The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-01-10

2
/, oiect Is obtained>~by drawing the
water level down below elevation
4140, then. the irrigation of the 5o,-
000 acres or more around Lower
Klamath Lake Is out of the question
A considerable AREA of this land has
been purchased recently by parties
In California who allege that they
propose TO 30 ahead and promptly
develop the land, The development
viii be out OF the question without u
dependable water supply,
The main interests to be consider
ed are timber and the marginal
marsh lands, The timber interest,
while extensive, will only be casually
touched upon here for the reason
that Il seems probable adjustments
may be reached through conferences
and by mutual consent,
Considering now the marginal
marsh lands below elevation ll4S,
which Is about the probable eleva-
ton OF the top OF the dykes. the area
OF such lands Is not far from $4,000
acres; about 1-6 Is supposed to be
public land, about 1.5 Indian land
and the remainder is privately own
ed, The public and private lands
are so related that II is not feasible
to dyke one area apart'from another,
Tre different marshes must be con-
sidered as units without respect to
ownership.
The dyking Of the marshes will be
expensive, involving many uneertain-
ties both along engineering and agri-
cultural lines, The entire area a
round Upper klamath Lake is sub
jecf to frosts. this being particularly
true with respect to Pelican Bay and
Crystal Creek marshes. The best me-
thod OF handling peaty soils, under
our climatic conditions, has not yet
been satisfactorily established. The
consensus Of opinion from those best
posted is that for several years after
the lands are dyked they should be
used for grazing purposes. that in
the process OF time they will finally
grow the tame grasses and, perhaps,
be adapted to somewhat diversified
agriculture. AS the foregoing opinion
may be challenged by some. | wish
to state that II is based on the results
obtained and views expressed by the
owners OF Melhase and Hagelstein
tracts near Algoma. the views OF the
Brothers on portion OF
the Mccormack lands, personal obser-
ystion and discussion with those !
have been able to meet whose eS-
perience Is such that they can be
rresumed to have anything more
tba, casual knowledge Of the .aues-
itiGn. -" - ar" efi
Il has been shown that the regula-
ton Of the lake is essential for the
development of the klamath Project.
For several years the Reclamation
Service has not had the funds nor
amy prospect OF securing the funds
for doing the work itself. Therefore.
ca February "a, 1917, contract was
entered into between the United
stases and the Califot tnia @Oregon
'R0wer company whereby the COM
pahy agrees:
G1 To construct dam at the outlet OF
the lake, said dam to be the property
of the United States.
To, o,excavate channels from the lake
[. the intakes Of the Keno canal.
also the Main Project Canal.
!. To make satisfactory adjustments
with all interests on the Upper Lake.
To furnish electric power for
within 25 miles of Merrill
for Z mills per Kilowatt hour-the
power lines to be constructed at the
expense OF the Company-to all in
Of 100 horsepower or
more.
Subject to the foregoing and to
The further stipulation that the con-
tract shall not curtail the right OF
he United States to the waters of
Upper Klamath Lake, the Power
Company may regulate the lake be-
.ween certain limits and lease the
to1