East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-02-07
Pendleton, Ore, Feb. 6, 1911.


To the Editor:
In view OF the report of the State
Engineer submitted to the legislature
today, 1t seems probable that some
Information may be desired by the
officials who will have in charge the
construction, as well as the location,
OF the Eastern oregon Insane Asylum,
as to conditions and available lands
adjacent to or, near the Oliver tract
which the state now owns, and /
want to suggest that the columns of
the local papers be opened to the cit
liens who have been long residents
here, for suggestions. / am sure that
the state board will welcome such,
and IT is probable that the legislature
will make no specific selection. but
will leave that to the judgment OF
the governor, secretary of state and
state treasurer. who must take the re-
sponsibility ultimately.
/ have no interest IN any lands, or
in the sale of any lands, but do have
the interest OF a citizen in such a To-
cation as will be most advantageous
for the unfortunate people who must
be the inmates of the institution
when constructed. / am sure every
good citizen will be chiefly concerned
for them, and in such a location and
such a building as will be at once at
tractive to those unfortunates and a
credit to the state. So believing /
have endorsed and do now endorse
the selection of the Oliver lands for
asylum farming purposes, and be-
lieve that their purchase by Acting
Governor Bowerman was wise, but l
am equally confident that few men
looking solely to the comfort Of the
insane, and the possibilities for max
ing their surroundings attractive,
would endorse the selection of the
building site upon the Carpenter
tract. The bedrock is too near the
while the Immediate view therefrom
is uninviting.
Wheeler Site Not Approved.
1t seems to me therefore that the
particular is to be commended. With
his recommendation of the Wheeler
. tract am not entirely in accord, and
the chief value of the Roberts lands
for Asylum purposes would be to Sc
cure the control of the riparian rights
on the river for water power. Doubt
less, however. II will be economical in
the long run to make that purchase,
as the state will need a power plant
for lighting and general purposes re-
qulring the development of electricity
Since 1t is proposed to erect build
ing of sufficient magnitude to ulti-
mately accommodate a thousand pa
tients, and 1t is well to lay the foun-
of the buildings 1t Is my belief that
the climatic conditions soil texture,
and ease in developing the parking
system needed to make the grounds
beautiful, as well as shelter from
winds, require that the property at
the mouth OF Mckay creek, adjoin-
Ing the oliver tract on the south
west, should be acquired, and the
structure erected there. Then an ar
tistic concrete bridge could be built
spanning the river connecting the asy-
lum grounds with the farming lands,
and a landscape gardner would soon
transform the property into one Of
the most lovely parks Of the west.
Both the railroads entering Pendle-
ton could run spurs upon an easy
grade to the blldings for freight pur-
poses down the south side Of the riv-
or from this city. around the bluff
to the west Of the ball grounds, and
II necessary the city could blast away
the rock and make a delightful drive
along the river to Mckay creek
thence, with a macadamized road up
the creek to the county poor farm.
and back to Pendleton, drive Of
about five miles would be assured for
our people, and a convenience to the
institution secured forever.
II possible the old Tanning spring
should be purchased by the state for
the institutions needs. Engineers in
the past have estimated Its flow to be
sufficient for several thousands of
people. understand that the state
has options upon all this property,
and why It has not received greater