28
GREAT IMPETUS IS GIVEN IRRIGATION
GOVERNMENT AND STATE WILL ADD MILLION
ACRES TO CULTIVATED AREA OF OREGON.
Advance Thresher Company
IRRIGATION is making- err eat strides
In. 'Oregon, and a few years -will
se vast tracts In the eastern part
of the state highly cultivated and
densely populated through its agency.
Until 1902, not Qiilte 400,000 acres had
been watered by individual and cor
porate effort. To this 424,616 acres are
being: added by the Joint action of the
state and private corporations in the
Deschutes Valley. The Government
has definitely adopted the project for
Irrigating 100,000 acres in the Malheur
yalley. at a cost of about J3.000.000,
and now proposes to carry out an even
larger scheme In the Klamath Valley,
whereby over 320,000 acres will be
watered. A number of private Indi
viduals are constructing canals and
ditches to tracts which they own. Al
together, the schemes In execution or
projected will increase the Irrigated
area in Oregon to over 1,200,000 acres.
The Klamath scheme is the largest
yet taken up by the Government, its
adoption liaving been announced since
Mr. "Whistler wrote his article on Gov
ernment irrigation. The tract to be
watered is cut by tho state line be
tween Oregon and California, and two
large lakes which, are in both states
are to be drained. Storage reservoirs
wilj bo built In each state for the Irri
gation of land in the other.
IRRIGATE ON MALHEUR.
Government Reclamation Project Will
Add $10,000,000 to Valuation.
UNDER the act of Congress common
ly known as the t reclamation act,
surveys and other investigations have
been carried on in Oregon since early
lh the year 1903. Appropriations by
Congress prior to the passage of the
act had provided for the measurement
or yearly run-off of a few streams only
In each state. The projects which can
be recommended for early construction
are, therefore, limited to thoso in
which at least three or four years' rec
ord can be had of water supply avail
able. Of such projects in Oregon, that
of the Malheur Valley has appeared the
most attractive, and surveys and other
Investigations have there been made
most complete.
The reclamation act provides that
lands in prlvato ownership may ac
quire a water right under any project,
but also requires that charges for all
water rights "shall be determined with
a view to returning the cost of con
struction." It is therefore necessary
that the Government hold a lien in
some form on all patented lands ap
plying for a water right, in order to
nssurc the return of cost of construc
tion. Of the 100,000 acres, approxi
mately, coming under the project,
about 85,000 acres are patented, and of
this about 35,000 acres is road grant
land. At this time the owners of some;
60,000 acres have signified their inten
tion of applying for Government water
right. Tho so-called "road land" is
Siow held by a foreign syndicate, and
the owners have not yet signified a de
Eire to avail themselves of the project.
A complication of vested water rights
exists, and the Malheur water-users
Association has been formed to deter
mine and take up these rights. If pos
sible, and otherwise assure unity of ac-
llilPliiiii :;
HXTJCP80VXD TEiaflA'BT.TC X&3CD AX UPPER KhU OF XAT.XTOB TAXIXY.
tlon on the part of the present land
owners. The enterprise as an engineering
problem ' is exceptionally attractive.
The total area of land now Irrigated
from the Malheur' River does not ex
ceed 15,000. acres. Less than one-third
of this area is fully irrigated, even in
years of average run-off. The total run
off this year will be nearly six times
that of 1891. The average run-oft of
which there is any record is about
400,000 acre-feet of water,- or sufficient
to cover 100,000 acres, the approxi
mate area it is contemplated to cover
under the project, four feet deep each
. ,. . i n T
k
PRODUCTS OF IRRIGATION XS THE XTAI.HEUB VAIXET.
. . .--..r. ...
year. The Harper reservoir, as esti
mated with dam 160 to 170 feet high,
will hold over 600,00 acre-feet of
water, or enough with, minimum run
off recorded to furnish three years full
TYPICAL STRAWBERRY FARM
UNDER IRRIGATION IN
EASTERN OREGON.
INVESTMENT PER ACRE.
Land $125.0
Plants and planting 23.50
Irrigation 7.03
.Cultivation until first crop.... 25.00
Total ,....,...'....$182.50
Annual cost of culti vation
$:o.Q(L
Interest at 6 per cent '
on Investment. 10.93
-Picking and packing... 62.50 $ 73145
- YIELD PER ACRE.
Clark's seedlings, 125 crates
at $2.23 $2SL25
Profit 207.80
Or Sharpless and Magoons,
200 crates at $1.25". 250.03
Profit 176.53
supply. This will not need to be
spread over the land early in the
Spring before it is needed, and to the
detriment of at least the first crop, but
can be used just as needed throughout
the driest parts of the season.
Some of the best-watered land in the
IRRIGATION IN OREGON.
Total Government arid land fund.. $23,012,836.48
Oregon contributed of this sum 4,230.659.75
Area to be irrigated by Government oa Malheur River, acres.... 100.000
Cost of reclamation $2,000,000
Area to be Irrigated by Government on Klamath River, acres.. 320,000
Area already irrigated under Carey act, acres . 58,000
Area to be irrigated under Carey act, schemes in process of ex
ecution, acres 364.616
Area irrigated by private enterprise in 1902. acres 388,310
Value of irrigated crop in 1902 $2,926,605
Average crop of alfalfa per acre, tons 6
Average crop of apples per acre, bushels 143
Average crop of strawberries per acre, crates 100
Average crop of peaches per acre, bushels 1.500
Acres of Irrigated land in 1N 177,944
Acres of irrigated land In 1899 3S7.095
Average cost of construction per aero of irrlgatlbn system from
streams $4.74
Same from wells $25.07
valley has produced as high as 10 tons
of alfalfa to the acre in one year. An
average price for alfalfa hay is $5 per
ton In the stack, and the last two
Springs It has sold for Irom $10 to $15.
The best-watered land in the valley
cannot nowbe bought -for $100 per
acre, improved. Land .certainly cannot
be worth less under the water supply
proposed by the Government. This will
mean that, when tho land is all
watered and improved, a farm value of
nearly $10,000,000 will have been add
ed to Eastern Oregon. Other Improve
ments, such as railways, cities and fac-
tories, will add at least a half more,
and $15,000,000 is not a small valua
tion to be added even to the whole
State of Oregon.
The estimated cost per acre is about
$30. This will be paid in ten equal an
nual payments. It is of interest to note
that $18.50 at 10 per cent compound in
terest, the prevailing rate in Eastern Or
egon, will jest meet these payments. It
is not' probable that, in ten years after
completion of the project, the average
net receipts per aero each year will be
less than this amount.
The Government will be ready to begin
construction Just as soon as all the laad-
owners under the project have formally
subscribed to the necessary requirements
to insure the Government a return of cost
of construction. It seems probable now
that the chief delay may be from the
"road land syndicate.
JOHN T. "WHISTLER,
Engineer 17. S. Geological Survey.-
RECLAIMING A DESERT.
Farmers on Desphutes Irrigated Land
Raise Great Crops.
a NDER the terms of the Carey arid
U .land grant, the State bt. Oregon ha
applied -for 421.616 acres in EastenjOre
gon, oi which 100.000-acres have been ap
provedTby the Interior Department, and
this will be reclaimed oy private enter
prise. In. the Valley of the Deschutes
River, in Crook County, the most exten.
slve reclamation works have been under'
taken and the greatest progress has been
made.
The Federal law. grants to the state not
more than 1,000,000 acre?, upon condition
that it be reclaimed. The state law au
thorlzes the' State Land Board to grant
contracts to corporations for the rccla
mation of specified tracts, the companies
to get their compensation from actual
settlers.
The State Land Board fixes the total
cost of reclamation, and this is appor
tioned among the 40-acre tracts according
to their relative value, and la a lien upon
upon the land In favor of the reclamation
company. Persons desiring to, secure the
iana must pay on. tno company's lien
whereupon the state Issues a deed con
veying tho state's title to the applicant
The title Is derived by patent from the
United States when reclamation has
been proven, and then by deed from the
state to the settler.
As the state law accepting the terms
of the Carey act was not enacted until
1901. and considerable time was necessary
to get it into' practical operation and se
cure contracts with the Department of
the Interior, very few irrigation enter
prises have progressed so far that water
has been turned upon cultivated land.
About WOO acres has already been put un
der cultivation, and. water is available
for the irrigation of over 60,000 acres the
coming season.
Twenty reclamation enterprises have
been started in Oregon under this law,
the tracts to be Irrigated ranging in area
from 600 acres to S5.000 acres. The smaller
tracts will be reclaimed by Individuals,
who will take the' land themselves. The
larger enterprises have been undertaken
by corporations. The State Land Board
fixes the rate to be charged for the use
of water. The cost of construction In, the
larger enterprises is placed at $10 per
acre, and the annual charge at $1 per
acre, which also goes to tne company.
"When apportioned to the several 40-acre
tracts, the Hens range from $2.50 to $14.73
per acre, the amount oeing acterminea
by the area of Irriyable lana in eacn 40-
acre tract.
Only two large concerns have already
constructed extensive irrigation systems.
the Three Sisters Company, on zi.tW
acres west of the Deschutes and north
of the Tumello River, taking water from
the latter stream: and the Deschutes Ir
rigatlon St Power Company, on 141.000
acres east or tne uescnutes. so urn oi
Crooked River, and north, and east of
Bend. The latter company has an appu
cation pending in the Department of the
interior for a irrant of 74.000 acres more,
inerMslnir its total to ZH.OQQ acres, it
wL. also water land already taken under
the homestead and school iaou laws
which will raise its aggregate acreage to
250.000.
The Three Sisters Company cos con
structed main canals aggregating 20 miles
in length, and laterals nearly as long. Tne
estimated cost of construction is tzn.wi.
"Water Is now available for nearly all the
iRnd, and about 18,000 acres has already
been rpplled for by settlers, who have
cul mated much of It
The Deschutes Irrigation afc Power Com
nanv lies constructed a flume tnree miles
Ion?, about SO miles of main canal and 12
miles of laterals, with water reaoy ior
the Irrigation of 40.000 acres of land. About
15.000 acres has been taken by Individ
uals, many of whom have already raised
crors.
A number of small tracts unclaimed ny
individuals or associations have been re
claimed, and are now under cultivation
FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER
THE RECLAMATION LAW
ON JUNE 30, 1B04.
State or Territory Aggregate.
Arizona $ 166.403.85
California 1.971.808J1
Colorado 1,591.167.56
Idaho 1.645.529.53
Kansas 97,849.53
Montana 1,749.002.90
Nebraska 477,973.42
Nevada 48,153.41
New Mexico 420.2C2.26
North Dakota , 3,406,100.14
Oklahoma 2,552.137.33
Oregon . 4.230.659.75
South Dakota 742.780.60
Utah S02.351.O3
Washington 2.735,362.98
"Wyoming 873,253.83
Total $23,012,836.46
Other large concerns are preparing to con
struct irrigation systems.
BT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE..
Many Companies Also Irrigate Largs
Tracts of Arid Lana.
TV OT only are the Government and the
State of Oregon putting water on hugo
tracts of land, but many private individ
uals and corporations are putting water
on land which they have purchased. Tho
majority of these enterprises are in Uma
tllla County, where the land has proved
most fertile under the innuence 01 irri
gation, but many others are being car
ried out in Malheur, Harney and Klam
ath counties.
Of the new enterprises of this character
which are In process of execution In Uma
tllla County, the Hinkle Ditch Company,
of Echo, is digging canals and ditches to
carry water to 12.000 acres near i.cno
the Milton, Freewater & Hudson Bay
ditch, near Freewater, is being extended
to cover 10.000 acres, of which 2000 is al
ready under water; the Maxwell , ditch
Is being constructed to cover 15.000 acres
in Maxwell and Cold Springs valleys, near
Maxwell, a postofflce of which the name
is to be changed to Hermlston, and wa
ter is now available for 3000 acres, and
the Irrigon Company has watered a large
tract at Irrigon. The custom is to seL
perpetual water right with the land, which
remains subject to an annual charge for
maintenance of the water supply, rang
ing from $1 to $L50 an acre on the differ
ent tracts.
The land in that section has a deep
soil of volcanic ash. which contains all the
elements of fertility in inexhaustible
quantity. It will grow melons, grapes, ap
ples, peaches; in fact, any fruit .which
thrives 1n a semi tropical country. Eng-
llshwalnuts, soft-shell almonds and pea
nuts have been grown with great success
In that section. Alfalfa grown there to
perfection, and proves a highly profitable
crop, for after the ground Is once seeded.
It can be grown, cut and stacked for $L50
a ton, and has been sold In the stack this
season at $6.50 a ten. This is au unsur
passed feed for stock, producing pound
tor pound of flesh with corn. An acre
will grow seven tons of alfalfa, or 14,000
pounds, but 40 bushels, or 2240 pounds, is
an uncommonly good crop of com.
that an acre of alfalfa Is equal to nearly
seven acres of corn as a fat-producer.
By such enterprises large tracts of land
are being put under irrigation In sections
of Eastern Oregon, where tho opportunl
ADVANCE ENGINES STRAW AND COAL BURNERS
ADVANCE SEPARATORS BEATER AND SHAKER
FEEDERS FOR LOOSE AND BUNDLE GRAIN
WIND STACKERS-A11 Kinds. FORK HOISTS, BELTS, ETC.
Write for Catalogue of terras and prices. Let as Icbow ydur wants and ear traveler will see you.
ADVANCE THRESHER COMPANY
PORTLANDj OREQON
ties are too large for single Individuals,
but too small for the Government, or for
operations under the Carey act. Thus;
by the several methods, every tract, large
or small, for which water Is available, is
being brought under cultivation.
CROPS UNDUE IRRIGATION.
What Oregon Arid Land Yields When
Water Is Given.
SUCH abundant crops are grown on Ir
rigated land that 40 acres in fruit .or
hops will make a comfortable living for a
family. Hence dwellers In an irrigated
country are. comparatively clcua nelghbois.
and do not cava to endure that isolation
which has caused many to flee, from coun
try to town. Their situation may be Com
pared to that of residents In a suburb of
a great city, each house standing in the
center of roomy grounds, but all within
calling distance.
Such a community is that of Hond River
"Valley, in which the town of that name
has ISOO people, the population of the
whole valley of 50,000 acres being 5500.
There are 5000 acres under Irrigation,
mostly planted with fruit trees, strawber
ries and other berries. The area under
ditch, which can be watered. Is 20,000
acres, there being 700 miles of flumes,
ditches and laterals. Apple and strawbr
ry land cleared ready for planting rear
the town is worth $150 to $250 an acre;
further out, $30 to $100; uncleared near
town. $75 to $150; uncleared further out.
$10 to $50. The profit on strawberries
ranges from $75 to $200 an acre; on apples,
from $100 to $300. A few sample yields cf
strawberries In 1904 are: D. L. McClure,
341 crates from three acres, sold for $773;
E, H. Shepard, 1517 crates from ten acres,
J. W. Martin, 1S5 crates from one acre, for
$372; E. A. Franz, 2018 crates from IS acres;
Davidson Fruit Company, 1100 crates from
eight acres In an apple orchard. rOf ap
ples. Ludwlg Struck gathered 2415 boxes
of Tellow Newtowns from 3& acres, ivhlcb
sold for $3500; Bruno Franz gathered SS3
boxes from .60 trtsa, or three-fifths of an
acre, nearly all of which sold for $1.75 a
box. All kinds of fruit fom this vaJIey
are sold all through the Northwest and
Alaska, and apples go to New York, Lon
don, Parte, Berlin, Liverpool and Ham
burg without refrigeration.
Similar Irrigated tracts may be found at
Irrigon, Umatilla County, where fruit of
all kinds, corn six feet high, and alfalfa
grow to perfection; about Echo and Uma
tilla. In that county, where In one year
D. "W. Black harvested from 1 acres
458 crates of strawberries, which sold for
$750, and S. A. Miller cleared $350 above
all expenses from one acre; about Ontario,
where some of the greatest and best or
chards in the state are to be found, and
near which place the Government will
construct its Malheur "Valley Irrigation
plant. Alfalfa is the great crop in the
Irrigated valleys of the range country,
which Includes Malheur and Harney Coun-
SITE OF PROPOSED DAH ON HAUTEUR
ties, on the extreme east. Lake and
Klamath counties, on the southern bound
ary. Just- east of the Cascade Mountains.
It yields three crops a year of two tons
each, but one can best form conception
of what this means when told that one
stack 400 feet long and 40 feet wide was
made of hay from one 640-acre tract In
Malheau County.
Honey is a valuable by-product of the
alfalfa fields, for bees gather great quan
tities while they are In bloom. C. "W.
Mallett has 500 stand? of bees on his field
near "Vale, Malheur County, which gather
2000 pounds a day. He packs It in 60-pound
or SPOKANE, WASH.
cans, with two cans in a case, and ships
It East by the carload.
Although settlers have only begun to go
on the newly Irrigated tracts In the Des
chutes Valley In the last two years, they
have already accomplished surprising re
sults. On the Columbia Southern Com
pany's tract, where the land costs $10.70
and the clearing of the sagebrush $4 an
acre, they raised in 1203 wheat, oats, rye,
potatoes and all klnd3 of vegetables In or
der to prepare the land for its perma
nent crop, which will be alfalfa. They
sold the grain crop for hay without
threshing it, as there is a good market
among the neighboring cattlemen, and
there is no means of shipping the grain
until the proposed extension of the
Columbia Southern Railroad to Bend
is completed. In 1904 their crop la
alfalfa. G. L. Summers, a newcomer
from Utah, only arrived about June 1.
but by June 10 he had sown a crop of
wheat and oats, which he has now sold'
at the rate of $20 an acre. As the land
and clearing only cost $14.70, he has
a profit left after recouping himself
for his investment. The same crops, a3
well as sweet corn and watermelons,
were raised on the Deschutes Compa
ny's tract with equally good results.
RIVER.
One settler, named O'Nell, has cut his
second year's crop of alfalfa, which ag
gregated five tons an acre, and sold
at $15 a ton. As his land was a home
stead. It only cost him $1.25 an acre,
and the labor of clearing and until the
irrigation canal was dug he obtained
water by pumping from the river.
Another rich Irrigated country is near
Baker City, where peaches make a
highly remunerative crop. On the Cook
ranch Is" an orchard of 100 peach trees
to the acre, which yields 1500 boxes,
weighing 20 pounds each, to the acre;
some trees producing 30 boxes each.