The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-02-26
HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND Oregon
DRAIN 5000 ACRES.
CoquiIIe Land Owners Cooperate to
Reclaim Marshes.


Reclaim Marshes.
Couuille-Five thousand acres of
rich Coquille valley land is being re-
claimed by drainage systems through
the cooperative efforts of farmers
owning the land. This work has now
been under way for over IL months.
though the actual work has been going
on for far less period of time. At
the present four reclamation projects
are under way.
The first and Oldest is the Beaver
Slough drainage project. The first
move in this plan for the reclamation
of the bottom land of the Coquille val
ley was begun, by petition, over five
years ago. However, the first petition
was killed by the opposition of cold
footed property owners in the proposed
district. After district was formed
which cut off the greater portion OF
these dissenters and the petition car
ried and the project was launched.
The Beaver Slough drainage district
includes 1740 acres of bottom land,
which will be draiend, and the cost of
the complete project will be about
$4,000. The complete project will in
clude over eight miles of drainage
canals, the main canal being 80 feet
wide and the lateral canals over 25 feet
in width. In connection with the main
canals lateral bitches will be dug
through the land, and these will be
extended through their private holdings
by the individuals 30 far as they see
fit.
At the point where the main canals
flow into the river tide gates will be
installed which will allow the water to
drain from the land freely, but will pre-
vent the tides from overf1owing over
the lowIands, as has formerly been the
case. These lateral canals are about
80 feet in width and extend from the
main canal to the foothills east.
The second of the projects is the Fat
Elk drainage district, which is located
on the south side of the river and
which extends two or three miles above
the city. 1t will entail the dredging
for about miles of canals and several
miles of lateral bitches. This project
embraces 2,273 acres of bottom land
and will make of the section of the
river directly across from this city q
veritable paradise in the way of dairy
land. About four miles of canals are
complete and it is thought that without
further delay the work will not occupy
more than two months longer. The
main canal follows the channel of what
is supposed to have been the old river
and will be fitted with the usual tide
gates. Including the last assessment
this project has cost $28. .423, and the
end is not yet.
The third, the Harlocker project, II
practically private plan of increasing
the value and productiveness Of q pro
gressive farmers land. It was started
by l.. Harlocker, Of this city, for thu
purpose Of draining his farm abou
five miles below town. He was joine'
by several neighbors. who have agrees
to stand portion of the expense.
This project embraces 651 acres o
land and has cost So, 900. The cost o
digging lateral bitches from the mai
canal through the land will perhaps ag
gregate 81, 900 more, the entire system
cost about SO, 900. There will be abou
one mile of lateral bitches when tn
project is complete.