The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-05-16
QUINCY VALLEY PROJECT
TO WATER 100000 ACRES
No Better Land on Earth-Ail it Takes
to Make it Productive Every Year
Is Water

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informed as to what has been done in
the way Of development aud in the
matter OF expenditure of money on
the Quincy project, it is deemed adj
visable at this time to give an historical
statement of the progress of the work
since the beginning. A great deal
has been said and discussed regard
ing this project in very general way,
but many Of the people even Of this
county are without the knowledge of
exactly what has been done, and have
an indefinite idea of how much must
still be done to realize the goal so long
striven for in the Quincy valley.
Prof. Landes, State Geologist of
Washington, has been familiar with
the vicinity known as Quincy flats for
the past twelve years and has during
all that time seen the possibilities for
great irrigation project. He was
conversant with the conditions which
developed into what was known as the
Big Bend project, and with the rea-
sons for abandoning that project. This
was scheme to irrigate part Of Grant
county by bringing the water of the
Columbia river down through the
Grand Coulee.
Numerous others have speculated
as to the methods Of creating vast
and productive empire Of wealth in
this valley by means Of great irriga-
ton project. The first organized ef-
fort was made about six years ago
when a number OF ranchers headed by
John R. O'Meara and A. ]. Tenant,
incorporated under the name OF the
Quincy Valley Water Users Associa-
ton, and proceeded to make a be-
ginning upon real irrigation project
based upon a source OF water supply
and definite theory as to the system
of distribution. The country was new,
times were hard and money was al
most absent. But by various means
the Association has up to the present
time raised about $40, 100000 from the
people owning land, residents and
others interested in this district.
With this money the officers Of the
association first induced the United
States Government to make topo-
graphical survey of the entire district
included in the project and its source
of water supply. This cost upwards
of 100000 The government fur
Their installed water cages in the vici-
nifty Of Wenatchee Lake and Wenat-
chez River and is maintaining them at
this time jointly with the association.
The members OF the association we're
continually hard up for money but
were able in one way or another to
place before the 1911 legislature Of
Washington, bill appropriating $15,-
10000 for the purposes OF the associa-
ton, and secured its passage. This
money was spent mostly in locating
the probable route of the main canal,
and surveying the Wenatchee Lake
Reservoir site. The latter was brought
to fair state of completion and forms
the only part of the necessary surveys
completed to date.
The estimates and investigations of
the amount of water capable of being
delivered upon the Quincy valley lands
were also obtained, and the United
States Government cooperating with
our state geologist made complete soil
surveys.
The State of Washington has caused
to be printed state bulletin No. IA,
which can be had by writing to the
state printer at Olympia, inclosing 20
cents, which gives full information
based on scientific investigation, of the
work done to date on this project and
the conclusions reasonably to be de-
rived therefrom as to the possibility of
carrying out this great enterprise.
The United States Government,
further recognizing the opportunity for
great and important improvement,
withdrew from the entry under the
land laws OF the United States, all the
territory embraced in the Lake We
natchee Water shed, to secure not only
the water of Lake Wenatchee, but also
the water sources of this lake, to the
uses OF the Quincy Valley Project.
The recent withdrawal of the waters
Of Lake Wenatchee and vicinity from
appropriation and the bill referring
the matter of issuing the bonds for
the construction Of the project, to
the people, complete the story Of ef-
forts which while the results far
exceed those of similar efforts on other
projects, were made with little or no
money to pay expenses, and with
doubters and knockers on every hand.
However, it is not to be expected that
any great project will be accomplished
without opposition.