East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-20
WEST UMATILLA PROJECT
ONE OF BEST
CONTINUED from page three.)

CONTINUED from page three.)
of the reservoir is $4,000 acre-feet
and it will be necessary, therefore,
that 100000 acre-feet be supplied
direct from the river 1t Is estimated
by the reclamation service from n.y.
drographs that the prolongation of
the flood period into the irrigation
season will be sufficient to supply
this quantity.
"The total acreage under this pro-
ject is $4,000. During the season Of
1910, the area for which water was
available was 1873. This leaves
9454 acres still TO be furnished with
water under the present proposed ex-
tensions. or the total acreage there
were only APO acres of public land
subject to entry under the reclamation
act. The Northern Pacific railroad
owned 1880 acres, and other land
under private ownership, or not SUBJ
ject to the reclamation act, amount
ed to 1858 acres. Lands owned by
the railroad are now sold to settlers
under contract to apply for water un-
der the terms of the reclamation act
embraced in the proposed continuation
of the project which would therefore
not receive water if present plans
were interrupted.
Annual Rainfall Nine Inches.
"The average rainfall on the pro-
ject is about nine inches annually,
which is too little for crops without
irrigation The land in this project
consists of sandy loan throughout,
and is, in a large proportion, volcanic
ash. The top surface is underlaid
with gravel which assists materially
in drainage, so that but little atten-
tion has been paid to waste water in
| the upper portions. In the vicinity of
/ Hermston there are considerable ar
cas- now swamped which will require
/ a more or less extensive drainage sys-
tenn before the project can be utilized
! to its fullest extent. This will not be
diflicult and provision therefore has
| been included in the estimates. The
| high winds often make necessary the
replanting of grain crops waan they
are not protected by windbrakes, The
| farm units have been restricted to ten
acres in the close vicinity of Hermis-
| ton. to 80 acres in the more remote
areas, and to 40 acres near the outer
! limits of the project.
although the irrigated land in the
vicinity of Hermiston is still new, it
! "a now being planted with orchards,
both peach ana apple, and alfalfa IS
also being seeded. Some vegetables
are being grown and berry bushes
have been set out. The hopes of the
settlers are that this area will equal
some of the Wenatchee and Yakima
lands in fruit products, such as APP
pies, peaches and grapes, and already
Hand has been sold for 5000 per acre
exclusive of construction charges
Should this hope of productiveness be
realized. it seems plain that a high
construction cost can be supported
without hardship. The charge alread!
fixed by the reclamation service foI
to 1S,200 acres. The cost of opera
ton and maintenance, as fixed by tn,
reclamation service. is $3.50 per acre
Sum Spent Is S1,2tt,S27.
"The amount exended on this pro
iect up to June so, 1910, has been 81,
211,S27.71, which includes mainten
ance and operation charges amount
ing to $61,624.91. The project
about 20 per cent completed, TIL
cost of completion is estimated b
the reclamation service at $4,000 i
addition to present allotments, wit
which it is expected to irrigate ne'
areas lying between the present com
pleted portions of the system and tn
Columbia river, and, also. a new stri
of land between the feeder canal an
the permanent lateral Of the distr