Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-02
COMPLETES
TUMALO PROJECT
. AT COST OF S45O,OOO
Four Big Dams Built and 1888
Miles Of Canals Completed
in II Months
WILL MAKE HOMES
tUk 5UU FAMILIES
1880 Acres Provided With
Water, Sold in 40 Acre
Tracts at $40 an Acre

With the filing Of the lien list by
Project Engineer Laaregard with the
desert land board, at a special meeting
held for the purpose yesterday after.
noon, the Tumalo irrigation project, the
first big undertaking Of the kind ever
attempted by the state under the pro.
visions Of the Carey act, was declared
officially completed and everything is
in readiness to turn water upon a total
Of 22,500 acres of rich farming lands
along the Deschutes river in Crook
county to provide homes for about 563
families with 40 acres each. This means
an additional population of about 1000
for the state as soon as the land is set
tied upon and when it is put under
the plow, hundreds of thousands Of
product value in the course Of very
few years.
To complete this immense project,
which was begun by the Columbia
Southern irrigation company about 10
years ago, and relinquished to the state
two years ago, the state expended APP
proximately $i50,000 appropriation for
which was made by the legislative as
sembly Of 1913, but when It is all sold
and paid for the state will stand to
realize big profit on the investment
aside from the homes that will be pro.
vided for over 500 thrifty families be.
sides the steady annual income which
these farms will produce. Mr. Laare.
gard will remain in charge Of the pro-
iect until the first Of the year when, It
is expected, he will he succeeded by
Fred N, Wallace present irrigation
manager Of the project who will prob
ably be promoted to project engineer.
To finish the project the state con.
structed l3S miles Of diversion canals
within II months, built four big dams,
two diversion and two storage, each Of
concrete construction throughout, and
two l5-ton concrete gates to hold the
water in tho immense reservoir and
regulate the flow therefrom when need.
ed, Six thousand acres Of this land has
already been contracted for and,
through the medium Of extensive adver-
tising in the big newspapers Of the
coast, between 500 and 900 inquiries
have been received and 10 tracts sold
since the advertising campaign started
A big rush Of settlers ia expected in the
Spring when il is thought that the
most Of the land will be disposed Of.
This big body Of highly productive
agricultural land has been divided into
farms Of 40 acres each and is placed
upon the market az $40 per acre. One
tenth Of the purchase price, or $3.50 IL
TO be paid down upon the signing Of the
contract and the balance Is to be pait
in 10 installments bearing interest al
the rate Of per cent. The contracts
are 30 drawn, however, that IL the set
tier places one.third Of the land undei
irrigation each year FOR the first thrc,
years he will not have to pay anything
upon the principal and will have thu
use Of this money TO stock and equiI
his farm, and thon ho will have sever
years in which to clear up his indebted
ness to the state. Principal and inter
est, however must be paid in 10 year
from date Of contract
The lien list for the Tumalo project
which was filed with the board yester
day, provides for a total Of 1901 ,O0l
for the Carey act lands within the pro
ioct and about $l500OO more ON prvat,
projects which will utilize the wate
stored for the Tumalo project.