East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-08-26

A special dispatch to the Portland
Oregonian from Washington indicates
that the government has not yet aban-
doned the proposed extension OF the
Umatilla project This message states
emphatically that the question Of
abandonment will not be decided un-
til after the board of army engineers
has made its report. This board is
now in the west and may appear at
Hermiston within the next few days.
The Oregonian correspondent says:
Reports that the government would
abandon this project in favor Of DR..
Andrew C. Smith. of Portland. have
proved to be premature. It is true
that DIR. Smith has made application
for water rights, and has acquired
maps and surveys of this project
made by engineers OF the United
States reclamation service, but the
government, which has the prior wa
ter right on the west side OF the UNA
tilla river, has relinquished nothing,
and as long as It holds what 1t has
DIR. Smith cannot proceed with his
project.
Army Engineers to Report.
of the interior department that DR..
Smith made his filings, and acquired
records from the reclamation service.
in order that he might have the first
option on the west side extension in
the event the project is TO pe aoan-
doned by the government. Should the
government decide to build however,
DR.. Smiths filings will come to naught
for the government will utilize all
available water in reclaiming the 60,-
900 acres embodied in this contem-
plated project.
Until the army engineers have gone
over the west side project, and stud
led its feasibility and practicability.
nothing will be done by the govern
ment either towards the adoption or
abandonment Of the work II the re-
port of the board is favorable. the
chances are said to be strongly in IA
vor OF the construction of the pro-
ject OF the project by the government.
a part of the $20,000,0o0 being used
to defray the cost.
Only Project Eligible for Fund.
Particularly Is this true in view OF
the fact that the Umatilla extension
is the only project in oregon eligible
to receive any part Of the $50 100000
fund, now that the klamath work has
been minimized. oregon, as is well
known, is way behind in its share OF
benefits under the reclamation act;
Secretary Balllnger has declared the
state is entitled to further recognition;
the engineers Of the reclamation SER
vice have reported that the west side
project at Umatilla Is even more
promising than the lesser unit recent
" completed. and the president is
likely to act upon the recommended
tion Of the secretary.
Therefore, 1t is 10 to 1 that ia
vorable report from the army board
will result in the undertaking Of the
reclamation service late this season
or the first Of next, This project has
been thoroughly studied and surveyed
and there would be no occasion for
delay should the president say the
word.
Project Is Feasible.
On the other hand II the report Of
the army board is adverse, 1t is not al
all likely that the government will
apportion any Of the S20.000.O00 for
the Umatilla extension. but rather
that the Umatilla project will be
abandoned, in which event DR.. Smith.
under the filings he has made, and
with the plans and maps he has ac-
quired, will be at liberty to proceed
with his private project along the