The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-12-30
IRRIGATION PRO-
JECTS DISCUSSED
State Engineer Tells of Cooperative
Work of State and National
Governments.

IUpUL lOT CtulI dl oltoCI iiuob =
hand in hand. Each is vital to ii
other. Railways will not build with
out some prospects for irrigation,
State Engineer Lewis said in a tall
last night before the Oregon Irriga
tion Congress.
"The state and the United States
have been cooperating in prepare
tion of plans and estimates Of cost
for the construction of number Of
large irrigation projects. Published
reports are now available for the De-
schutes, Ochoco and Silver Lake pro
jects.
similar reports will soon be avail
able for the John Day, Malheur,
Owyhee, Harney, Silver Lake, Warner
Valley, Silver Creek and Rogue River
projects with possibly general re
port on a number of miscellaneous
projects which have been considered
in somewhat less detail"
Mr.. Lewis gave brief outline of
some of the projects which have been
considered. The Deschutes project,
he said, is divided into four units and
the cost of development will run from
$35 to $50 an acre, total acreage
100000. The estimated cost of the
Ochoco project is S51.30 an acre, to-
tai acreage 100000; Silver Lake pro-
ject $2S an acre, total acreage 49,
600; John Day project, $4,000 acres
at S125 an acre; Malheur project 49,
600 acres at 81 to SO an acre, de-
pending on location, and over 10000
acres additional at 500 to $40 an
acre; Owyhee project 10000 to 25,-
GOO acres at $65 an acre; Harney
project 81 900 acres, cost unstated.
Mr.. Lewis gave details of engin-
eering problems, available water sup
ply and other technical data in each
case
There are indications he said,
"that 20r,000 acres Of marsh land
along the Slyies, Bitten, Chewaucan,
Klamath and other rivers of central
Oregon, if properly handled, may be
found to be the richest and most fer
tile in this whole region, he said Il
wish to suggest that the irrigation
congress take some definite action
looking toward the establishment of
experiment stations on these swamp
lands. One should be established in
Harney valley, another in Chewaucan
valley and a third on Klamath
marsh"
Leonard Lundgren, district engin-
eer United States forestry service, eX-
planned the procedure necessary to Sc
cure from the national government
rights of way across national forests
for bitches. He said that the govern
ment has to know not only that the
parties desiring such rights-of-way,
are financially responsible, but also
must be supplied with copies of their
charters and other details of organi-
zation.
He stated that only fourth of the
standing timber of Oregon is within
the boundaries of national forests,
that 125,O00 acres have been home
steaded within the bounds of forest
reserves in this state and that over
1000 easements of various kinds have
been granted for 5000 acres addi-
tiOnal.
"Oregon is the best state for the
best, whole-souled and brainy peo-
ple," should be our motto, said Pro-
fessor F. G.. Young Of the University
of Oregon. Professor Young said that
our most vital need Is more settlers
with high standards of living and ca
pable of producing a surplus. He
said that too much capital has been
employed in this state in waiting for
unearned increment, but thought that
the state is passing out of the eX-
ploitive era into one Of scientific pro-
duction and cooperative production
and marketing.
His reference to the "hot air of de-
velopment associations" drew re-
tort from j. W. Brewer, vice presi-
dent of the congress, who presided
Mr.. Brewer is connected with the Ore
gon Development League. He in
sisted that more "hot air. is needed
and that the people of Oregon must
make conditions such as to take care
of all classes of people because the
people who come here can't be picked
"In the last four years our pro
duction of grain has more thar
doubled" said Dr. A. F. Policy In tell
ing of what irrigation has done II
Wallowa county. Water has made
alfalfa and alfalfa has made Wallowf
the principal hog raising county II
the state, he said. The cost of irri
CATION there has been nominal be
cause of conditions which make
gravity system possible.