The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1910-11-04
/ BIG IRRIGATION PROJECT
Aiming to Pot Water on a
Large Tract of Arid Land
East OF Loomis.
)1CH WORK NOW UNDER WAY
The Scheme Will Reclaim Some
OF the Choicest Fruit Land
in the Upper Country.
D0CH WORK NOW UNDER WAY

in the Upper Country.
n The air has been rife for weeks re-
ariing a project on foot for convey
inc water to Whitestone Flat, with
j the object of reclaiming that extensive
Il territory under existing conditions des-
itute of Vegetation beyond a scanty
T growth of grass in the spring. but
\ which, under the life-conveying inhu-
\ epce of water, can be made as choice
fruit lands as any in the state Much
inquiry has failed to secure informa-
i lion as to the parties behind the enter
prise. the source of water supply, the
method of handling fluid, or the gen
| enl plans in contemplation. The fact
that any method followed out to sue
cessful issue would cost vast sum of
money is recognized. and the source OF
cash supply has been rs much of mys-
terry as the method of procedure. That
those who are fostering the project
are in earnest is evidenced by the work
that has been done already, and some
one, or several, must be supplying the
sinews to meet present and prospective
expenses. If more was known from an
authoritative source. more could be
said about it. The scheme is one that
should appeal to publicity. for carried
to the point where the delivery of am
ple water is assured it would be one of
the most important reclamation ven
lures, outside of the government un-
taking. that has been set on foot in the
county.
This office is in receipt of brief
note from J. w. Graham, which is at
tached hereto as tinis, which conveys
some information, yet not sufficient TO
base any intelligent comments upon
the lines to be followed. The writer
knows the country to be reclaimed
pretty thoroughly, and is quite well
advised from personal observations as
to the volume of water that can be de-
pended upon. The source OF supply
has not been satisfactorily explained
Or the proposed method of handing
what can be depended upon for use
Then the acreage of actual ownership
il a feature that enters into the Icalcu
lations. However, those who are con
nected with the move have had eXten
siye experience in watering efforts
and they certainly measured up th'
chances to fraction before entering
upon an undertaking of such a magnl
mde. 1t is safe to announce that the.
know what they are doing, and are to'
long headed to enter upon any venture
that did not insure ample returns upol
the investment. Furthermore, Jo
Graham is not Il man to make alliance
that are not on the square, and the sim
pie fact that he has the general loca
management of operations, and endol
ses the proposition, is the stronge'
acgument that could be advanced
favor of the promotion. Mr. Erahaf
writes
sit may be of interest to you to kno'
as a matter of news that the lrrlgatlo
ditch, which is to water the Whit'
stone lands, is now under actual COZ
structicn. Work was commenced la'
week. and about half a mile OF as In
ditch as you ever saw is now nearl
finished A four horse team can wal
abreast in the bottom of the dltci
which will give you some ldea OF Il
size. The people are coming throug
in fine shape, and so far we have ma
no trouble over right-Of-way. ever.
body evincing disposition TO get
and help.
'The men behind this project al
thorough irrigationists Indeed W
nave IL QudIJtbIc VI II = \ S'iO' "
whom think are not to be equalled
the northwest. Marvin Chase, WI
built the Wenatchee high line dltt
and many other projects, including IL
10000 acre Billings project, is the Chi
engineer; W. S. Douglas, for Il yea
in charge of the operating end OF ii
Sunnyside canal, in Yakima; {. \
Zediker, who constructed the Brewst
project; Carl Hartvedt, fine constru
tion man also from Hnkima, are Il
other men behind the guns, while m
self and partner, Justin X. Ill., Il
also interested parties.
I'VE have secured all the wat
rights, and while we cannot do gre