The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-07-18
BONDS SIGNED PROVIDING MEANS
FOR A COMPLETE SURVEY
OF THE PROJECT
ENGINEER CREW IN THE FIELD
After Long Waiting Steps Taken That
VIII Lead to the Construction
Of the System

AT last negotiations with the Great
Northern railroad officials in regard
to complete and thorough survey of
the territory embaced in the East and
West Okanogan Valley Irrigation dis
tricts have reached the point where
actual operations are to begin, which
everybody feels will result in the final
realization of those great reclamation
projects that insure such extensive
beneficial advantages both to that
part of the valley included within the
influence of the proposed ditch sys-
tens and the town OF OrOville. There
has been much delay in reaching the
present point in the proceedings, a
delay made necessary by the slow ex-
change of correspondence, and for
which no blame can be attached to
anyone. and that the object of a COM
plete survey and estimate of cost has
been at last reached is a matter for
general cOngratulatiOn.
Last week the bonds of $4,000, is
sued by the districts to meet the cost
of the engineering work were received
by the directors of the two districts
for the proper signatures. Those sig
natures were attached by Friday, and
the bonds deposited in escrow in the
Old National bank of Spokane. The
cost of survey is not expected to
amount to anything like the amount
OF bonds issued, but the sum was fixed
upon in order to be prepared to meet
all contingencies that might arise.
The railroad officials did not delay
securing an engineer and sending him
to OrOville to look over the field and
make arrangements for entering upon
the work until after the signing and
filing of the bonds, taking it for grant
ed that there would be no hesitency
in carrying out that perfunctory duty.
Friday Alex. Stewart. who has charge
of the western division of the engi-
neering department of the Great
Northern system, with headquarters
at Seattle, arrived in Oroville accom-
panied by A. e. Wieland, of Wenat-
chee, civil engineer of ripe exper-
ience who has been selected by the
railroad representatives to take charge
of the survey. While here Messrs
Stewart and Wieland were taken over
the projects by j. +. Samson, in order
to give them an idea of the character
and extent of the lands that are to
be reclaimed. Mr.. Stewart had no
hesitency in expressing himself upon
the favorable impression he had form
ed of the enterprise after going over
the ground. Mr. Wieland stated that
the projects and country itself were
beyond his expectation in the promise
watered and its adaptability for fruit
nrto Mr
land went out by the south branch
Saturday, the former returning to his
office at Seattle, and the latter to his
home at Wenatchee to complete his
arrangements for going into the field
at the earliest date in order to make
the survey and submit his reports
as soon as possible.
Mr.. Wicland will secure his force
of assistants in Oroville and will be
aided in the field work by c. E. Zed-
iker, of Loomis, and J. w. Gilmore,
of this place, both engineers. He ex-
poets to hasten the survey with as
much expidition as is practical con-
siderig the nature of the work to be
done. The start on the survey COM
menced Wednesday morning. When
Mr. Zediker organized and started
out with a full crew Upon the
data so furnished is largely depend
ent the future Of the projects. If 1t
proves to be a feasible undertaking
that can be carried out at reasonable
cost-and reasOnableness will be
based upon the amount of tillable land
under the bitches and it's general char
acter as to possible production-there
is hardly any room for doubt that the
bonds for final construction can be
placed. No one familiar with the
valley anticipates any other than a
favorable finding, and the starting
in of this survey is looked upon as a
final solution of the question of IT.
rigating the large tracts that the pro-
jects were inaugurated to cover. The
present status of the situation is re-
assuring and encouraging to those
having property within the zone to be
reclaimed and also to those who looF
forward to a rapid filling up anG
growth of town and country as soOr
as the work of ditch construction COM
mences in earnest
--aOo-------