East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-09-22


q partial source of information regard
5 ing the agricultural possibilities Of any
locality to the county.
Agricultural Fairs Given
Three specialized agricultural eX-
hibits are put on in the county each
year, each emphasizing the products
of the greatest economic importance
in the respective sections. At Her.
miston q Dairy and Hog Show has
been built up into one of the most sac
cessful affairs of its kind in the state.
In addition to dairy cattle and hogs
recognition is given to horses, fruit
and farm products At Milton Free
water fruit show is staged for the
purpose of displaying the wonderful
| quality of products grown by the
Omatilla County fruit growers Att
PendletOn the Northwest Grain and
Hay Show has been tablished
which is the greatest exhibition of
! grain and hay in the Northwest
Irrigation farming consists in artif- |
clally applying water to lands to assist
in the production of crops and is gen
| orally practiced in arid or semi-arid !
counties. The Federal government, |
through the United States RecIama- |
ton Service has built one or more
irrigation projects in nearly every
state west of the Mississippi River.
The Umatilla Project is situated in
the western part of Umatlla County, !
Oregon, and comprises 2S,3OO acres
The irrigation plan of the Umatil-
la Project provides for the diversion
of water from the Umatila River, II
above Echo, Oregon, through a feed II
canal 24l2 miles long, into Cold
Springs storage reservoir. Water is
delivered from the reservoir through
an outlet canal: also from the feed to
the outlet or "A" canal. Water is
also diverted from the Umatilla River
by the Maxwell Canal, heading near
Butter Greek, and diverting into the
distribution from the reservoir, thus
watering land in the Umatilla and Co
lumbia River valleys near Hermiston.
Reconnaissance and preliminary
surveys were begun in 1903 and con-
struction authorized by the Secretary
of the Interior in 1905. Water was :
first delivered for irrigation purposes
in 1905. All the principal features
haVo been completed, but additional II
improvements are being undertaken: H
the concrete lining of the main "a"
canal ana replacement of earth later II
ais In the distribution system by pipe III
lines and lined sections, The Federal III
government has an investment to iii
date in the project of about two and III
one-half million dollars ii
District OppnniIpU III
The East Side unit has been organ H
l&ed into an irrigation district under II
ihe state law ana comprises some H. III
200 acres. The West Extension unit, III
l5OO acres, is also in an irrigation HI
district and extends partly into Nor Ill
row county. The topography is gent HI
y rolling. The soil is sandy loan, is III
generally free from alkali and there iii
$ little hardpan. 1t is well adapted to Ill
growing alfalfa which is the principal HI
general product. Fruit has done well III
md excellent apples. pears. peaches II
md cherries have been marketed. as
veil as melons and other garden pro- II
uCts. VII
The climate is comparatively dry, Ill
he average rainfall being 81, inches III
ne temperature during the summer II
lonthS is sometimes high. hut owingiIl
D the dryncss Of the atmosphere the Ill
eat IS seldom oppressive. The win I'll
'rS ar" mild, though the mercury oC- II
iSlonaIIN goes below zero and snow Ill
lr"IN lies long ON the ground The iii
myth of the irriGation season vN- III
eds 2ln days. this hetng one Of the HI
trIieSt districts in the Pacific North iii
est. The altitu,,, is i-n foot .t,,.., ii