The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1913-08-22
|UMAT|LLA D|TCHES
| I'd Be EXTENDED
SECRETARY LANE BRINGS JOY
TO PROJECT SETTLERS.
Reservoir for $4,000 Acres
on Ground That Cannot Be
Titled, on Extension.

A Pendleton special says: Secretary
Of the Interior Lane closed q busy day
by addressing representative gather
ing of Eastern Oregon men in the
Pendleton Commercial Club Tuesday
night. The address followed an auto
mobile ride over the Umatilla reser-
walton and an early banquet at the
st. George Hotel.
Never before has snch universal
qualification attended the visit of AN
Interior department head in this vi
| cinity.
Mr.. Lanes positive assurance that
the order for the putting through of
tie West extension shall stand. caused
rejoicing throughout Umatilla and
Morrow counties, and the Pendleton
gathering developed into a general Gel
etratien.
1t was further indicated by Mr..
lLane that he will do ell in his power
to push through the entire West ex-
tension OF 50, 900 acres just as soon
as the Initial unitanf 10000 acres is
completed.
The plan is to enlarge the present
irrigation project of 5000 acres to
10000 acres. which will be irrigated
from a diversion dam to be built Just
below Hermiston. When this land
is watersd the other 40, 200 acres will
be irrigated by means OF great
storage reservoir to be tuilt on the
Umatilla river two miles shove Her.
minton.
This is radical change from the
original plan. which took in valuabl
land. The proposed site will cover
only salt grass and alkali lands,
which otherwise would be virtually
useless.
The Secretary made three specific
statements Of prime Importance to the
settlers.
First, that $500, 900, which he had
set aside. would be spent as fast as
needed on the first unit Of the extern
sion.
Second, that he would "take care
OF the settlers on deferred paym ments"
and would give them as long time as
the limit Of reclamation act would
permit.
Third, that be would send experts
to investigate the question Of water
and would see that each settler got
sufficient water.
MIR. Lane made his promise as to
the extension contingent upon the
agreement Of the large landholders to
divide and sell their holdings in small
units. Mr.. Lane indicated strongly
that he does not propose to permit big
landed proprietors to receive the ben
eft Of the governments project de-
velopment. and that he proposes to
favor the small homesteader as against
the speculator.
Mr.. Lane said he would ask congress
to provide for an issue of $50, ,000. 1000
OF irrigation tonds to be used for
completion Of the projects now under
way because there is work ahead for
$75. 900, 600 aud there is only $780,
100000 available from the sale of
government lands and repayment on
projects already built.
Oregon, said he, has not received a
proportionate share Of the reclamation
fund and he propt ses to see that this
state in the future is treated fairly.
Oregon has contributed about
50, 900, 900 and has received little Of
the portion to which 1t is rightfully
be said. 81 intend to take
care of You from now on.
Mr.. Lane urged the people of Greg.
on to write to their United States
senator's on the questions vitalIy
affecting the state, ESQ they will know
what the big mind ia thinking and
wants."
He said there never has been an ad-
60 untrammeled and un-
pledged as the present one. sour
purposes are honest. our aims high
and / think that the people Of the
country feel that we mean to do our
Test to solve the great problems which
the nation faces" he said.
Ban on X-Ray Dresses.