Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-10-25
E,seqglt Bird
Rgtuge Big State
Says Finely
1y ". l.. Finley

, 7 shall trv to show that it is sound
.o "a vote 'Yes' on the Roosevelt Bird
uo.s,re and carry out the plans already adopteo
mi. state to capitalize Oregon's out
esources.
have spent 100000 during the past lour years
|. oorera tax fund of the state to educate east
4 !, nd In encourage tourists to visit oregon.
a..ods have also spent IA large amount of money
H. oreeon as an outdoor state. They have
80 70 faature birds, and animals and other
!, thnes Civic clubs and other organizations
ami their unds in sending lecturers to the East
oar wonderfui mountains, lakes and waterfalls.
Is A Commercial Asset
4 Ill. h,rd nurseries of Malheur Lake with the
n wing birds appeal to al travellers because IL ls
\, nnoue spot in the United States OF its kiho'
u he capital!zed like Crater Lake and the Coiunl-
ser highway. 1,o,,. n, :
= 40 nreservation of the forest trees along the
~ Tbis is valuable timber from a commercial
roint but the Governor of the state ana leaoi'is
d men are asking commercialism to hold pack.
| Nj from a sentiment stand point, but because
md business and will bring money TO All ol ou'
A not merely to smoll group.
! is the vital point at issue in the RooseVelt piiu
Maasure A few promoters in Harvey County
a destroy one of Oregons greatest assets which
! to onr people as a whole. These people nave
motives
Favored by Withycombe
momoters have made the plea that the pea Oh
Tara and the marsh lands surrounding are
la for agricultural Development. The late Gov
Vitbycombe was very familiar with the agrlcui-
sitnation In Oregon. He told me ne was salts
his land was not needed from an aGflcuitu Q, a.
point, but that the lake and it's border shoulo
Iryed for all future time. In his last message
legislature he said: ,r,
Bdvocate the .ceding of Malheur Lake and Mud
IN Hamev County to the United States Govern
y the State for the purpose of creatihg d pei
wild bird refuge. | make TINS recomhiehos''ir
BE feel that Oregon, which contains some
host important breeding grounds in the uhlte"
shond support the Federal Government IN us
Die plan to furnish protection to migratory vi 70
Land Not Valuable
ems to me that the land promoters are ho' "i'iie 70
Harnev County for what she is and develop hel
ces on a sound business basis. Let me reis, w
Of the statements that have been published. i1ele
!: "A good deal of this land is as 1lne aerlc"ir
land as there is in this or any other sectloh ~
. nion" They would have you believe that 'he
hid conditions around Malheur Lake can pe ooii
I TO the willamette Valley. In report pupli@iiea :.
ay 1916 by John C, Whistler, Engineer Onieeu
Exclamation Service and John H. Lewis, s,a'e
eer for Oregon, the following conditions
t out
altitude of these lands around Malheur Lake
! feet The growing season is short. Frosts are
to occur any month. Only the most h'ios
crops can grow under these climatic condltloh@
Plenty of Al,ail -
! fhe statement that has been published py ,iie
promoters is that there is no alkali in the lake'
/ the land surrounding. l know that this Is ho'
because / have raversed the lake many times ~
p boat, and have tramped over the alkah ila's
n different parts of the lake. ,
|C F. Marbut of the Bureau of Soils OFT ne ohiee
Department of Agricultural was sent 10 riaiieS
last year especially to make a thorough survey
\ conditions around Malheur Lake. AS 10 ''i'
Psef, he says
Pt OF the lake bottom which is dry during 'io
r part of the year, now shows a high concehtra
alkali making it practically certain that the rea
/ lake bottom would 500 become charged win d.
|an equally high concentration of alkall
Pcerning the actual land around the lake whicn
Fomoers claim is among the best agricultural iaho
Union, Dr. Marbut says:
Alkali Much in Evidence j..
F!ohd the highest shore line there is a beH VI
Y covered almost entirely with greasewood Alkah
faauon shows abundantly by means or eilioie
m lhe surface and the so-called Slick spots al
II Aaeh In evidence The alkali mulch is wen oeNei-
|ss' In other words, the lawer part Of the pasin
tnung the outer boundary of the lake Is inii! do
charged with alkali is the salt-grass eei'
a me extreme boundary of the lake
tlk lhese facts show that it would be poor business
Es0n and one of the most unique features in Martin
II LOT speculative plan of some promoters wiz
Fsms to advance their own interests.