The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-08-21

times be under control. and the best
interest oil the state cared for
through a carefully considered aud
well ordered plan.
The drainage OF Malhcur Lnke
would IN the opinion OF these advo-
Gates utterly destroy II as n bird re-
serve and thus defeat their purpose
The drainage Of Malhcur Lake would,
We believe, nocessitate the dyking OF
OF a portion OF the lake as Il would
be impractical to drain the entire
lake. Herein lies the solution OF tho
problem and one which would result
In definite assurance that a part of
Malheur Lake would always be main
tained as bird reserve and that II
would not become an alkali desert
IA Aivoid Lake now In or a body Of
salt water like Harncy Lake. Should
this land be- ceded TO the Federal
Government for the specific purpose
of a bird reserve. II would then be
placed not only bcyoLo The control OF
the state 10 regulate and maintain
the water ut proper level, but II viii
also be- beyond the control OF the Fcd-
cral Government. as the lake IL To ne
ceded 10 Il for "A specific purpose.
Much uncertainty exists Az to the
title to the lands included In the Nj
hour Lake Reservation. Some of the
lands are undoubtedly private proper.
~ IN the boundary of the reservation
includes lands lyins sbovc the mean
der limo. The nuctuation Of the lake
results In almost constant changing
NJ the conditions OF ths iands below
ths snesndcr line. AZ times = cousid-
efsbis portion Of tho iske bed u un.
covered, This land may belous To
ths state OF may belong to the sdtoin-
Ing property owners ~ indicated In
the case OF CAwineld w. Smith GO
Ore) IL IN not improbable that the
rights OF the adjacent land owners
may depend upon the water level in
the lake at the time OF the passage OF
the measure. should II be enacted. II
the state retains control. the matter
will doubtless be- adjusted as now
provided by statute. The state can
OF course convey only such lands aa
II owns and Il In presumed that the
Government viii not call upon the
siat. To make good on "A conveyance
of land that the state does not now
own. II does seem. however, that We
should know what we are deciding be-
fore we deed II. and also the effect OF
such action on other public inter-
ests.
II IL probable that the state has a
valid right TO most OF the land within
the meauder line consisting OF cp-
proximately 1900 acres. n large
part OF which is suitable for asricul-
turai purposes. Properly handled
thfs should produce a revenue 10 the
school fund OF several hundred thous-
and dollars.
In 1906 Lower klamath Lake was
ceded a. the United States and with
out oxpcnding any money In its re-
clamation the Government has now
some 20 900 acres OF these lands for
entry. n part Of which is In califor'
min. The extent OF the value OF
these lands In oregon our school
fund has been depleted.
The character and ownership Of
Malheur Lake is now under inyes-
tIgation by the Attorney General OF
Oregon and no action should. be taxi
on to further involve these lands un-
Ill such time as he has an opportunity
To complete hts investigation and re-
port HIS nndings
IL would seem that THE lands with
In Malheur Lake are now adequately
protected through the State Land
Board which IL vel, able 20 look at
Ter tho public in,efest under the vary
ing conditions which may arise. Il IN
becoming OF ever Increasing import |
ance that tho development OF the az !
ricuiturai resources Of Oregon be en-
Harvey Basin IL probably the iars-
,st area OF practically level Land with
In the atate. Upon Its development