The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1910-04-15
THE MAKING OF AN EDEN
That Is What Is Being Done
by the East Oroville
Orchard Company.

The people of this place have stlik-
ing illustration as to what intelligent
management and properly applied la
Dor will accomplish in the transforma-
tion of barren tract of ground by a
visit to the scene of improvements
carried on by the East Oroville Or
chard company, only a short distance
from the center of town. The same
energy and effort applied along the
Okanogan river would change the APP
pearance of the valley to such de-
gree as to make it the most attractive
and productive garden spot in the state,
if the application of water followed
the preliminary preparation of the soil.
OF course the East Oroville Orchard
company is fortunate in possessing one
of the most favorably situated tracts
for reclamation, and in large body.
to be found in the valley. 1t stretches
along the east shore of Osoyoos lake
and the Okanogan river, with gentle
slope to the west. The extent and To-
cation of the ground is Il great advan-
tage in making a showing. yet there
are other extensive flats within easy
reach of town that could be improved
along the same general lines, giving
value to at present almost valueless
land, and making the country more at
tractive to the stranger. The com
pany is preparing to water about 1000
acres, and it is a matter of regret that
the acreage is not larger, yet this is
sufficient for starter, and may en-
courage, as it should, other ventures
of like kind.
Up to this spring this large stretch
of territory, practically adjoining town,
has contributed nothing in the way OF
production to the output of the county.
TO the eye it has been almost wholly
an untitled waste, covered with sage
brush and scant growth of coarse
vegetation. No effort has ever been
made to cultivate and crop the land,
and considering the comparatively
small cost of obtaining water and pre-
pairing the land for orchard culture it
appears strange that the big flat has
been permitted to remain in it's natural
state until this late date. The failure
to cultivate was largely on account OF
the aridity of the soil, for without wa
ter nothing can be successfully grown,
especially on that part of the land back
from the immediate lake and river
front, with water it is as productive as
any soil in the west. Heretofore the
ownership has been vested in several
parties, and it was not until the pres
ent company was able to consolidate
the interests that sufficient acreage
in one body could be secured to war
rant the installation of a water system.
1t was not to discuss the why and
wherefore relative to the character of
the land IN it's virgin condition, or as
a comparison with similar tracts that
might likewise might be reclaimed,
that the enterprise was made the sub
iect of this item, but to call attention
to the wonderful change that COM
paratively few days has wrought. A
force men have been engaged cleaning
off sage brush, considerable land has
been broken out, and even alta distance
the fat has taken on clean and won.
derfully improved appearance, giving
one some idea as to how the tract will
look when the improvements under
way are completed. And that is only
raw and sterile piece of scenery tC
the winsome Eden it will be when the
land is covered with bloSsoming anC
bearing orchards few years hence
Cut up into five acre tracts the flat
will provide homes for 200 families
- Say half that number of families built
. and occupy residences on this land
, what vast improvement it will b'
over the present condition on the eas
: side of the river, and what an immens,
4 advantage it will be to Oroville. Thes'
!, orchard tracts will provide homes fo
800 or 600 people, the land produce
r crops worth thousands of dollars, ant
g this additional population aid in th
e upbuilding of the town. Probably n
e project could be set on foot that woult
r contribute more largely to the futur
n prosperity of Oroville than the recla
4 nation of this land by the East Orc
, vile Orchard company.