East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-07-15
OWNERS DELAY
WEST EXTENSION
UMATILLA PROJECT

Washington, d, c., July 15.-From
the frequent and urgent inquiries
made by those interested in the de-
velopment of the West Umatilla Ex-
tension project, 1t is evident that they
have little understanding of the real
difficulties in the way of carrying It
out. Here is a sample dispatch which
was received here a few days ago:
'Hermiston, Ore, Senator George
E. Chamberlain, and the Oregon Del
egation, Washington, ID. c. We are
sending night letter to secretary of
the interior urging immediate action
on West Extension Umatilla project
Nothing has been done yet on the
work and delay may be dangerous.
We urge you to see him. Read our
letter and try to start active construc-
tion at once. Hermiston Commercial
club"
1t would be inferred by a stranger
that Senator Chamberlain had been
remiss in his duties, and that he had
not paid any attention to the work OF
getting the West Umatilla project
started. AS matter of fact, he has
been very active and perhaps no other
single task has engaged so much of
his attention or time as this one.
But in order to understand how the
officials who have immediate charge
of the reclamation work look on the
troubles besetting the initiation of a
project, read a letter from F.. II. New
ell, director of the reclamation SER
vice to Senator Chamberlain. 1t was
dated June 10, and is as follows:
Sir: Your letter of June II has
been received, as to when active
work on the west extension of the
Umatilla project will begin.
This extension has been approved
and the engineering plans developed
to point where construction can be-
gin as soon as the legal questions are
settled. We have found that in our
operations the engineering work can
be far more expeditiously performed
| than the legal, and that it is neces-
sary to clear up the legal complica-
tions in advance of construction, es-
pecially those which relate to the pro-
lection of the water supply and of the
investment itself.
THE difficulty we are experiencing
in getting the land owners under the
eastern part of the project to dispose
of their lapds in accordance with he
terms of previous agreements has
forced us to proceed with greater
caution in securing similar agreements
for the west extension.
While we are all eager, as is Mr..
Teal. to see the dirt flying yet we
cannot ignore the lesson taught by
experience on this project and again
start construction until we have bet
ter assurance than in the past that
when the construction is finished, the
land owners will do their part in put
ting their lands into the hands of the
men who will actually utilize the wa
ter and raise crops.
"As l understand the matter, dur
ing 1911 water was available on the
portion of the project now construct
ed for over 1900 acres, of which only
1915 acres were irrigated, and 9275
acres actually produced crops. A
large part of the land is still with
held from use by owners who have
not complied with the intent of the
agreement made with them, and who
have put up the prices on the land so
high that apparently no one can af-
ford to purchase at these prices. The
result has been speculation rather
than development of the country.
Il join with you in the hope for
an early beginning of work on the
west extension of Umatilla project
and trust that you will do everything
within your power to induce the peo-
pie interested to take prompt action
in, first, securing final determination
Of titles to water, and second, exc
cution of the obligations binding up
on the owners of the lands to be bene-
fitted such as will result in the utili-
zation of these lands when the works
are built.
'F. II. NEWELL,
Director"