Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-05-19
LET THERE BE NO MORE DELAY

IWenty-0ne years ago tnele was an aJCenpI ludue III
this part of the Rogue River valley to bring about rga
ton but there delays caused by first thing and
then another and the result was nothing done Sew
era years later there was another attempt but each time
the history Of Babel repeated and the enterprise given
up Those who realized the folly of trying to raise crops
without water sold out their holdings for what they could
get and left the country Another class who either could
not sell out or didn't realize how much they losing
by trying to farm unrrgated land remained and they
adopted dry farming and wood cutting and selling for
living.
During the summer of 1903 the subject Of irrigation
was taken up afresh and by the hardest kind of work
large number Of substantial men formed an irrigation
company and commenced, during the month OF February
1909 the construction of irrigation dtches Some $4,000
in cash raised and in four months high line ditch
the north side of the river built far Grants
Pass and July water put in this ditch and down
Sixth street nearly quite to Rogue river That
gala day for this city, success had been achieved and real
estate, which had been the rise in price all spring.
doubled at single bound. Fruitdae ditch built that
season. but late in the fall part of the dam, which sup
piled the water for irrigation went out This ser
GUS blow and the people lost heart for the company
ing the dam had litigation on hand and it found diff
cult to raise the amount Of money necessary to make the
repairs Finally, Judge Calkns of the circuit court made
an order authorizing Receiver Wharton to issue cert
Gates for the amount of money sufficient to complete the
work of repair George Sanders the agent of the min
orty stockholders placed in charge of the construc
ton work under the direction of the receiver The repair
work has been going for months and is claimed
that it will be completed by June and that the water will
be turned into the bitches at that time, if wanted
The Courier has for months been urging the uniting
OF all parties in interest with the hope of securing irr
cation for the many thousands of of choice land III
this part of Josephine county The paper has tried to be
loyal to the best interests of the people and has reason to
believe that the time has come to drop all sefshness and
personalities and unitedly irrigation and we are
satisfied that this be done to at least limited extent
this season The people are tired of waiting They are
tolyo
this year but more years to carry out Let us get water
now The Rogue river is passing by our very doors with
fertility enough in it, if applied to our lands to build
half dozen irrigation and power dams on this stream IN
as many years If organize irrigation district il
Will give us the financial ability to get the water from AZ
least two points on the river We need power site and
pumping station and also another dam to supply water
for gravity system We need electricity 70 nrovido
drants Pass and the farming country along our bitches
with lights and power for machinery We are being rob-
bed every day by our contract for electricity and power
ana 1t is time that we make ourselves independent of
grasping monopolies
representative of The Courier was honored a dav
or two ago in an interview with President Gkey of the
Josephine Irrigation and Power company and the matter
discussed was the subject treated in this article He earn
esy favored the formation of the irrigation district and
gave as hs opinion that the petition to the county court
would be presented next week and ne felt satisfied that
when was offered to the voters of the proposed district
would carry by a substantial majority He was wilino
10 get water from the Golden Drift at once if it could be
secured and he believed that there was some wav o bn
about The company will have meeting ON Monday and
tins matter will be discussed with view of meenG tho
wants OF our farmers The Courier believes tbat IF wa
can secure irrigation and power which are going to waste
now IN Rogue river it will be by long odds our oreoto
asset outside of gold and copper products Voicnr o
demands OF Grants Pass and the people ON both si8a T
he Rogue river we urge action ON the part of os
Wo represent the men who put their money into local
earned dollars which they have put into his onar,,t.
m0I0rV 9' these men will find mo fault I'm h,vnr or.