-
tou Congress in Spokane, August to
~ when between 1000 and 5000 ac-
areated delegates and representative
Il illness men of the United States and
Canada. Europe, the Latin republics,
4 China and Japan will meet under the
nresidency of George Eames Barstow of
Texas.
The board of control, through its ex-
oo,,+ive committee, headed by r. In
SINGER. is arranging a comprehensive
nrooram, including addresses by states
man scientists, bankers and experts
d IN their various lines of endeavor and
discussions by delegates. In addition,
+ there will be demonstrations by officials
Of the United States reclamation service
Of the scientific application of moisture.
/ These will take place in the state ar
morv. where the congress meets.
There will also be parades of progress,
showing the development of the north
west. and a march in review by the in
dustrial and irrigation army Of 10000
men, representing the various districts
4 in which intensified farming is prac
4 ticed. The thoroughfares and buildings
h in the city will be decorated and illum-
4 mated by myriads of electric lights and
4 there will be massed exhibits of the re-
sources of the country, the unfurling
of the colors of the nations, patriotic
airs by massed bands, the singing of
the irrigation ode by large chorus of
trained singers and renditions of ma
tional and state hymns by school chill
d dren.
Though there are now approximately
200 private irrigation projects in what
is called the Inland Empire, embracing
10000 square miles of territory in
eastern Washington, northern Idaho,
western Montana, northeastern Oregon
and southeastern British Columbia, and
scores of private works in other parts
Of the west, the government of the
United States early recognized the posi-
bilities of the land in the northwest,
where its operations cover more than
100000 acres. More than that, the
economic value of irrigation has become
so established there is no longer doubt,
if any existed, but that the west, once
called the Great American Desert, is
bound to become the home of the high
est agricultural civilization of all Amer
lea.
The largest of the government IS
works in the state of Washington is
the Sunnyside project, in the Yakima
valley. 1t covers 10000 acres, and will
cost $1,60O,O0O. The Teton project, in
the same valley, will reclaim $4,000 at
cost of $1,50O,OOO, and the Wapato,
also in the Yakima valley, will eventu-
ally take in 10000 acres at a cost of
$l,5OO,OOO The Okanogan project, in
the county of the same name, will water
5000 acres at cost of $50O,OOO
In addition to these, the government
has authorized the Kittitas and Benton
projects, covering several hundred thou
sand acres in Washington. The Indian
and reclamation service estimate that
SS5 or less will cover the cost for water
night on the reservation. This is about
one'half the cost of watering land un-
uer other canals in the Yakima valley.
mere are also 20 successfully operated
private irrigation projects in this val
Government officials report that
eventually more than $5O,OOO,OOO will
oe expended by the reclamation sirvice
IN the state of Washington in reclaim
ing 100000 acres of land now entirely
OF partly waste. Of this, $4,000 acres
p VIII be in the Ellensburg district, 2OO,-
VOO acres in the Rattlesnake and Coal
creek districts, and 10000 acres in the
valley of the Okanogan.
Inc government projects in southern
laano are the Minedoka, with an area
VI 100000 acres, to be completed at an
VS'lnated cost of 100000, and the
tayette-Boise, 100000 acres, costing
%1pOOO,OOO, while Oregon has the Una
una project, $4,000 acres, costing ST.
lOo'ooO, and the klamath, part of
winch extends into California, 10000
acres, cost $3,6OO,OOO.
Inc projects in Montana are the
1m,u. nun 10000 acres, cost 100000; the
o euilk river, including Saint Mary, 3d.
wv acres, cost 100000, and the Sun
I'ser' $4,000 acres, costing 100000. The
a 1O"eF Yellowstone project, in Montana
auU North Dakota, takes in $4,000
aSreS, and will cost $2,7O0,OOO when
completed.
Two hundred private projects are in
oI poidtion IN the Inland Empire. Num-
elOuS irrigation canals have been con-
~ tsiuGted in Chelan county, which has
Tue no "enatehee, Chelan and Entiat val
aI, ~ Ihere are also important works
g the Columbia river in eastern
FaT son and in the Spokane, Kettle
maI Us BITTER Root and Snake river and