Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-06-13

should be stored for irrigation pur-
poses through the construction of a
60-foot dam at Benham Falls. This
could be released in the summer and
diverted near Cline Falls for the ir-
rigation of 10000 acres on Agency
Plain, for the irrigation of $4,000
acres in the Crooked River bottom
near Prineville, and by diverting
above Bend, irrigating $4,000 acres in
the Benham Falls segregation just
south of Prfneville. Except for an
inverted siphon across Crooked Riv-
er Canyon, there are no great engi-
neering difficulties to be overcome,
and it appears that this is one of
the cheapest projects in the state to
construct
"The entire flow at the head of the
river can be used for the irrigation
of about 10000 acres of land above
the Benham Falls reservoir without
affecting these figures as the seepage
will all be collected in the reservoir
below.
Between Benham Falls, and Cline
Falls, there is 1900 feet fall About
60 per cent of the one million acre
feet of water will be discharged
through the dam for irrigation pur-
poses during July and August, and
will be available for the development
of power which can be transmitted
economically two to four hundred
miles for the pumping of water to
irrigate other lands say along the
Columbia river This water at a 100
foot drop Immediately below the dam
will furnish $500 horsepower, which
at so per cent plant efficiency, will
lift $500 second feet, 100 feet above
the Columbia river, for the irrigation
Of 100000 acres of land. There is
another fall of 100 feet short dis
tance below and above the first di-
version for irrigation, and the
amount of summer power which can
be developed in the 1900 feet fall to
the last diversion at Cline Falls is
almost inconceivable.
"The farmers between Squaw
Creek and the Metolius river have
surveying party in the field locating
a seven mile canal from the head of
Metolius river, and It is expected that
a one-half mile tunnel will pierce the
ridge and permit the irrigation of
10000 to $4,000 acres in this section.
This canal, constructed for irriga-
tion purposes, would make available
about $4,000 horse power which can
be developed during the winter
months only, but which If used in
conjunction with the summer power
on the Deschutes, would make val
liable and cheap perennial power.
For the greatest good to the
greatest number, the Deschutes rlv-
er between Cline Falls and the juno
ton with Crooked river, should be
dried up, except for seepage water.
Below this point the river is of most
value for power and the total possible
diversions for irrigation without con-
sidering return seepage, would not
materially affect its value for this
purpose, but with return seepage may
improve the power value of the lower
river.
Sixteen dam sites have been located
in the narrow rock-walled canyon
from the Columbia river to just below
the junction of the Metolius with the
Deschutes river With 1000 second
feet at the 1900 feet Of fall which can
be developed at these sites, 100000
theoretical horse power can be gener-
ated With the low and high year
flow equallzed at the Benham Falls
erservoir and with a 12O-foot dam in
the Crooked river about 40 miles from
Prineville, this low water flow can be
increased to about 5000 second-feet,
and the power to nearly 100000 horse
power. This is about six times the
present installed steam and hydro
electric machine capacity in the vicin-
ity Of Portland, and about 40 times the
low water power development at Ore
gon City. Besides this, an enormous
quantity Of power can be developed on
the Metolius river, and at other points.
"These possibilities could be greatly
complicated by development at the
wrong time and place, and IL carried
out under our present wasteful sys-
TEN Of competition, the expense to the
public will be greatly increased
through lack of harmony between
plants. After number OF dams have
been constructed for power develop
ment, the most economical develop
ment of additional power would be by
increased flow through storage.
The above information, though pre-
liminary, has been gathered by the
state, and the U, S. Geological Survey,
acting in cooperation. A complete
renort will be availahle early navt