The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-01-29
A GREAT IRRIGATION PROJECT
WHICH CONTEMPLATES RECLAIM.
ING 4 LARGE ACREAGE OF
CHOICE FRUIT LAND
Plan Perfected for Starting Active
Work in the Spring-COmpie-
ton Expected in 1916


This office is in receipt of the pros
pectus of the Whitestone project pro-
NOTED by the Whitestone Irrigation and
Power company of which Marvin Chase,
a widely experienced irrigation engineer,
* the president and moving spirit behind
the enterprise. The prospectus is in the
form of Il very neat pamphlet, containing
Il number of handsome illustrations of
views in the vicinity or the lands to be
watered, showing what can be expected
when the large area that the bitches are
to cover once feels the vvifying influence
of moisture. The letter press is well got
ten up. descriptive of the country and it's
possibilities. and has the distinct virtue
Of couseiVatiVeness in its representations
1t is evidently not the purpose of the pro-
moters to induce investment through eX-
aggerati ton or Misrepresentation, "a course
too often followed in western hoatations
and promotions usually ending disaster
Ously to those who take that ques tionable
means to work the public
The Whitestone irrigation project is
one OF the most important that has ever
been undertaken in eastern Washington
by private individuals, both on account
OF the extent of the acreage that can be
placed under water and the character OF
the land to be reclaimed. Whtestone
Flat which derives its name from great
upheaval of limestone forming an al
most isolated mountain that is a con-
spicuous land max for miles around. is
the widening out of the valley that ex-
tends from Loomis to the Okanogan val
ley and the only eastern outlet to the
Okanogan for many miles through
chain of mountains extending from the
Simil<ameen river north and south clear
through to Brewster. Between Loomis
and the river are two large lakes, Spec
tacle and Whitestone that adds diversity
to barren stretch of country. The land
owned by the syndicate putting in the
water system covers this wide fiat, what
irrigable land there is is along the lake
shores and the benches slightly above the
Hat proper. Most of this land is very
favorably situated for easy irrigation.
There are no extended depressions or
breaks, and in the main so level that the
problem of carrying water on and over
the land is readily solved. The SOIL un-
der water, is adapted to the growth of
fruit, vegetables, grain and forage plants,
and is most favorably located to pro-
lection against frosts and wind. 1t is al
so within easy reach of the railroad with
down hill pull
Since the settlement of the county this
large extent of territory has remained un-
occupied by settlers. Today it is in its
virgin state. In the spring of the year
il is covered with green carpet of
bunch grass. interspersed with wild
flowers, with scattered sage brush, but
the annual fall of rain is not sufficient
to insure crops of any kind 1t is then
beautiful expanse of solitary desola-
tion so far as the presence of man is con-
cerned. Owing to lack of moisture the
verdure soon disappears and then the
country is anything but pretty to look
upon from scenic point of view. The
land has been given up to grazing of
predatory bands of sheep and stock, as
in its present condition it has no attrac-
ton for the agriculturst. stranger,
unfamiliar with climatic conditions, would
be surprised to see so large an area un-
occupied
The fact that the land is vacant and
stranger to the plow should not be
taken as an indication that the soil will
not produce under proper conditions. The
elements for rich productiveness are
there If only the life giving stimulus of
moisture could be applied. The White
poses to furnish the stimuent. For sew
eral years the carrying out of this pro-
iect has been under consideration, and
at last steps are being taken to make it
Il reality. Contracts have been let for
the necessary lumber with which to con-
struct fumes and engineers of state wide
reputation are on the ground to inaugur-
ate actual construction as early in the
spring as work can be successfully car
ried on. The source of water supply is
ample to cover all the land under the
proposed system, which is calculated to
be some $1,000 acres, although the first
unit of reclamation will be confined to
5000 acres. The water system will be a
gravity flow.
with the carrying of water on White
stone Flat wonderous transformation
will speedily follow AS stated before it
i' only water that is needed to make the
land as productive as any in the state,
irrigated or non-irrigated. Put on the
moisture and the application of intel
lfgent energy and effort, without which
endeavor in any line is labeled failure
in advance, and Whitestone Flat will
become one of the beauty spots of the
county providing homes for many fam
lilies and yielding a comfortable living, II
not competency, to every settler who
casts his lot in that locality. The erst-
while desert will become a land flowing
with fruit, alfalfa and other products OF
the soil Land that without water is moi
worth paying taxes on, no matter how
small the taxes, will rapidly increase ir
value, and that wide expanse of unfertils
ana unoccupied territory will be dotted
with pretty homes, presenting an attrac
tive scene of rural beauty.