The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-07-27
IRRIGATION ON AN
EXTENSIVE SCALE
,.., icreage Near OrOyille Over In
british Columbia Being Steadily
Settled and Developed.

We had an opportunity Sunday to
,.,vo oyer the irrigation district just
s.,oss the line in British Columbia
and mark the progress being made in
attending the system and what has
sssn accomplished in the way of rec
,sma,ion. 1t is hardly necessary to
rsueat any description of this model
,,rIgation system, as it has been de-
.sribed at length through these col
umns time and again, yet, one can
psyer look upon the work that has
hsan accomplished without feeling
like indulging in extravagant praise
d the accomplishment. No expense
has been spared in perfecting tlis
irrigation system and as result 1t
IA one Of the very best and most per-
manent that has been undertaken in
the northwest. Steel and concrete
have entered largely into the con-
.truction of the water ways so that
there Is no loss of moisture from seep-
sge and the water of the big canal is
deliyered minus only what little may
be lost in evaporation. Money has not
been spared in carrying out the plans
Of construction. and when the work is
all finished the system is in for all
time and there is going to be mighty
little expense for upkeep.
The flume and bitches extend al
most to the boundary line, and there
are camps at the north end Of Osoyoos
lake for the accommodation of the
crews that are putting the finishing
touches on tae system. The con-
tractors are at last reaching the very
best land under the system both as
to the character of the soil and the
lay Of he land for irrigating purposes.
There is vast, slightly undulating
flat on the west side of Osoyoos lake
extending from the village of OsOyoos
on the south to the north end Of the
lake that can be easily irrigated and
that land is largely devoid Of gravel.
II is safe to predict that this part Of
lhs dhtrict will be settled up and de-
velcped more rapidly than the lands
further north, where considerable
gravel Is encountered.
We were considerably disappointed
that greater progress had not been
made In settlement and reclamation of
more Of tne land under the system,
and to note in several instances that
trees that have been planted during
the past two years have been neglect
ID. There may be some reason for
this seeming neglect Of which we are
ignorant, but after going to the ex-
pense Of purchasing the land, prepar-
ing 1t by cultivation and then buying
and setting out trees one would natur-
ally expect that the owners would
@ke the necessary time and trouble
70 obtain the best results from their
Investment and initial labor. We do
not Wish to be misunderstood in max
ing this criticism and create the erro-
aeous impression that settlers under
Inc British Columbia irrigation sys-
em are not making good and creating
an oasis in what was but recently a
aesert The failures to put this land
III nigh state of productivity in a
Jew Isolated instances only makes
more conspicuous the success that has
iolowed the efforts of other settlers
VI adjacent lands striking evidence
'aat tae failure to make a showing
vi some tracts cannot be attributed to
any lack of the adaptability Of the soil
" grow anything that is planted and
poperiy cared for. Insofar as the
'and mas been cultivated and planted
VI every hand are flourishing orch
aius, young of course, but in flour
SUING condition and promising to be
source of comfortable income to the
owners few years hence. There are
.0aiy green alfalfa fields, corn fields
Mat would vie with the corn fields
" lne Mississippi valley and all kinds
garden truck. All of thls has been ac-
somplished in two years time. 1t rep
'esents insistant labor by men who
u.urestand the irrigation game, and
'aat mas so far been accomplished Is
0ay precursory of what the district
y, rn' turn out to be a few years hence.
.nere are hundreds of acres yet to be
.e'iaimed, and in the course Of time
muse acres will all be under cultiva-
.on and the land that mas been tenet
@ .'Ss since the discovery Of America
ma MI pe supporting a large population.
iae district has the soil, the climate,
aAa what is greater assurance OF fu-
@re development an abundance OF
water.
me reclamation. development and
seeiing of this land, with its railroad
e"'ties now in operation, will make
sarden spot in southern British Co.
,a'noia' and while most of the benefits
" accrue from this reclamation pro-
"' v' VIII naturally divert to British
,so'alhbia towns Oroville is also to be
.'nlit'ed in no small degree. 1t is only
!, question of time until the railroad
extended to Oroville, either con-
aeoung with the Great Northern al
S0me near point on the east side OF
wsoyoos lake, or building down the
.esl side of the lake directly into
"wh. In either event it gives Oroville
.onnection with another transcontin-
~ sa'ai roalroad and adds to making OF
,l's place a railroad center. Then the
sOu.nern limit OF this great irrigation
sro'ect Is only a few miles from oro-