The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1910-02-04

lht lRKIGAIlUN PRUJtCl
While Helping Yourself Aid
Waking the Okanogan Valley
he Richest Section OF the State.
time past it has been next to i'm
ible to secure combined action on
part of the residents, particularly
business men, of Oroville, upon
proposition of a public nature.
lic meetings, called for the pur-
of advancing any particular OBJ
have turned out farces from the
greness of the attendance, and a
|osition seemed to prevail to pull
her apart than together. 1t was a
orable division of house against
#, and should it continue to prevail
Accomplishment of anything tend
to the collective good would be a
er impossibility. With the men,
of the past before them what rev.
ion was the public meeting held in
|rless hall last Saturday evening to
large crowd that was present
ere was general assembly of all
business men, a spirit of unity pre-
led that promises better things for
future, there was unanimity of
timent expressed that was cheer
to hear, not discordant word
rred the meeting, a oneness of pur-
e that makes for civic advancement
in evidence, such harmony of in
idual opinion as is only observable
ere communities work for one pur-
e and accomplish what they attempt
10 calamitous result should ensue
It the purpose Of that meeting should
yet the mere fact that such a
hering did take place in Oroville
be of the greatest value to its fu-
te welfare, as it shows ahat the
Arts Of the people are in the right
zee, that the minds and purposes of
q and all are concentrated on the
ttcrment of the town, and that this
hing together in fellowship for a
hmon object has done more to ce-
ent the people together and place
em in accord than anything that has
Ter happened.
|I'he meeting was called for the pur-
)se of devising ways and means to ex-
hd aid and assistance to Mr.. w. j..
btton to carry out his plan of convey
3 water by means of a high line
tch upon the lands of the Okanogan
Illey around and to some distance
|uth of Oroville, and through the in
fumentality of that meeting the citi-
|ns will do all in their power to aid
the accomplishment of what is of
le most vital interest to the residents
the town and adjacent country. Mr..
utton is here backed by ample capit-
to carry out his end of the contract.
he enterprise is similar in purpose,
Id to be carried out on the same plans.
J those that have made the lands of
le Wenatchee and Yakima valleys
,e most valuable in the state. The
,nditions here aro parallel to those
xisting in the valleys named. Prior
J the introduction OF water the We
atchee and Yakima lands were as un-
roductive as those in this valley, and
ere hardly worth owning. Under the
imulating influence of water the same
nd today commands from $500 to $4,000
er acre. Mr.. Dutton and his associ-
les seem to be taking all the chances.
hey are putting up their money, and
It's of it, depending entirely upon the
ppreciation of the land to secure re-
lrn on the investment. The propo-
tion is to place a dam in the Simil-
ameen river and by means of bitches,
nmes and laterals convey water to
md on both sides of the Okanogan
ver, covering by estimate some 5000
,res. In return the company asks a
eed to one-half the land watered, with
5 annual maintenance fee of $4 per
ere. This is exactly the same condi-
ons that prevail where other corpor-
lions enter the field to reclaim large
creages.
This demand is not excessive when
he benefits to be derived by those un-
er the ditch are taken into consider
tion, together with the amount of
apital invested. In order to carry out
le plan to the extent necessary to
old out a prospect of an adequate re-
I'm on the original investment it will
equire the expenditure of $5OO,0OO. II
/ return for this outlay the company
,cures deeds to 5000 acres it would be