The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-10-14
NEW SETTLERS WILL
COME WITH GUsHER
Portland, Ore, Spectator.


The discovery of artesian water in
Morrow County. Oregon, is causing
no end of rejoicing on the part of
residents of that territory. Accord
ing to agricultural authorities who
have investigated the climatic and
soil conditions of that part of the
state there is no other dry section
that gives so much promise OF pro-
ductiveness, once it is fed with wa
ter, than does Morrow County. This
kowledge has influenced many a
homesteader and persevering farmer
to hold on to his property with the
hope that it would some day be re-
claimed through irrigation. 1t is to
these that the discovery of an abun
dance of water is bringing the great
est rejoicing.
There have been sereyal previous
efforts to strike water in this section,
to w. D. Newton, who persevered af-
ter three years of failure. Although
residents of the section held out lit
tie hope for his success, the O-W. r.
& N. and its agricultural expert,
Farmer" G. l.. Smith, have been un-
tagging in their support of the work
Mr.. Newton has been carrying on.
The officials of the railroad company.
therefore, feel almost as highly elated
over the discovery as do the farmers
who will be directly benefited.
Last week, William McMurray,
general passenger agent of the 0-W.
R. e. N, together with several other
prominent officials of the company,
at tht invitation of the people OF
Morrow county, journeyed out to at
tend the celebration and dedication
of the water gusher In speaking OF
the Importance of the discovery MIR.
McMurray said.
"The greatest need of Oregon is
settlers, and the greatest deterrins
influence to contend with is the fact
that so much of the moderately
priced land has been undeyeloped be
cause of lack of sufficient water
Without an underground flow of wa
ter to draw upon, the cost of irriga
ton project in many localities would
bring the price of the land to pro
hibitive figure.
"The artesian supply that Mr.
Newton has discovered is in the hear
of a district that needs only the ad
dition of water and plow to make
of fertile prairie productive homl
for hundreds of settlers. Surround
ing it are several hundred Thousand
acres of very fertile land, lying quit'
level and easy to irrigate, The eli
mate is mild, with long season tre'
from frost. The present rainfall !
only from to 10 inches, which ha
made dry farming in this sc3tio'
very much of gamble; but the sol
| is so deep and rich that a very littlt
water will serve to produce abundan
| crops.
while the addition of water add
ct the value of the land, we wan
settlers to know that hey will be anl
to buy it at from SO to $40 an acre
and his company will be glad to All
them in getting it in the right loca
| ton so that they will have waer TO
irrigation. Mr.. Newton, who owns al
| water rights to the we'll, aims to pro
vide artesian irrigation on 10 I
| 2O-year payment basis, and at one
| half the price settlers would have t
| nav to irrigation companies where bl
expenditures have been necessary /
| order to get the water on the lane
| "The one thing that we want t
II avoid is boosting the price beyon
the ability of the average farmer t
| pay BY getting settlers on that Ian
| not only will the immediate distrit
prosper, but the state as whole wi
prosper"