The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-12-31
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.

A the close of the old year is an
appropriate time for a report on the
uroeress being made in the construc-
,,on Of the West OFanogan Valley lr-
riestion system, and through the cour-
,osy Of ]. C. Stevens, engineer in
.haree looking after the interests OF
,he district, this paper is able to place
hasore its readers the status OF work
doue up to date. The report OF the en-
,neer is altogether professional, sue
cieut and to the point, but it shows in
few words the exact situation and
extent of operations at the close OF
E the old year. Construction has
heen carried on steadily and rapidly
q sInce the contractors first broke
ground and so far an excellent job
has been made of it. The public has
( paid little attention to proceedings,
moving that construction was under
way. and content In the knowledge
that the system would be completed in
time to turn on water in the spring.
Considering the extent Of the bitches
and fumes and the acreage to be wa
tered, this is one of the largest and
most important irrigation undertakings
that has been inaugurated in the state
without government assistance. 1t Is
unnecessary to dwell upon the benefits
that will grow out OF the completion
Of the system, as thst Is patent to ev-
cry resident of this upper country. 1t
means the future prosperity of the val
ley and Oroville.
Mr.. Stevens Report
The West Okanogan Valley Irriga-
ton project will be about 80 per cent
completed on the first Of the year.
This project will involve the build
ing of about 50 miles of main
conduits exclusive of the distribution
system. OF these there are 81 miles
Of earth canal, q miles Of wooden
fume and five miles Of wood stave
pipes.
On the main canal, all fumes and
grading are completed except about
5000 feet Of Hume that Is SO per cent
completed.
On the south branch (west side OF
the river) all grading is completed and
all fumes completed except 1900 feet
near Oroville and that portion lying
below the Town OF Tonasket.
On the north branch ION the ives
side Of the Valley all grading is com
pleted and all flume work will be com
pleted by the first OF the year
On the north brarc ch least side) a
grading is completed.
ON the Stansbury latral all gradin
ami fumes were completed on Decem
berNS. On the Cordell lateral all tn
grading ses-d and fumes abou
IS per cent C. And tn
On the Tonasket tarials fd1 ains Is
about 10 per cent completed and the
fumes about 40 per cent completed.
/. The Similkameen siphon, a 46 inch
wood pipe, which carries water from
the main canal to the south branch
west side, is about 23 per cent COM
pleted. There still remains the laying
Of pipe on the north Okanogan siphon
the lower Okanogan siphon, the Tomas
ket siphon and few minor pipe lines
Water will be delivered to any tract
In the district by the 1st of June, and
probably on some tracts as early as
the first of May.
In travelling over the district l can
not help noticing the lack of prepara-
tion of the land to receive water There
are but very few tracts on which any
Preparation whatever has been made to
receive water and l am sure that the
water will be available for irrigation
next year before the lands are ready
to receive it unless the water users OF
the district begin in earnest as early
as the season will permit to prepare
the land for irrigation.
The construction nf the distribution
system will begin in March and will be
completed early in May. During this
period the canals will be primed and
tested and unless some unforeseen con-
tingency arises the work will be ready
ior acceptance by the district on June
LIST, 1915.
J.C. STEVENS,
Engineer in Charge