The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1911-04-22
IRRIGATION OF HARNEY BASIN
ADJUDICATION or ALL WATER RIGHTS
NECESSARY TO THIS END.
Speedy aud Equitable Manner Of Bringing This
About Suggesied'..Lel Al Interested
Cooperate In This Matter.
tContrlbuted.)

HArneY DaSln ana must De met.
We are no longer a stock country
in the sense Of the free and open
range. Never in the experience
of the "Old Timer" has there
been a less number of head Of
stock to turn out than there was
this spring. Certainly there
never has been less hay and feed
in the country since the old
French trapper Antoine Sylvaille
dug up the Silvies river in 1926.
This change has not been
brought about by the New Co
mer." All the acres this class
has fenced and cleared would not
make a difference of one per
cent. in the number of stock
which our ranges can accommo-
date. Excessive dry seasons and
overstocking has depleted the
range.
In its natural condition this is
not an ideal, safe agricultural
country. We are in the SEMI
arid section. Our moisture is
precipitated in the months of
November to April, inclusive.
There is, therefore. an element
of uncertainty to be met each
season.
We are all land owners or land
holders. Those who have taken
this land for speculation, natu-
rally, desire to secure an advance
in value to enable them to sell
at a profit. Those who have Sc
cured the land with the intention
of becoming bona fide settlers and
farmers must be assured produc-
ton sufficient to pay a reason
able interest on the investment
and to remunerate them for the
labor of tilling the soil.
> Large yields have been pro-
duced here during certain sea-
sons in the past. How and why?
In those successful years the
weather conditions held the
spring waters back later than
usual. These sub-irrigated the
lands first reached as this late
water entered the valley at an
season. Slight rains
occurred in May and June. The
result = immense crops.
What is the solution of our
problem? You have all recog-
nized and answered this question |
and will readily admit that il is
the development and conserva-
ton of our natural water re-
sources. Hold back the flood |
waters; distribute it four inches
in depth over this land in June
and July and the crop is assured.
Prof. Shaw, travelling through |
this country as a dry farming ex-
pert, naturally studied the condi-
lions favoring that method. He
saw the possibilities of irrigation
also. but placed the development
If the irrigation projects second
Try to that of so called dry
From a careful study
If the situation, we believe the
'everse to be the true position.
irrigation. properly installed, is
he surest and safest method en-
,loyed to produce crops. Dry
arming on the arid lands in this
locality is at present
N experiment and more or less
Uncertain. Develop the water
esources and cultivate the val
eys first. This will build up o
ommunity of pleasant homes
nd prosperous farmers, who, in
he course Of a few years, will '
e able TO undertake the cultiva- {
ion of the higher table lands and |;
,illing to produce a crop on one ;
alf the titled land while the /
ther half is being summer fall
'wed TO store up and conserve \
s moisture for the succeeding !
eason.
We are all, more or less, fa- c
liliar with the history of irriga- il
on in this country. Difficulties 7
ave been constantly met and :
The cost of watering y
le land has invariably exceeded a
Ie first estimate made. But S
lere never has been an irriga- 1
On system, properly installed a a,
I'd operated, where every man, ii
oman and child living under 81
e project has not been materi- Il
Iy benefited. W
Let us profit by the experience -
other localities and cut out all Il
edless waste and useless de- al
rs and costs. The Silvies pro- IL
1t will not stand these. "
M ..uAs1.k ..... 4 bl