Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-02-25
ANNUAL MEETING Of
IRRIGATION COMPANY
Official Report of Proceedings-Board of Direc,
tors Is Reelected Without a Dissenting
Voice--Resume Work at Once.

less to wait longer for outside capt.
tai to bring relief. An organization
was perfected for the purpose of EN-
rloying a competent engineer, who
was instructed to investigate the pos
sibilities of irrigation in this immedi-
ate vicinity and report at the earliest
possible date.
Erred N. Cummings, of Medford,
was employed to do this preliminary
work and after some weeks Of inves-
tigation he rendered his report upon
five different projects, any Of which
were possible sources Of supply for
water for this district.
after a thorough discussion by
your directors, it was unanimously
decided that the most practical
source of supply was from the Golden
Drift dam. Negotiations for the con-
tract were Immediately begun and
after considerable delay all the Diff
ferent problems were solved and a
contract finally entered into.
"The capital stock Of the original
company was increased from $4,000
to $4,000, subscription books open
ed and active work Of assembling
material and the construction OF
bitches was begun.
During the period from February
to July, 1909, about twelve miles of
ditch were practically completed,
about four and one-half miles of
which were used last year. bringing
water to several hundred acres OF
land. The demonstration OF the
benefits OF water was far beyond our
expectations.
Work was then suspended during
the hot months, as 1t was not econ
omical to construct bitches during
the dry months.
"In October change in engineers
was made, the company securing the
services of Horace Hail. man Of
large experience, coming with the
best OF recommendation from Colo
lrado. Considerable OF our work was
cnecked over and lines run on the
gravity ditch to the lower part OF
the valley.
"The rainy season then came on
and brought with 1t an extraordin-
ary high water, which damaged the
Golden Drift dam, the source OF sup
ply, very materially, taking away the
pump house and the large pump, be-
sides carrying away the head OF the
flume of our gravity ditch. In ad-
dition to this the stockholders OF
the Golden Drift Mining company
became involved in litigation, re-
sulting in receiver being appointed
for that company.
"Since that time there has been q
great deal Of uncertainty as to the
immediate future OF our project
While litigation is going on very
little is being accomplished towards
the damages to the plant. Your Of
flcers have consulted with the re-
ceiver, as well as others who are In.
terested in the Golden Drift Mining
company, and have been assured time
and again that the repairs referred
to will be complete and they will be
ready to furnish us water at the be-
ginning OF the irrigation season, &C
cordlng to contract.
"The irrigation company has or
hand twelve head OF horses, two roat
: graders and smaller tools, ready foI
, the spring work on the dltches. A
. the recent meeting OF the board o
directors II was decided the bes
policy for the company to pursue
would be TO proceed with the con
struction OF the gravity ditch, be
ginning, however, below the cit,
= limits OF Grants Pass, and thu
: avoid some expensive work whIcl
n would have TO be done on the street
= to pass through the city This lowe
= section OF the ditch would be supple,
{ with water from the 200-foot leve
e that ditch being extended to inter
i sect Gilbert creek, which would cor
4 vey the water 10 the lower leve
= where dam would be constructed I
:. divert the water into said gravlt
o ditch.
IS "As an alternative, in the ever
J. that repairs should not be made o
y the Golden Drift dam In time