East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-07-19

who are not associated with the rec
lamation service, in the belief that
they can do probably more effective
work as advocates in presenting the
merits of the proect and securing the
desired contracts"
The west extension of the Umatilla
project was recommended by a board
of engineers last March and was
shortly afterwards approved by the
secretary of the interior. The approx
al by the secretary was made condi-
tional upon 95 per cent of the irri-
gable lands being obligated to pay the
charges: also upon satisfactory ar
rangements being made for the pur-
chase of rights of way fer reservoir
sites and other purposes.
Surveys and Appraisals Made.
This involved a great deal of detail
work. The preparation and approval
Of the necessary legal steps, including
the form of agreement to be signed
by the landowners, occupied four
months of the time of the proper Of
ficials.
1.-The lands that must be purchased
by the government in connection with
the project" explained Mr.. Hopson
"have all been surveyed and apprais-
ed by four different groups of ap-
praisers. Just as soon as the irrigable
lands have been subscribed, the gov
ernment will be in a position immedi-
ately to make offers to the owners for
their lands preliminary to beginning
construction work"
1--WE feel that a great injustice has
been done us" said d. o. Lively, rep
resenting the owners of a consider
able tract of the land that will be
used for. reservoir purposes if the
project is installed For two years
our land has virtually been held up
from cultivation and improvement,
From the fact that at least two years
are required to produce a crop, we
have been prevented from going ahead
with the development of our hold
ings pending a decision on the part
OF the government as to whether it
will construct the west extension of
the Umatila project We feel that 1t
would only be just to us for the gov
ernment TO expediate the installation
of this project or to abandon it alto
gether and give us chance to under
take the development of our lane on
our own account"
Grievances Are Aired.
"The owners of these lands have
some grievance" admitted Mr.. Hop
son, from the fact that they have
been forced into a condition of mac
tivity because of the impending pur-
chase by the government. But the
position of the government is simply
this. It must first ascertain IL the
owners of land within the project
really desire the project. That can
only be determined when they sub
scribe to the agreements that are now
being distributed among them. I'm
less the required 95 per cent cf the
land is subscribed for the purposes
stipulated in the contracts, the pro-
ject will not be carried out. and as a
result the government would not
have need for the lands that have been
tentatively decided upon for reservoir
sites and other purposes of the ex-
tension. We have been proceeding
with all possible haste, and are just
as anxious as the land owners them
selves to conclude the preliminary de-
tails and inaugurate actual construc-
ton work"
The proposed extension embraces
10000 acres in western Umatilla and
Morrow counties. When construction
work begins, the first unit of work
will consist OF taking over the ditch
es and water rights of the Irrigon
project embracing $4,000 acres, of
which only about 600 are under wa
ter. The necessary additional water
for reclaiming this tract will be Sc
cured by building dam across the
Umatilla river above the mouth of
Butter creek.