Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-12-30
HOW FARMERS FEEL ABOUT IRRIGATION

C0ndtlonS regarding irrigation are the all important
things which at this day being considered by
farmers They quite naturally anxious to secure ir
cation the coming season. The Courier has tried to give
its readers from time to time the real situation in regard
to this subject and has urged action in giving the water
users water this season. but has been slow work to bring
about unity OF purpose among the parties interested in
furnishing water 1t very clear to everybody that the
different irrigation companies must unite we can not
succeed in the development of this section of the Rogue
River valley The situation has been faithfully portrayed
by one OF the prominent farmers and land holders Jo
sphne county He writes as follows to the editor of The
Courier: 9faN
"And this brings up the question of irigating water
for the valley We believe that have been reasonably
patient and charitable as our conditions would per-
init during the slow creeping years of promise
which have yielded such scant results toward the rriga
ton of the large acreage of this district We who had
hoped to have been hauling hundreds of tons of oat vech
wheat and alfalfa hay to your market and bringing back
to our little homes the many needed comforts of life in
stead OF the forty dollar load Of alfalfa to town has been
only too often three four dollar load of stovewood
and returning with bale of hay costing nearly half with
which to feed the famished team leaving mere pittance
for family necessities This is not pleasing picture
but dear editor you need only to look on your streets any
day to find ample proof that it is true picture of cond
tons as they exs and have existed from year year
since we were given strong of water the next
succeeding year.
w nav 10 llc plOSpeCI ana promise OF permanent
water for the future? 1t seems to be the aabsorbng
desire of those with whom have talked that we should
acquire permanent system of irrigation that would serve
every acre of table land at the earliest possible moment
'And have done with subterfuges and failures MANY
of us who have purchased lands under confident expecta
ton of being served with water are getting exceedingly
sore over the situation.
Most of us have payments coming due with interest
and taxes all OF which feeling of no small con-
Germ for the future.
And we are prompted to ask what is to be the solu
ton of this matter? Wherein the cause of this long de
layY
"Where is the fund to come from with which to con
struct the great system of irrigation bitches?
"ls there truth in the report that the big pump will be
discovered and recovered by January II If So are there
any steps being taken to utilize it for iuigation If So
what any steps to be taken to construct the system
Of bitches for the distribution Of waters
at would seem that the present is an opportne time
to arrange all these matters that shall be able
make rapid advanceA The town is full of strangers look
ing for homes and most if not ALL of them are Waiting
the final settlement of this question of permanent water
This without complication of any sort.
If there are any conflicting interests seeking to dom
mate the irrigation of the valley, possibly territory might
be divided to enable the enterprise to go forward
This continuous delay has depressed values up ato the
hundreds of thousands of dollars
1T may also be possible that purchase may be made
OF rival interests, better unfyng Of all interests in
to one large power and irrigation system.