East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-09-25
NEW IMPETUS To
MALHEUR PROJECT
NEW LIFE is INSTILLED
IN RECLAMATION WORK
C. T.. S. Wood of Portland, VIII Co.
operate With Settlers TO Secure
Water Filings-PrOject to Cover
Nearly 100000 Acres-Two Additi-
onal Projects are Under Way.

4 new impetus has been given to the
reclamation movement in Malheur
county, according to George Nc
Knight, the Vale sheepman who left
for home last evening, after attend
ing the meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the state woolgrowers as
sociation. C. E. S. Wood of Portland,
Representing one of the big wagon
road grant companies is the man re-
sponsible for the injection of new life
into the proposition and Mr.. Nc
Knight believes the plan contemplate
proposed.
According to the woolgrower Wood
arrived at Vale last Tuesday, immedi-
ately placed surveyors in. the field
and is planning to secure the water
filings on the Malheur for all the
flood waters. Two reservoir sites are
under consideration, and both will
probably be used for storage purpos-
es The two road companies are to
back the project with their lands,
and it is proposed to borrow money
to further it. The people here will
all sign their lands and become CO.
operative with Mr.. Woods and his
company. The situation is getting
such that the road companies must
act as private parties are looking to
the field with a view of securing all
the water rights, and both the road
lands and the peoples land would be
assessed to pay profit for the pro-
jectors.
The Malheur project will cover from
so, 900 to 100000 acres of land. The
irrigation Situation is considered in
good shape, and development in this
desert waste is coming rapidly.
1t would therefore seem that not
withstanding the failure of the gov
ernment to enter the field that the
task of reclaiming the arid and semi
arid land of Malheur county is to be
well cared for. In addition to the
project mentioned above two others
are under way, all being divisions "
the original Malheur project, as
planned, besides the willow Creek
ropject. which is now well under way.
The Willow Greek project at first In
cluded the upper valley around the
new town of Brogan, located 30
miles north of Vale. to which a rail-
road is to be constructed by one year
from this date from Vale. The sur
veys have been accepted, and the
route is on a level grade, extending
through the length of the whole val
ley. The terminal grounds have been
taken up by the Short Line people,
and the depot is to be of stone. Bro
gan has already constructed two res
ervoirs, and a large area of land is
now covered by present ditches This
project is to be extended to cover from
80, 900 to $4,000 acres of land, and will
come within six miles of Vale when
completed.
Charles Herren is projecting large
project on Bully Creek, the reservoir
site being located about 16 miles west
of Vale. This project will cover
about $4,000 acres of the bench lands
lying west and north of this town,
and will connect with the Willow
Creek project, the two covering all
the lands lying north of Vale, ex-
cepting a narrow strip which may be
left to the Malheur project, taken
from the Malheur river. Herren has
been in New York, and has made
arrangements, he says for the neces-
sary money.