The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-02-09
EXTEND SYSTEM
TO BOUNDARY
Big British Columbia Irrigation Pro.
tect, Just Over the Line, to be
Completed this Year.

we see ny lne TeutiSlou iici oau ehot
the provence has appropriated $780,
900 for the purpose OF completing the
big irrigation system just across the
international boundary line north OF
Oroville, extending the main flume
clear to the boundary line.
Tlis is one of the largest irrigation
system in the northwest, consider
ing the number of acres In a single
tract that Is being reclaimed. for the
aim is to water $4,000 acres when all
the laterals are in place, and even that
number of acres can be Increased by
means of pumping from the main con-
duit. 1t is a mammoth undertaking
and like all undertakings promoted
under British Columbia management,
it is being carried out from the start
absolutely right.
The residents of the nortn part OF
the county are familiar with the land
that this system Is to reclaim. From
the time this earth was formed up to
within the past two or three years
that long stretch of valley land from
the boundary northward to Vaseaux
lake remained in Its virgin state, un-
TOUCHED by the plow, an unproductive
waste except as the scant herbage
might contribute toward putting fat
upon the ribs of cattle, for 1t has been
given over largely to range. Over all
that domain, except in the niche IN
the mountains to the west where
rambling houses today marks the site
of the once lively mining camp of
Fairview, which are largely deserted,
there was but single building occu-
pied, and so it remained until the gov
ernment, wishing to pay in small part,
the debt of gratitude owing to the men
who participated in the world war,
conceived the idea of buying the land.
putting it under water, selling 1t In
small tracts to ex-soldiers on long
terms of payment.
This land is similar to that In the
f0RanCgan valley from the boundary
to the Columbia river, where water
has gone far toward making 1t one OF
the richest productive sections OF the
west. The Canadian land is merely
continuation of the Okanogan valley.
divided by an imaginary line, and what
lalready has been accomplished by
those who have taken up and improv-
ed land under the British Columbia
system demonstrates that 1t Is only q
question of few years until the
lneighboring irrigation district will be
as highly cultivated and productive rs
the reclaimed lands Of the Okanogan
valley in the state Of Washington.
why not? The soil, the climate. the
Hay of the land is exactly similar, the
|people possess similar intelligence
land energy and characteristics, and
what one has accomplished the other
will duplicate.
The completion of this big British
Columbia irrigation system Is men
toned not only because 1t Is a
pleasure to see waste land improved
and made to support thrifty and
worthy people, but development OF
the land will have a contributary
Influence upon Oroville The improve
Iment Of that land cannot fail to bene-
lift Oroville. The boundary ~ less then
-four and half miles from Orvv...:
A large population in that locality
land that is what there will be In tle
course of time, will not only do much
Of their travelling through Oroville bu
will do considerable trading here
Then to accommodate the residents o
the lower part of the district the rail
: road, now almost completed from Pen
ticton to Oliver, will be extended t
the line. and from the line it is onl.
a step for the Canadian road to max
l connection with the Great Northern
: Thus, take it all in all this big Britis
: Columbia irrigation system, one Of tn
| best and most permanently construct
: ed systems on the coast, no distric
V barred, will prove to be one of tn
most important agencies that is t
have no little influence in the UP
building of Oroville, and an aid in SUP
porting Oroville after the upbuildint