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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1906)
INDUSTRIAL EDITION-PART TWO rtoei- ,rTK irl mr r rm I , ... "VVm VOLUME V 1GAT10N fOR ALL Of the mmmi urn Tte Waters of t&e dm Rande and me Minam Will Be Used Irrigation Companies Incorporated i maB. IRRIGATION DAM. And he gave it for his opinion, "that whoever could make two ears of corn, or twaades of grass, to grow upon a spot of JJJnd, where only one grew before, wooo deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together." Dean Swift. There is scarcely an acre in the Grande Ronde Valley that cannot be reached by one of the two irritation projects that are being worked out by leading Valley citi zens. Every bit of land so watered will at once increase in value fully $50 an acre. Lands now worth $50 an acre wMI he wortfjm $100 to $150. There are at present under irrigation in this Valley a'lout 4000 acres, and this land is the highest priced. While irriga tion is not absolutely essential to the growing of most crops, it is of astonishing value in increasing the yield of the land, and well worth all it costs. GRANDE RONDE RESERVOIR CO. The Grande Ronde Reservoir Company, with a capital stock of $100,000. and in corporated under the laws of Oregon, seeks to reservoir the waters of the Grande Ronde River in a basin known as Meadow Brook. 25 miles from La Grande. Sufficient water can easily be held to supply 20.000 acres in the north end of the iWley. T'Aompany has gone ahead with the preliminary work, and the outlook now is that it will be delivering water next sum mer. The making of the reservoir at Meadow Brook calls for an 80-foot dam to im pound the water. So favorable are the natural conditions that the expense of this project will bo comparatively small, and of course the farmers who buy water rights will benefit from that fact. The estimated costuf water rights is only S25 an acre, payable in ten annual equal pay menv Aside from a small annual main tena'nvlf fee to keep up the dam and ditches, this will be the total cost for a perpetual water right from the Grande Ronde Reservoir Company. The certain 1 " ' ft " mf FARM RESIDENCH tj ; ffl !.iv.VV nan LA increase in crops eachsyear on every irri gated acre makes this expense trivial. It is less than half the Government's charge per acre for land watered by the Echo project, and about half that reqjired from land owners under the Malthuei project, It is confidently expected that the land owners in the part of the Valley reached by this reservoir project will unanimously accept the company's proposition. To do otherwise would be folly. The directors of the company are all well known local men. and include: G. W. Hunter. George Stoddard, F. S. Bram well. C. H. Crawford and Walter M. Pierce. GRANDE RONDE WATER CO. At an expense of about $2,500,000 the Grande Ronde Water Co. will divert the water of the Minam River to the Grande Ronde Valley. The Minam will be tapped ahove Horse Ranch and enter the Valley by a 37-mile ditch at the Cove. Thence it will be conducted via Union and Sand ridge, watering 1 00,000 acres of valley land. ' The water rights of the Minam have been secured, and the final surveys are now being made. It will require about three years to complete this project. The estimated cost to farmers who own valley land is only $30 an acre 'or a per petual water right, and this amount can be paid in ten equal annual payments. This is a much less amount than is asked by the Government in connection with iU Oregon irrigation systems. The Echo project costs land-owners $60 an acre, and the Malthuer project, $45 an acre. The Minam had on July 1st last a flow of 50.000 miners inches of water, and at its lowest stage there is always at least 25.000 miners inches at the point where the company will divert the stream. This gives ample water for all possible contin gencies. Los Angeles is spending more than S25.000.000 to bring a smaller stream Owens River -to that city, a distance of 150 miles. The Minam is piobably the fines mountain stream in Eastern Oregon, and Mr", gii lllll'""""11''111 i ' -Mi OP J. M. MCALL, GRANDE, UNION COUNTY. OREGON. of such convenient access to' this Valley that it solves for all time to com the question of water here. Fortunately it is net being' used at all. either above or below Horse Ranch, for irrigation pur poses, and the Grande Ronde Water Co. has secured the entire water rights. The directors of the Grande Ronde Water Co. are J. H. Romig, T. R. Berry and Walter M. Pierce. The project is not of recent date, although the company was organized only last July. Surveys have been made in every possible direction, and engineers have searched for the most available route for several years. Cath erine creek was examined to its head waters with the result that no available location for a reservoir was found on its entire length. One bij advantage of the Minam project is that a reservoir is un necessary, the regular flow being ample. Within a reasonable time, practically the whole of the Grande Ronde Valley will be under irrigation. THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY FRUIT GROWERS' UNION. VALLEY SHOULD JOIN AT ONCE Through organization, the fruit growers of the Grande Ronde Valley will receive many benefits unattainable as individuals. The Grande Ronde Valley Fruit Grow ers' Union is an incorporated organiza tion, whose sole object is to foster the in terests of local fruit growers. Its officers and directors are: L Oldenburg, president; P. H. Dickinson, vice-president; E. Z. Carbine secretary and manager: B. A. Davis. F. L. Coykendall. All are well-known citi zens of the Valley, and fruit-growers of prominence. The Union was formed last January, and already represents the product of 1000 acres of bearing orchard as well as 200.000 young trees that will in a few years come into bearing. Its operations tend to secure for fruit-growers the very highest market price. The Union proposes to ship not only in car lots but in train loads. It will furnish fruit growers all needed information on how to grow fruit and get the best results. There are very few pests or blights in this Valley that affect fruit trees, and these few can be eradi cated by intelligent and well-directed effort. The Union proposes to see that this is done. The Union intends to stop the shipment of any imperfect fruit from the Valley, and suggests it be remembered that any man has the right, and will be doing a service to this Valley's fruit industry, if he calls the attention of the Union's sec retory to imperfect fruit that should be condemned. U is indeed short-sightedness to permit any inferior fruit to leave the Valley. All fruit of members will be packed un der the supervision of the Union, and with care in this respect there is no reason why the fruit growers of this Valley should receive any lower prices than those received at Hood River nr else where. The primary object of the Union is to secure due recognition of the high quality of this Valley's fruit, with attendant high prices. It is a Grande Ronde Val'ey enterprise and it is emphatically to the interests of every fruit grower in this Valley, large or small, to become a member at once. n gig-saving is enecioa oy memoers in securing the necessary boxes, naiis, pa' per, etc., but this is the least of the bene fits derived. Grande Ronde Valley fruit is mostly raised without irrigation, although irriga tion admitedly helps materially where it is possible. The fruit is marketed all over the Unit ed States, and some of it is shipped to Europe. No higher quality of fruit is produced anywhere. The Union made a small ex hibit of this Valley's fruit at the Irrigation Congress at Boise early this month. Vice President Fairbanks said: "Your exhibit is not large, but it is of the very best." Many fruit experts in attendance were loud in their praise of Grande Ronde Val ley fruit. Experience everywhere has clearly demonstrated that a well-managed or ganization is of incalculable value to fruit growers, and the Grande Ronde Valley Fruit Growers' Union will prove so here. Whether your orchard be large or small, join at once. See E. Z. C irbine. secre ary, at his office, opposite the Sommers Hotel, Depot street. La Grande. To visit Grande Ronde Valley and see It and to Investigate Its advan tages. Is to locate here. In no instance have people, who have visited this valley, given It other than the beet of reputation In regard to climate, soil and everything that goee to constitute a good country. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 17. 1906 - Cl'rT" t BEET SUGAR PACTORT AT LA GRANDE. RFFT CI IP. AD MliiiiEiOTunc ovun iviivi Hbiunt LA GRANDE THE SITE OF THE ONLY BEET 8UQAR FACTORY IN OREGON. The Grande Ronde Valley Has Been Materially Benefitted by This In dustry Increased Aoreaae DvoH tu rtaieing bugar Beets Desirable. The year 1898 witnessed the erection In La Grande of a large and thorouii y equipped beet augur factory, hav ing a capacity for treating 350 torn ot beets dally, nd producing an unex celled quality of commercial sugar. A suflk'lent time has elaps. d since the fai-tory bean operations to show the benefits accruing to this section through sugar beet raining end manu facture. While the maximum capacity of the pliint hns n, ver been reached, and while the fact Is very plain that a much Increased offering of beets cou'd be advantageously handled, the mnnlfod benefits that hnve nteuMed lorally from this Industry are too eett evident to be unobserved) even by the most pessimistic. The Obserwr wims them up as fol lows: Many thousands of dollnrs have been distributed among the wideawake furmers of this section who have de voted pnrt of their land to beet raisin Llffht. congenial and hea'thy work has bee.n provided for those who cou'd be Induced to accept It In the fields. Tlv operation of the factory has furnished employment all the year for some (and during a part of each year for a large number), of well-paid em ployes. The money thus put In local circul ation has been derived) from sales of sugar at distant points, and Is In con sequence) money that under no other circumstances would have been seen here. Unquestionably the beet sugar In dustry has strengthened farm va'ues and has been one of tTie direct causos of the gratifying Increase In price of all farm property In this section. The adaptability of Orande ltonJe Vajley landyto the raising of sugar beets has been deflnately provn, and the fact demonstrated that success! re beet crops on the same land Incroaso, Instead of decrease, Its productive ness. Larger crops of beets per acre each succeeding year on the same land has been the almosMnvarlable experi ence, and It Is evident that Increased fertility results from sugar beet rais ing under right methods and condi tions. These are In the main the material benefits so far received from the In dustry ''ocally. In this vicinity, beets are a certain crop, and as they are contracted for at a stated and agreed price, at the time of planting, the element of chnnce which applies so universally to other crops is eliminated. At S4.S0 a ton, which Is the usunl contract price, the farmer Is certain of larger net returns per acre than from any othir product of the fnrm save and excepting fruit. The returns from either grain or hay by no means equal the returns from beets, and no man can say until harv est time, with any accuracy, what the mnrket price of wheat, oats, rye, hay potato", or other fnrm products will be. WhI'e orchards bring In more money per arre to their fortunate owners, thore Is a period of several yedrs of net loss b' fore the tree reach the age of bearing. Not so with beets. liana some returns are s cured the very first season, and a steady Increase Is notlce sb'" from yenr to year. The main difficulty met with In beet culture Is In S' enrin? the ncessnry Inbor In sufficient numbers during the weeding end harvesting perlols. But an Increased population Is s'eadtly remedying this hnndlcnp. There Is a big advantage In the ffft that the work Is not heavy, and boys and girls ns well as their parents can do effc tlv work In the fields. It Is distinctly to the Interests of the Hnd-owners of this valley to en deavor to supp'y all of the beets that can he used by the factory, for Its maximum operation will directly or Indirectly benefit' every resident of this section. This fall the prospective offerinc of tt la estimated at tt IH i i I i i;i s Mini if,, " 8 S ' i i i i i taSr-i' '"'' ' K'-!. wmcn is hy fur the largest offer Ing to date, and Indicates a more gen era, realisaaon f the opportunity for profit that Is afforded by sugar beet raising wil. be cheerfu.ly furnished, raising . The factory can easily handle 60.000 tons and that amount would gladly be purchased. In fact, there Is nnt thsa si llia.t J. ' m auction, for the Amalgamated Sujar company will contract, before the seed is put In the ground, to buy every ton raised. Fur;hermor all nlhi. vice and all necessary Information of value to thoso Inexperienced In beet The beet Is a hardy plant, ana there Is rea ly no question of failure to se cure a crop upon even the first plant ing. The bist criterion of the possibili ties of the sugar beet Industry in this valley Is what has been accomplished under praotlcally equal conditions else where. In Colorado In 1904, there were plant ed 46.100 acres of sugar beets from which were harvested 469,000 tons, of a value to the farmers of over two million dolars. In 1905. there were 60.000 acres devotd to sugar beets, In that state, and, this year the planting Is even heavier. There are now eleven sugar bent factories In Colorado and many of them handle from 60.000 to 80 000 tons each. Without exception all bect-sugnr-cnmmiinltles are pros perous. Amalgamated 8ugr Co, In t898. In response to the expressed desire and financial encouragement of the peoole of La Grande and vicinity, the larjie factory aws built here by David Eccles. C. W. Nlbley and their ansoelntts, organised as the Oregon Sugar company. Later the property was acquired by the Amalgamated Sugar Co., which owns and operates beet sugar factories In Ogden, Logan and Lewlston. Utah, as well as In La Orande. The officers of the company are: David Eccles, president; Hir am H. Spencer, vice president; Henry H. Rolapp. secretary and treasurer, and the directors Include Joseph P. Smltb, Fred J. Klesel, Ephralm P. Ellison, Joseph Clark. William H. Wattls, Hiram H. Spencer, Joseph Scowcroft, Adam Patterson, George Stoddard, M. 8. Browning. The four plants of this company have a combined capacity of 1800 tons of beets dal'y sufficient to cane for the probable production for some years to come. The La Grande plant ha for the past six years bien under the local management of F. S. Brammll, who possesses the acquaintance and con fidence of the people throughout this section. The superintendent, F. O. Taylor, j who began his dutl s here this year, was formerly superintendent of the t,ogan factory, and has had a wtfle and valuable experience In scientific practical sugar-making having vlslt 'd and worked In some of the largvst plants In the country. The process of sugar-making from beets, while not extremely complicat ed, requires accuracy of method and unoi nsln watchfulness If the best product Is to be obtained. The pioneer beet sugnr makers weru unable to obtain scientific help, and their product suffered accordingly. Among peopl- who used this Inferior sugar, a nutural projudlne In favor of cane sugar arose, which, however, preseni-day manufacturers have but lltt'e dltllculty In overcoming. The truth Is that perfect beet sugar does not In any way differ fiom pure cane h ii g nr. either In taste, appearance m sweeienlng properties. The non sugars In ttv- product from the beet nn exceedingly unpleasant to tne tuste, whereas the non-sugars from i-jine are not so characterized, with :h! result that Irnperf.-ctly refined cane wugur will easily flnd a market where there Is no sale for beet sugar carry In an excess of non-sugnrs. The coarseness or flnena of sugar crystals Is governed entirely by the degree to which cryatallxatlon Is car ried in the process ot manufacture, and tt Is In this one respect that Uie element of chance enter. Practice, however, confers on operator a de cided expertness In controlling the sis of tb srystal. ii EXTRA NUMBER - , r;i . ' - . JILL. I Although there are, of course, many larger sugar plant, the La Grand factory has every essential ot equip ment for the production of the highest grade sugars. Storage facilities ao ample, and shipping taclltles are ex cellent. A detailed descrlntlon nt . ment and the process would perhaps hurd'y be ot wide general Interest and It will suffice to say that the beets are handled and converted Into sugar with a maximum of economy by tb most approved modern methods. Ba ts are ready for harvesting about the middle of September, and then lor the next 30 or 40 days a steady stream of wagons makes deliveries to tb factory. Duriiw the opi rating season, which begins as soon as beets are de livered In quantity, the factory run night and day without cessation until the entire crop ts cared for. The pulp of the bei ts, from which the sugar juices have been extracted makes an exce lent feed for fattening cattle, and Is stored in sllrs for that purpose. Th molassoe refuse Is also used for stock food, although from It alcohol and other chemicals can be readily extract ed and these by-products may In Urn be mode hero. The main thing, at present, Is to ma terially Increase the beet acreage, and In any effort to do so farmers may ab solutely rdy upon the co-operation and assistance to any reasonable ex tent on the part of the Amalgamated Su jnr Co. If you have available land and are Interested, call upon Mr. Bramwell at your earlkst convenience, and discuss this matter. GEO. PALMER LUMBER CO. PLANT NOW BEING BUILT AT LA GRANDE. The company was incorporated Janu ary 1, 1904. and this summer secured a very desirable site on the Grande Rond river, at La Grande, to manufacture into lumber the heavy timber holdings it has acquired. The plant will be in operation next March, and will give employment to a large number of men. The company's pay roll will include from 200 to S00 1 1 - .4 4L- :i I t. . 1 I Y-i ai IU9 at bnv mill sna in mis wwui. ins timbe' holdings are in Union and Wal- -Iowa counties, and th O. R. & N. exten sion taps them. The capacity of th plant will be about 100,000 feet daily, and all kinds of rough and dressed lum ber will be tnrned out. The equipment will include dry kilns and a thoroughly modern planing mill. The officers of the company are: Geo M. Palmer, president; D. S. Priest, vice president; Geo. L. Cleaver, secretary; G. M. Byrkit, treasurer. SUMMERVILLE LUMBER CO. IMBLER'S BIG SAW AND PLANING MILL OUTPUT FOUR MILLION FEET ANNUALLY. At Imbler, on the Elgin branch of the U. K. t IN. Lo. s line, is located one of th important lumber industries of the Val leythe Summerville Lumber Co.'s plant. About seventy men' are employed in th saw and planing mill and in teaming. n k AUAV4nA r. , i . nw v., v iiirouii vuains lire Hupb on the road. " The output includes all kinde of rough and dressed lumber, and shiprnonts ar made throughout the Middle West. There is now on hand about 2,600,000 feet of lumber. , The company was established some four years ago. and is successfully hand ling a large business. The owners are: J. I. Wado, an old resident of the Grande Ronde Valley; P. S. Robinson, formerly of Kentucky, who came here in 1901, and W. B. Bach, who came west from Ann Arbor, Mich., a few years ago. The mountains of Union county ar i-uvitcq wiin uriiuer oi ins Dear quali ty for lumbering DurDOsea. Tha Um ber consists ot pin, Or, sprue tamarack.