The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-10-10
A CHEERING REPORT
Estimates of Cost of Construc-
ton Of the Big Irrigation
Project In the Valley
IS LESS THAN WAS EXPECTED
This lnsures the Reclamation oi
a Vast Acreage Of Rich Land
Surrounding Oroville

The people of the Okanogan valley
from the British Columbia line to
Tonasket are more interested Just
now in the fate of the proposed irriga-
tion projects, that are to water a vast
acreage on both sides of the Okano-
gan river between the points mention
ed than any one other enterprise in
contemplation in this chunty, or any
where else in the country for that
matter. The construction of the pro-
posed double irrigation system, as
there are two districts. the east and
west irrigation districts, is of vital
Importance to this part of the valley
in general and to Oroville in parti-
cular, as the speedy development of
the land and its larger occupancy de-
oends upon reclamation. and the soon
er it is reclaimed the sooned will the
the increased population follow. The
public has been anxiously awaiting
a report from the engineers who have
recently made the survey, and who
have been for sore time, and still
are. busily engaged upon a full and
comprehensive report to be submitted
to the railroad authorities, under
whose instigation the survey was un-
lertaken. Few have doubted that the
report would be otherwise than favor
able, but an element Of uncertainty
would naturally exist until an author
atative report could be submitted BY
the engineer In charp-- At this time
the Gazette takes great pleasure in
announcing that at least a prelimin-
ary report has been made to those
entitled to receive the first authentic
information upon the subject, and 1t
is much more favorable than any one
could have expected. The engineer
ing work was done by men highly
competent in that branch Of science,
and consequently their work can be
depended on. They were not in
fuenced by personal interest in pre-
naring their reports, nor biased by
any future prospect of advantage by
the consummation of the project
They were put on the job because Of
their known reliability and responsib-
ility. They entered upon it as a cold
blooded business proposition. If the
acreage was in sight according to
measurement, If the cost of construc-
ton was not prohibitory, their report
would SO show 1t. On the other hand
if the acreage was short, and the =
timated cost beyond all reason, SO 1t
would be set down in their findings
Their work was to be checked up an
verified by other engineers, they
knew it, and they were not on the
work to have their figures materially
revised. 1t is safe to say that the re-
suit of their estimates will be con-
firmed and verified when the final
inspection is made by engineers of
nation wide reputation representing
the railroad, who will go over the
ground as soon as possible after thu
submission of full report.
Tuesday the directors of the East
and West Okanogan Valley Irrigation
districts met in Oroville to transact
rotine business and to receive such
reports from the engineers Office as
might be presented. A. E. Weelund,
the engineer in charge, submitted his
preliminary report covering the esti-
mate of cost for putting in the sys-
tens. There are drawings, estimates
and data to be compiled before a fl
nal report is submitted, but the char
acter of this preliminary report is an
indication of what the final one will
be. 1t almost the same as insures the
construction Of the systems. The
present estimate of cost is over 1C
per cent less than that Of the first
estimate based upon the preliminary
survey. The total sum of the first
estimate was $210,3S3.S0. Not only
in the matter of cost is their report
favorable, but 1t is known that the
number of acres that can be wateret
under the estimate Of the last survey
is only comparatively few acres less
than the number under the origina
estimate. The following is Mr. Wee
lund's report.
Oroville, WASH, Oct. 1, 1918.
To the Honorable Board Of Directors
Okanogan Valley Irrigation Dist
ricts, Oroville, Wash.
Gentlemen:
In agreement with your contrac
with the. Great Northern Railwa.
Company I am giving below a sum
mary of my cost estimate for the mair
canal of your proposed irrigation sys