The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-05-01
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
CONSTRUCTION SIMPLE
Local Men Fihd Difficulties
On Ochoco Project Not
Evident in Harney.

Construction OF the necessary res
ervoirs and distribution OF the water
on the Harnoy Valley irrigation pro-
ject will bo very simple and inexpen-
siyo In comparison TO the Ochoco
project. In the opinion OF some OF
those who visited the latter project
at Pribeviile last week.
All tho directors and Secretary
Robt. M. Duncan. as well as Com
missioner Sam Mothershcad. of the
Harney Valley Irrigation District.
made an inspection OF tho Prineviiie
project the latter part Of last week.
Tho visitors observed the character
OF the work In construction at the
dam. also the bitches and distribu-
tion system. They found the bitches
were built OF expensive concrete I'm
ed on sidehiii and almost solid rock
formations. Ono 20 inch syphon OF
over half q mile wss also necessary.
Tho dam. which food threesof tho
most valuable ranches In that terri
tory. win impound about $1,000 acre
feet. The construction Of this dam
has besn accomplished under great
difficulties. M II IL In q gorge some
100 fest wide az the bottom and be-
cause OF tho character OF river bed
at the point II was necessary to ex-
cavats 40 feet below the original bed
Of thu river TO get q proper founda-
tion to start the structure. Tho
structure In dirt. clay silt and rock
which was puddied. The dam ex-
tends 650 feet UP and down stream.
l25 feet high and II 1000 feet long
on top. The spillway In built TO
carry about ave times the amount OF
any known food. which with the out
let into the ditch will carry ton timas
the amount OF any known Hood
which was done ns a safeguard OF
any accident that might arise from
"A sudden food or cloud burst.
This information was CLEANED |
from sn interview with Secretary |
Robt. N. Duncan. who said further
that tho spiliway In reinforced CON
crete lined throughout 40 that no
possible chance Ia given to wash
back TO the dam structure.
Tho dam was constructed BY
hydraulic process" said Mr.. Duncan,
THE hillsides In the vicinity we're |
very rocky aud therefore II was din. |
cult TO nnd the proper proportion OF
clay and rock for binding element !
This hydraulic process Is expensive.
The construction people secured cleo /
trio power from the Dcscbutes River |
and used two large centrifugal
pumps with which to wash down the
sidehills and sluiee the material 10
tho dam site where the water was
drained OF the silt and rock put In
place. The structure consists OF
about go per cent broken rock and
clay dirt which gives II right pro-
portions OF weight. the rock being on
the faces. above and below. tho clay
center being impervious to water.
"rhe construction is on tho cost
plus plan" continued Mr.. Duncan.
"and when completed the dam will
cost approximately s3so,000. the
cubic yard cost being something like
60 cents. The distributing system
and other expenses will be about the |
same amount. The cost has been ap- |
portioned TO the lands ranging from
$3.50 per acre to the bottom landa
that had prior perfect water right
to $1,000 per acre on the dry lands. |
The district delivers the water to the
higest point on tho border OF each
tract of land to be irrigated and tho
owner provides for It's distribution
over his land"
According TO Capt. Duncan the
land that Is being reclaimed under
this project is OF a sandy rolling
character and tho experiments hnds
the average duty OF water under the
system IL is acre feet during the
irrigating season, which allows about
2.26 acre feet to alfalfa and las
acre feet for grain.
From observations the people who
made the trip are under the impres'
sion the duty of water under that
project will be much greater than
here because OF the character OF the
soil. Harney Valley soil will not re-
quire the amount used on the lighter
sandy soil over there.
Since returning from Prinevillo
(Continued on rage - /