The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1919-01-25
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1919
A WISE SUGGESTION

The Herald is in receipt of the fol- |
lowing letter, and its contents are so
full of good ideas that We wish to
commend it specially to the attention
of the water users of the county and
to all other interests generally. The
farming lands of this county COM
Prise the real backbone of Klamath,
and the more We do to promote the
welfare and interests of the farmer
the more we do for ourselves. Spe-
cial attention should be paid TO the
things the farmers have to sell and
the home markets should be open to
them at all times in preference to any
other. for every dollar paid to the
farmer. directly or indirectly, stays
right here and helps every citizen of
the county.
The matter of organization of the
various irrigation districts into a fed |
GRAFTON is a splendid suggestion. The
old rule of lin union there is !
strength" applies with equal force to
such an organization as this. Few Of
US realize the great possibilities that
lie in the full development of the irri-
gated lands of the county. The esti-
mate of 100000 acres is no exaggera-
tion. Every interest in the county
should join hands with the water
users in bringing every acre Of this
land under cultivation at the earliest |
date possible.
The letter follows:
The most important question of the |
hour is conservation and develop |
ment of the natural resources OF the |
county. 1t is imperative that the
country provide homes and work for
the returning soldiers and those who
have been engaged in war industries.
The United States government and
every state and community in the
Union is striving TO provide a solu-i
tion to this problem. The state and
community that first provides a prac-
tical plan will reap the benefits there
of and do great public service.
There are probably few, If any,
places in the United States that
possess the natural resources and
facilities for their immediate devel-
opment that Is enjoyed by the Klam-
ath country. We know of no similar
conditions in Oregon or the states of
the Pacific Coast.
Thanks to the irrigation law en-
acted two years ago, which has made
II practical for local irrigation and
drainage districts organized in ac-
cordance with this law, to cooperate
with the United States for a water
supply and construction. or both. II
is feasible to enter at once upon the
reclamation of arid and swamp lands
of the Klamath project without fur
ther legislative enactment.
There are already constructed res
ervoirs and control systems sufficient
to provide for upwards of 100000
acres of arid and swamp lands.
The benefits to be derived from an
early solution of the drainage prob
lem of the swamp lands around the
Upper Lake cannot be over-estimat-
ed, when considered in connection
with the livestock industry of Klam-
ath County.
development of power in connection
with the development of irrigation
and drainage. and the furnishing of ,
power for manufacturing.
The early extension of the Stra-
horn municipal railroad to Bonanza
and north is virtually necessary to
the proper development of the irri-
cation and numbering resources of |
the northern and eastern part of the
county. ,
Believing as we do that an early \,
of the above projects
will meet with the approval of all {
who desire to advance the welfare q
Of klamath. we suggest that each of {
the irrigation projects that derive a :
water supply from the United States >.
service and the klamath .
drainage district, at their first reg
llar meeting, appoint member of y
heir organization to meet with mem- (
Ders of the other organizations, the n
object being to form an association .
'or the purpose of conserving and de-
,eloping the resources Of klamath
county.
would further suggest that irri- t
ration or drainage districts in the Il
process of formation be represented. q
he time and place OF meeting to. be
later through the press.