East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-23
Location Of Eastern Oregon
Hospital for Insane in Hands
Of Acting Governor,
BOWERMAN ARRIVES IN
PENDLETON THIS MORNING
Party Taken by Auto TO Inspect Vari-
Gus Local Sites-Oliver-C Carpenter
Place Below Town and Byers Tract
Above City Apparently FavOrites-
Both on River and Main Line Of
Railroad-Prof. Scudder Makes
Scientific Investigation.

Acting Governor Jay Bowerman
and Senator c. w. Nottingham, con-
stituting the board which is examin-
ing sites in eastern Oregon offered for
the branch asylum, have now COM
pleted their task and the decision
alone is to be made. With about
twenty representative citizens Of
Umatilla county they were taken to
the various sites about Pendleton in
automobiles and the advantages
pointed out to them.
While neither Governor Bowerman
or Senator Nottingham were willing
to express themselves regarding the
merits of the different sites shown
them this morning, from the care
with which they examined the Oliver
tract west of Pendleton and the Byers
place just east of the city it is believ-
ed that these two sites made the
greatest impression on them
The two men arrived in Pendleton
at o'clock this morning and at $50
they were ready to start on their tour
of inspection. Five automobiles were
ip waiting and the first run was made
down the river about a mile and a
! half to the Oliver-Turner site.
This tract consists of 324 acres, 100
acres of which is hill land and the
remainder bottom land. The hill land
is practically all good wheat land,
while the bottom acreage is especial
ly adapted for alfalra raising, truck
gardening and orchard purposes. A
water right goes with the property,
which is amply sufficient for irriga-
tion purposes and there is almost a
3O-foot fall of the river through the
land which could develop enough
power for the operation Of a plant OF
considerable size. Another advan-
tage of the Oliver-Turner tract which
was pointed out was its proximity to
the railroad. the main line of the o.
r. & \. separating the hill and bottom
land. If the amount of bottom land
on the site offered should prove in
sufficient for the asylum purposes,
there are several tracts adjoining
which are available and could be had.
While the party was stopped at the
Oliver house, r. L. oliver brought
out a box of his famous prize-win-
ming apples and the examiners were
given first hand evidence Of the capa-
bilities of the land.
From this site, run was made back
through the city TO the Byers tract just
east of the incorporated limits, part
of which is now rented by the Chi
nese truck gardeners. Like the first
site visited, this tract is cut in two by
the main line of the o. R. & N, which
divides the hill land from the bot
tom land. The hill portion, which is
the larger. is excellent wheat land.
while the vegetable users of the city
know the merits of the bottom acre
age. Major Swartzlander has an
nounced that tract of bottom land
adjoining the Byers lana which is on
the reservation can be had If wanted.
One of the principal points in favor Of
this site and one that greatly i'm
pressed the engineers when tn
made their examination, is the lGe.l
building site just south of the rail-
road track. This point was not lost
on Bowerman, who expressed himself
on its adaptability.
From the Byers tract the party was
taken up the Wild Horse to examine
the Fee site which lies along the Spo-
Continued on Page Ten.)