The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-01-19
kKING AN OASIS
OF A DESERT
ltestOne Flat Irrigation Project to
Reclaim Hundreds OF Acres that
are Now NOnprOductive.

asst week the Loomis correspondent
the Gazette, who, by the way, Is
of the most dependable and relia-
correspondents this paper has
had. states that the contract has
m let for the tunnel to be driven
conjunction with the construction
the Whitestone irrigation project
tI. j. Mcmillan and A. h. Simpson,
men experienced in mining work
b will perform the task to the sat
action of the engineers having
krge of the undertaking. This Is
long tunnel at the point of the hill
the south side and at the east end
Spectacle lake and is an important
k in the proposed system carrying
ter to the Whitestone flat. Driving
tunnel is a slow process and it will
huire months of hard and steady
bor before this portion of the pro-
tsed system for water carriage is
&ldy for the flood that is to carry the
kivifying element to desert tlat
kaits its magic touch to work a
hnsformation that will provide
ores of homes for the industrious
sbandman and through intelligent
Tort insure for him a competency.
IThe construction OF the Whitestone
lat irrigation system, which is now
lily under way Notwithstanding tle
Enter season when outdoor work is
bt always considered to be possible
expedient, is one of the important
hblic enterprises projected in the
late under state auspices. The COM
1etion OF this project and it's subse-
hent settlement and development
<hich is bound to speedily follow, or
Yen precede completion, will add
5ealth to the county as we'll as to the
kdividual by adding value to lands,
hd large acreage of land at that,
3hich without water is practically
&Orthless and contributes in the way
taxes little or nothing to the sup
brit of the county government. From
hat point OF view alone it is an enter
rise in which every tax contributor
the county is deeply interested, for
lacing arid land in the producing
Lass, and the most intensive produc-
Big class at that, gives that land an
Intrinsic value that aids materially In
welling the wealth Of the county, aid
hg to make Okanogan county one OF
he important and prosperous subdi-
isions Of the state.
a This Whitestone Flat irrigation sys-
<em is fostered by the state, it is IL
Aanced by the state, it's construction Is
in charge Of the reclamation
OF the state, in the hands
81 experienced and competent engin'
hers, and when finis is written upor
The field work it will be as complete
y system as the ingenuity OF man car
accomplish The project, when ready
10 function will be Of vast benefit Il
khe northern part of the county, di
fectly to those holding land under 1t:
Watering system, and indirectly II
|the communities in the immediate
heighborhood.
Just exactly how many acres are t
De reclaimed has not been authentic
ly stated, but if the several ramifica
lions are carried out, which they un
|doubtedly will be, when completed tn
flumes and bitches will embrace Il
the neighborhood of 10000 acres.
Us confidently claimed by the engin
feers in charge that the water suppl
fthat can be drawn upon is sufficient
Ensure ample water for all the Ian
5that can be reached under the plan
zof construction that are being carrie
tout, and even the supply availabl
fcan be increased if necessary at
<small additional expense by divertin
tmountain streams.
Only those familiar with the Ian
THAT the system is to reclaim can al
{preciate what transformation fe
$years will bring about in a localit
THAT heretofore has filled the role
Frather drab scenery. Whitestone FIJI
\ has been as unproductive as the desc
of Sahara, and Horse Spring Coule
which is also to be fed with waite
has been an irritating disappointmel
to the persistant farmer who has trit
unsuccessfully to farm land in tn
natural depression in the earth's su
face for a number of years. Time al
again coaxed into luxurious grow
in the early spring through the aid
winter moisture the fields of Hor
Spring Coulee have stimulated ho
in the breast of the persistent hu
bandman by the promise of cro
but springs come and go without
drop of moisture and the erstw1i
promise of a bountiful harvest tur
to dead sea fruit.
That is sketchy sketch Of the al
land that the irrigation system ne
underway is to reclaim, and If pc
mitted to use an overworked simi
make blossom as the rose. There
no question as to the fecundity of
soil in combination with water. I
elements for procreation are there
4 stimulated by moisture, and as natt
refuses to provide that essential e
ment it is to be provided artificial
4 Most of the land to be encompass
i by fumes and bitches is we'll adap
for irrigation as to its physical I
nation, being generally flat or gen
rolling. The valley and coulee is v