East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-11
Surveys on West Umati|la
Project to Be Resumed in a
Few Days.
SUPERVISING ENGINEER
RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS
Message Containing orders Comes In
Reply to Wire from Government
Board Engineers I'm Portland-Large
Crew Coming-Redivision OF Recla-
nation Funds to BE Made.

Portland, Ore, Jan. 11.-Surveys
along the banks Of the Umatilla river
at the place known as the West UNA
tilla irrigation project are to be re-
sumed within few days. as the result
OF a telegram received by Supervising
engineer Hopson Monday from Secre-
tary Ballinger. The telegram reads:
Secretary authorizes continuation
Of surveys West Umatilla with view
to construction"
Mr.. Hopson said last night that he
that actual construction work is about
to begin.
1.-THE case will not be settled" he
said, until the secretary has made
a definite apportionment OF funds for
the construction work"
The government board of engineers
met at the office of the reclamation
service in the Beck building, Monday
and carefully went over the West
Umatilla project. A. P. Davis, chief
engineer, was present.
The board wired its recommends
tlons to the Washington office of the
service. While they are confidential
and may not be published, they are
known TO be favorable TO the project,
following in general tenor the recon-
mendations OF the army board of en-
gineers filed in Washington last sum-
mer.
A surveying crew of IL or Is men
will leave for the Umatilla within a
few days to do surveying and general
investigation work The location OF
the dam will be settled and the final
designs for II made.
Surveys viii be commenced on
some Of the irrigable lands" said Mr
Hopson.
1t is planned to build the West
Umatilla dam Just below the junction
OF Butter creek with the Umatilla riv-
er II constructed as contemplated
the reservoir will embrace 10000
acre feet.
Redivislon of Funds.
1t has become apparent to Presi-
dent Taft and Secretary Ballinger that
the apportionment of irrigation funds
tentatively made on December 26, Is
both impractical and inequitable, and
II has practically been decided that a
general reapportionment will have to
be made, says a special to the Ore
gonian from Washington. Especially
will II be necessary to readjust the
allotments of the s25,000,0O0 fund
which represents increment to the
regular reclamation fund for the years
1911 to 1914 inclusive. There may
be few or no changes in the appor-
tionment of the special $20,000,000
fund.
When this reapportionment comes
Oregon will receive favorable con-
sideration, II present plans are car
ried out. and not only will money be
set apart for beginning construction OF
the West Umatilla project, but some
thing more than heretofore allotted
will be made available for completing
the klamath project, How much
Oregon will receive when the reap
portionment is made will depend
largely upon the strength OF the de.
mand put forth in behalf OF these two
projects.
Other States Have Claims.
Oregon is not alone in demanding
reapportionment of this irrigation
fund, Washington and several other
states with real, live senators, are
asking for and demanding more mon-
ey, and their claims are almost as
good as that OF Oregon. Washington
received $4,000 out Of the $25,000,.
900 fund, and California got nothing
from either fund. Both these states
through their senators, will insist up.
on having a fair share of this money
1t may be some little time before
the reapportionment is finally made
but Mr.. Ballinger has discovered tina,
the plan recommended by the army
board will result in all kinds of diff.
culties, IL adhered to, and he expects
with the cooperation Of the reclama.
tion service, to prepare new plan Of
apportionment that will place thu