East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-11-18

AT banquet given at Hermiston
last evening. and at which Congress-
man w. r. Ellis was the chief guest
or honor the movement for the ex-
tension of the Umatilla project TO
lands lying west of the Umatilla was
started under very favorable auspic-
es. Another rouslng meeting is plan
ned to be held in this city Saturday
evening, November 81, at which time
Congressman Hawley will also be
present and to which practically all
the people of the Columbia basin will
be invited. 1t Is the aim of those in
terested In the move to induce the
reclamation service to use sub
stantial portion of Oregon's reclama-
ton money for further work west
of the present project.
Congressman Ellis and a small par
ty from this city passed the day yes
terday in visiting the lands lying un-
der the proposed extension, In view
ing the reservoir site at the mouth
of Butter creek and in discussing the
proposition. The trip over the pro-
1ect was undertaken Immediately af-
ter the arrival of the train from th.s
city and two hacks were used 10
drive a party or nine over the ground.
West Umatilla Project.
The land proposed for reclamation
under the extension or under what is
familiarly called the West Umatilla
project. lies to the westward from
Hermiston and embraces from 50-
900 to 100000 acres now entirely arid
and unsettled and for the most. part
still IN the hands of the government.
Under the plan which seems most
feasible for the reclamation of this
tract and which apparently has been
given most consideration by the gov
,ernment, the Umatilla is to be dam
med at a point just below the mouth
of Butter creek The contour OF the
land in that vicinity is such as to
furnish a natural reservoir site and
only comparatively short dam
would be needed to stem the waters
of the river and also Of Butter creek,
1t is estimated that the reservoir site
would require in the neighborhood OF
5000 acres of land. much of which
is of considerable value at this time.
1t is pointed out, however, that the
value of this laid would be but slight
compared with the great benefits to
the land that could be reclaimed un-
der such a project. Water would be
taken out at an elevation of $50 feet
and 80 would be available for water
ing all lands to the westward lying
below that elevation.
Would Flood the Meadow.
Should the river be damned at the
mouth of Butter creek the stored
water would reach up the river to
within a couple of miles of Stan
field. while Butter creek would also
be inundated for some distance.
Among the Butter creek ranches that
would be destroyed are those of Pc
ter Sheridan and ]. T. Hinkle.
Fruitgrowers' Meeting.
Beginning at I o'clock last eve
ming meeting of the project fruit
growers association was held in the
hall at Hermiston. f p. Dodd. sec
retary OF the association, presided
and introduced superintendent Allen
of the experiment station as the first
sneaker. Mr.. Allen gave a very in
teresting illustrated lecture upon the
subject of tree planting. Following
the same he answered many ques-
tions asked of him.
Congressman Ellis was then intro
duced and spoke for half hour up
on irrigation and especially irrga-
ton under the Umatilla project, and
upon other topics of interest In his
speech he complimented the Hermis-
tonians highly upon the progress
made within the past year Con-
gressman Ellis had been over the
project last when Secretary Garfield
and party inspected the project.
The Banquet.
Following the frutgrowers' meet
ing the growers, Hermiston business
men and guests, repaired to the din
ing room of the oregon Hotel, whore
n splendid course banquet was serv-
ed.
For the speaking following the sup
per ]. w. Campbell served as toast
master and called upon several pres
ent u. p. Dodd gave an interesting
talk in which he went much into de-
tail regarding the proposed extern
sion He had been given access to
the records of the reclamation serv-
ice and read extracts from reports
dealing with the subject under dis
cussion. He also gave figures show
ing the amount of money Oregon IL