The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-02-19
OWYHEE PROJECT
ONE OF THE FIRST
TO Be CONSIDERED
Oregon Irrigation Congress
Takes Favorable Action
Regarding this Great
Tract of Virgin Soil.

their support is the Owyhee reelama-
tion enterprise in Malheur county, on
the extreme eastern border of the
state, says the Portland oregonian.
This project consists of about $4,000
acres, and has been the subject of re-
peated surveys for a period of more
than 10 years. II has been pronounced
feasible by the government engineers
and by all private engineers who ever
have inquired into IT,
Several years ago s3.OOO,OOO was set
aside by the reclamation service for
development of the work, but there ap-
parently was lack of interest on the
part of many Oregon people and the
money was withdrawn and later used
In irrigation work I'm Idaho.
AT the irrigation meeting In Port
land last week the delegates, regard
less of. the section of the state In
which they live, were heartily Ia favor
of early attention to this project. They
adopted a resolution calling upon the
federal authorities to provide funds
for the work and promised their sup
port In enlisting the aid OF the Oregon
representative In congress. Il is pro-
posed to take the water from the owy-
hee river. a storage dam Is to be
built In the river about 20 miles above
Watson.
J. II Blackaby OF Ontario. presl-
dent OF the Ontario National Bank,
who was elected vice president OF the
irrigation congress, declares that the
owyhee project will he an important
factor In the development OF Portland
rru other parts OF the state.
II am afraid" he said. that the peo-
Lle OF Portland do not appreciate the
fact that Malheur county IL directly
tributary 10 the city. They are inclin-
ed TO ignore the importance OF our
part OF the state. That Is. | believe
they have ignored Il In the past, but
they are beginning To realize our rela-
tive position now.
with the support OF Portland and
The Portland merchants, | believe we
can obtain federal appropriation TO
make a beginning. at least
Officers and members OF the Port
and Commercial club are interested |
n the owyhee project. and have prom
ed Mr., Blackaby that they will get |
behind the movement for an early be-
.ihnlng OF operations there.
The Commercial club. however. will |
lot center lts efforts ON this particu-
ar project. IL Will support other fea-
ible and worthy projects recommend
ID by the irrigation congress. but In
smuch as more preliminary work has |
'een done on this than on anv other,
Is probable that immediate action
viii be along the direction OF the
Jwyhee.
When this work Is completed the
and reclaimed probably will support
900 families. II is planned TO cut II
Ip into 40-acre tracts. IL has an eleya-
ion OF 2l0O feet and deep. fertile
oil well adapted for fruit raising and
iyersified agriculture.
According TO engineers estimates.
he work will cost approximately
3 100000. and will require about 3
ears to complete. An effort will be
lade TO procure an appropriation OF
[ least 81 100000 so thar work can be
tarted this year.
Complete reports have been sub
litted 10 Franklin X. Lane, secretary
the interior. and II is understood
nat he is well and fayorably impress
ed with the desirability and the nee
ssity Of this work.
III the sl00O00,O00 bond issue pro-
osed by Secretary Lane is authorized
y congress the people OF Malheur
Dunty believe that enough money will
e available to complete the entire
oject.
lnasmuch as the recent irrigation
Dngress went on record as fayoring
late and federal cooperation. It is
robable, too. that the owyhee work
i'll be financed in this manner, Such
plan, SAYS Mr. Blackaby. will be fa-
Drably received by the people of the
'fected section.
The resolutions adopted by the irri-
alton congress indorsing this subject
re as follows:
Whereas, IL appears that the state
Oregon has contributed larger
I'm to the United States reclamation
md than any other arid state, and
Whereas, The apportionment OF the
fund TO Oregon Is so in
iequate as to constitute actual dis