East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-02-10
Asylum Site investigating
Bodies Give Out Detailed
Statements.
OLIVER TRACT FAVORED
BY FIVE LEGISLATORS
Wheeler Farm Meets With Approval
OF Physicians Appointed by West
and Kay-Solons Would Locate
Building in Flat and Provide Pro-
lection by Dixie Extension.

1t is found by the legislative
committee that investigated the ste
purchased by Acting Governor
Jay Bowerman for the eastern
Oregon branch asylum that the
bottom land OF the Oliver site, about
20 acres in extent three quarters of a
mile wide, Is satisfactorily located for
the building of the asylum, though the
committee sets forth in the detailed
portion of its report that the location
Is so low that dikes will have to be
built and these are recommended TO
be built by the committee to prevent
overflows IL the tract is put into use,
says a Salem special to the Portland
Journal.
The committee found upon investi-
CATION that this site to be occupied by
500 insane patients has overflowed
In the past and there is still danger
Of overflows unless a dixie already
in use is extended further down the
river for a distance of 800 or 400 feet
AS justification for finding that this
site is suitable for the branch asylum
the committee reports that the city
of Pendleton itself is built on land
which is relatively no higher than this
land Of the oliver tract, and so is the
government Umatilla Indian school
and agency.
The Carpenter tract, also purchased
by Bowerman, has about five acres,
where buildings could be located pro-
viding about $500 cubic yards of earth
we're removed, and it is also made
,l,.
make the lowlands of the oliver tract
desirable it will not only have to be
diked to prevent overflows, but much
OF it will have to be filled.
Other Tracts Suitable.
Across the river are the Clopton-
Gritman tract, the Daniels tract and
the Wheeler tract, not purchased by
Bowerman, but on which the state
holds options These tracts could be
reached and are held suitable for
building by the committee providing
a railroad bridge and wagon bridge
Is constructed by which to cross the
Umatila river, but this expense Is
regarded by the committee as such as
to weigh in favor of using the low
land OF the oliver tract
1t may be said that when these
tracts were purchased II was never
intended by Acting Governor Bower
man that the low lands would be the
location for the asvlum buildings.
It was expected that the ravincs
and hills would be leveled off for that
purpose while the low lands, which
have a rich, deep soil, should be used
for farming. The committee in Its
conclusions does not recommend the
purchase of any more land for farm
ing or for any other purpose at pres
ent and believes the state has enough
land, except they recommend addi-
tional 60 acres just above the oliver
tract.
Bowerman Says Plenty Land.
Senator Bowerman now says, how
ever, the oliver low lands are suffi-
ciently large for the asylum build
ings. Arrangements have been made
or promises drawn from the city of
Pendleton for a water supply and the
extension of sewers to the site on the
oliver tract.
The committee included Represen-
tatives Bryant OF Multnomah, Mann Of
Umatilla and Bonebrake of Benton,
Senators Chase Of Coos and Bean Of
Linn and Lane.
The conclusions OF the committee
are as follows:
"Your committee finds from the
foregoing facts that the building site
suggested on the Carpenter tract is
not sufficient in area for the future
needs Of an institution such as was
and Is contemplated by the board.
This tract as before stated, contained
approximately five acres of land on
which buildings might be placed and