Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-12-31

One thousand, one nuHuTeu anu tVh
applications have been filed with the
state engineer for permits to appro-
pirate public waters since the water
code went into effect-about II
months ago, according TO the third
biennial report OF State Engineer
John Lewis which was submitted to
the governor today. The report COW
ers period extending from Decem-
ber 1, 1908, TO November 30. 1910.
The estimated cost OF the proposed
works fer which the appropriation Of
public waters Is asked IN the applica-
fions Is placed by the engineer at
over sb0,000,000, and as the engineer
IN his report pertinently remarks, 1T
appears to indicate confidence OF
capital in the new laws governing the
appropriation OF water" The cost OF
these works Is In striking contrast
with the development made along
these lines under the old water laws,
when the total amount OF irrigation
works built prior to 1902 was $1,000
000. and six million will probably
cover all investments made from that
period up TO the enactment OF the new
water code.
M Many Canals Built
II is proposed under these applica-
tions TO use water for almost every
conceivable purpose, ranging from
irrigation, power and domestic, to
cranberry growing, trout hatchery
purposes, and for the generation Of
steam.
Six hundred and two OF the appiica-
tidns have been put In proper form
and permits issued: the applicants
paying s17,l60.97 TO the state for
these privileges. The payment by the
average water user In securing a per-
NIT Is approximately s15 while the
fees paid by few large irrigation and
power projects brings the average
payment for each permit up TO S2S.66.
These permits authorize the con-
struction Of 1879 miles OF main canals
for the Irrigation OF 336,762 acres OF
arid land and the development OF 72.-
b9S horsn power, also the construc-
tion OF 64 reservoirs for the storage
OF 6s0,270 acre feet OF water, sub !
merging when full. 30.1S0 acres of
iand, all at an estimated cost OF $f5,-
714.21b.50.
OF these eo2 permits, 4e7 are for
original or new diversions and au-
thorize the construction OF S77 miles
OF main canal for the irrigation of
z54.bl6 acres Of land, and the deveI-
opment OF S0.CS horsepower. at an
estimated cost as summarized from
the permits OF $S,74S.69525.
For the enlargement OF existing
works. n permits have been issued. |
summary OF these show the ulti- |
mate construction OF 251.4 miles OF
main canal for the irrigation OF S2.- |
z4n.bl acres and the development of
te,v4f horsepower. at an estimated
cost OF $l,2b9. $4,000.
Under the 81 reservoir permits Is
sued sufficient water will be stored /
10 irrigate 100000 acres of land AZ |
a cost OF s5.706.175.25 or about $3.50 |
per acre foot stored.
Out OF the lilo applications filed
up to December 1, 1910, total of |
$50 have lapsed or been cancelled. the |
water reverting TO the public and be- |
ing subject again TO appropriation |
Fifty-six OF these call for the deval- |
opmont OF water power. Because
these lapsed and cancelled applica-
tions are all more or less incomplete. |
II N dimcult TO summarize the infor- |
nation.
sixty-six petitions have been filed |
with, the board OF control for the adj |
Judication OF all water rights on as :
many different streams OF the state;
40 OF these are In the eastern division, |
and ~ In the western water division. |
The state engineer has made the
necessary surveys required by law as
the basis for water right adjudica- |
tions on 20 OF these streams. the larg- |
est OF these streams heing the Uma-
tilla River. Crooked River and Rogue |
River, including alltributaries.
Recommendations
The state engineer recommends |
that the appropriation be increased |
for survey purposes so that these can
be made ae fast as the board of con-
troll can make adjudicatlons OF water
rights and says that Unless such an
appropriation is made that the efil-
cheney of the board will be lcssened.
In view OF the fact he says, that the
fees paid By the Office to the state
treasurer for the hrst III months OF
1910 amounted 70 sS,i2s.14 more than
the appropriation for the mainten-
nance of tho office for the year there
should be no objection 70 such an APP
preparation.
No satisfactory arrangement is
made In the ONCE for making blue
prints and he recommends that this
be made, and also that the wooden
shelves In the vault be replaced by
steel fixtures. so as TO avoid the loss
OF valuable records. He says rooms
can be made for blue print quarters
BY excagating under the basement,
and that aufiicient room could also be
..n...o1 (n fhta NnV 40 that a store