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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1919)
THE GAZETTE-TIMnS, HEITXER, ORE., THrT.SDAY, DEC. 18, 1019 f .Vt.E I I I I V 8 lifts of Utility Make It Footwear For Christmas 7. J For Ladies We have a new stock of 9-inch Boots in Black, Grey, and Brown Kid; also in combination top; light, and heavy sole; covered or leather heel. Prices $7.50 to $15.00 Width A to D Ladies Daniel Green Moccasin Slip pers at $3.00. For Men Brown and Black Calf, Vici Kid, and Glazed Kangaroo, made on different last; English and high toe; Bals and blucher. Prices $8.00 to $11.50 Men's Leather and Felt Slippers $2.50 to $3.00 For Boys and Girls We have a big stock to pick from in black and brown leather. Prices $4.00 to $7.50 Sizes 9 to 2 and 2 1-2 to 6 To buy now is to assure yourself of both a future supply and a dollar saved. The price cannot lessen when the world is short on ma terials. Nature takes as much as three years to raise leather whereas foodstuff and cloth stuff grow in a season or two. Take My Tip and Buy Now E. N. GONTY, Shoe Store A Message to Thoughtful Gift Buyers Buy Jewelry For Xmas Gifts THERE IS NO OTHER GIFT which will continue to charm after years of delightful possession with the same appeal as a nice gift of Jewelry. We have a large stock to select from at any price you wish. In addition our stock is com plete in Watches, Clocks, Cut Glass, Sterling and Plated Silverware. Oscar Borg Jeweler and Registered Optometrist I Loves Her Most of All' . mi I HEW Bill fliIFif-1 MUM I 1-ttl By A. V. Cobb, President of the Boardman Commercial Club. When the traveler emerges from the gray desert of dreary sage brush, with the endless stretches of barren desolation unexpectedly and sudden ly crosses the magic line which di vides the "Desert from the Lawn" he is amazed, and sees in the instant transformation a revelation of the true meaning of irrigation. As he proceeds along the formei scene of arid desert, now changed to a prosperous farming community teeming with life and the evidences of civilization, with miles of living green alfalfa in the profusion of its luxuriant growth, he realizes as nev er before what we owe to the splen did achievements of the United States Reclamation Service, who by its in telligent efforts have thus wedded land and water and produced pros perity and happiness. To the world at large and even to most of the rest of Morrow Couut, the North End was until recently .practically unknown. This to some extent is still true owing to the inter vening desert land, but this state of comparative isolation will soon be a memory only. When this desert land is reclaim ed, as it will be. Morrow County will come into its own. Its future growth and development must come from the reclamation of its arid land. Lying in immediate continuity to the land reclaimed by the Govern ment, viz., the west extension of the Umatilla Project, is the great body of land embraced in tne proposed John Day Project, which is already formed into" an irrigation district with good prospects of 300,000 acres. It needs no great imagination to forsee the marvelous development which will occur once this land is open to settlement, or the mighty impetus which will result in making Morrow County the Yakima of Ore gon, and the mecca of myriads of land hungry homeseekers. The history of reclamation had its dark days. When , reclamation of the land which now comprises the West Extension was under consider ation a few years ago, many doubts were expressed as to the wisdom and feasibility of the undertaking. It was feared that the soil was too sandy to grow crops, and that it would not retain water sufficiently, that it would blow away, and that the poor settler would starve out. But the men of courage and vision and tenacity of purpose won out. Their labors were carried to a most successful conclusion, resulting in the reclamation of 15,000 acres a long the Columbia river, now known as the West Extension of the Uma tilla Project. The reclaimed area is a long strip of varying width width about 25 miles in length ly ing parallel with the river, railroad and Columbia river highway. The land slopes gently toward the river, with about the right amount of fall for irrigation and drainage. The soil is a fine sand, some silt, and al so comprises some volcanic ash in its texture. It is a warm quick soil, very responsive to cultivation and easy to handle under all conditions. Water of good quality is found in abundance at depths of 15 to 30 feet. Water is conveyed to this land from the Umatilla river, a dam of great length and height being con structed to conserve the water. From tills point the water is conveyed 26 miles by the main canal and dis tributed by laterals to each 10 acre tract. The main canal, laterals and pipe Hues are concrete lined and U'e construction work is conceded to be the best of its kiud. The system is controlled and operated by the offic ers of the Reclamation Service with headquarters In Hermiston ami is judiciously and economically handl ed with just regards to the needs and rights of the water-users. Wa- for ter is plentiful and methods of dis tribution very satisfactory. lne Government also exercises a paternal regard for the settler, who is often a man of limited means and also of limited experience in irriga tion matters, by providing for his assistance free of charge, the sei vices of a farm expert to help him solve his agricultural problems This expert from the Department of Agriculture is also an engineer and will lay out ditches, give land levels and instructions for headgates, tools, etc. To the novice in farm matter, this is a great help and somewhat re moves the handicaps of inexperience The policy of the Government in limiting the homesteads to 40 acres has the merit of speeding up develop ment, as the farmer more - quickly puts his lands into crops than would be the case were he permitted to take 80 or 160 acres. In regard to crops,, this tract, ow ing to its low elevation, which is from 250 to 350 feet, is enabled to produce a much greater range of farm crops than higher levels. The long growing season and the warm character of the soil make it possible to produce early potatoes, peanuts, melons, cantoloupes, tomatoes, egg plant, asparagus, peaches, cherries, grapes and early strawberries and to get good prices from the early mar ket. The low elevation also enables the farmers to get four cuttings of alfalfa, which is much to his profit and advantage. The almost continual sunshine in summer is also an insurance of good quality, as rains seldom damage hay here, and it is easy to obtain the re quired green color peculiar to well cured alfalfa. This crop is tint mainstay of the project, and without it, farming would be a losing proposition. The nature of our soil renders this plant peculiarly necessary, as it supplies the humus-nitrogen and necessary plant food in which the land is some what deficient. Any crop will grow on land which has previously been planted in alfalfa .elfujfa is cii :iea! crop for this Ijcalry and is .1 profitable one to rai&e. It has few enemies hor.i . ra bbits excepted) does not winter-kiil and the proximity of the stock country insures a good market. It also takes less labor to handle a hay crop than any others which in these times is a fact woi 'h considering. The laud is usually put into alfal fa as soon as possible. It is gener ally started with a nurse crop of rye and if sown in spring will yield a fair crop about August or September, and three or four crops a year, there after. The average yield per acre 1b from 5 to 6 tons where the stand Is matured. Larger yields have been reported in places. Mr. H. H. Wes ton raised this season, on a small area in section 19, at the rate of 9 tons, but this is exceptional. Much of the alfalfa acreage will do better with a little older stand, as the plant is exceedingly deep rooted when ma ture. As prices for tho past two or three years have been around $20 per ton, alfalfa has been a fairly profitable crop to raise. There is no other for age crop that can begin to compare with alfalfa, and no crop so easiij raised, so easily irrigated, harvested or marketd. It is iudespensible to the man who raises stock, and stock is always found where alfalfa grows. It is rel ished alike by all. Sheep, cattib, poultry and bees thrive on it, and where it is found, prosperity, will not be lacking. The Hoardman district has all the essentials of a great alfal fa producing section and no matter what other crops are luter on pro duced, tho main crop interest will center In this, the king of hay cropB. Corn does well here and as the dairying iudustry comes to the front. 11 be ex!-nively ued f.r t and to make a ba'..ir.eed ratio atock. Dairying and alfalfa go hand In hand, and has already obtained a good start here.A considerable num ber of pure-bred stock are kept on the project farms, preference twin given to the Jesey cow. The lands of this project are well located as to markets, being Id) miles from Portland on the west, while near by is the stock country and farther on the mining and tim ber districts, all of which are con sumers of the produce raised here. Traffic on the river Is soon to be resumed and when boats are again in operation, It will have a tendency to reduce freight rates and give the shipper a choice ot carriers and the benefit of water competition. The entire tract is traversed by the Columbia river highway, one of the scenic marvels of the West. This splendid road is not excelled either in location or construction standards. The Board man Road District No. 2, has voted to levy a 10 mill tax for a special fund and will use the money for betterment of roads through the project, and for the building ot feed ers to connect witn tne (joiumoia Highway. It is agreed by all that better com munication with the county seat and the rest of the county must be secur ed as soon as possible, by building a permanent road to Heppner.The mu tual benefit to be derived from this would be worth many times its cost and would put an end to the present Isolation, by bringing all parts of the county in closer contact. It is im perative that this road be built, and as public sentiment is in its favor, it Is likely to materialize in the very near future. Roads of the project are mostly In their natural state and not of the best, but are improving right along. Mail Is carried over the project by a rural carrier. The Boardman Mutual Telephone Company is also organized for bus iness. The West Extension is also recent ly created as an irrigation district in order to better secure the desired co operation of the water-nser and the Reclamation Service. A Federal Farm Loan Association is also organized and ready to oper ate in this territory. In regard to climate and weather here, the conditions are as most places and very healthy. We do not deny that the wind blows here some times, but we claim that it seldom reaches the storm standard. The growing season is the longest in the Northwest and while the days are sometime warm,' yet on the whole, the weather In summer is very comfortable and desirable. The winters are short and mild, with lit tle snow. The roads are never mud dy. As the country becomes settled, & greater range of animal life is a- pparent. rabbits becoming a pest and a menace. Chinese pheasants are quite numerous, also other vari eties of game birds are more com mon, as well as the smaller members of the feathered tribe. There are no poisonous reptiles, and rattle snakes are never seen in the Board man territory. Viewing this land from the scenic standpoint, it may be said that the topography is pleasing, and that part of the project lying to the west par ticularly so. Nearly e,very farm has a fine view of the Columbia river, the land lying at sufficient height to afford a splendid panoramic view of a long stretch of that lordly stream' Mount Hood is seen in solitary gran deur far to the west, whife across the river in Washington, are seen in the distance, the pine clad hills of Klick itat and the spurs of the Cascade Range. As to the future of the land it ia secure. Its destiny is in the hand of its builders, who are capable, in telligent and versatile, and in con junction with their efforts it needs but the assisting hand of Time to bring the fruitage of its full develop ment, and when the project shows fair homes amid orchards and tall trees, set in the vivid green of broad expanses ot alfalfa, this land will present a picture ot rare pastorai charm and beauty; one of the beauty spots of the wide realm, "Where Rolls the Oregon." FEAST FOLLOWS ARAB FAST Institution of the East Much Resem bles the Christ an Observance of Lenten Season. , As the Mohammedan year Is a lunar one. the months rotate through the dif ferent seasons, anil the fast of Rama dan becomes a severe affliction upon the faithful when the month happens to fall In the hot days of summer. The slek, travelers and soldiers In time of war are temporarily released from Mils duty, as well as nursing women and others to whom It might prove Injuri ous. The fast Is followed by the feast of Retrain, which was esti.ld lied by Mohammed, who seems to i"ve been guided by the Christian Institu tion of Lent, which In the early rhun-h varied from four to six weeks. On this day every family of the true believers offers a sheep to Cod, and the streets of the cities are filled with men carry ing the destined victims on their backs. Among the Arabs the festival begins at four In the morning, when great crowds collect at the resilience of the nearest pasha or bey, awaiting his ap pearance In the court of the palace. At five o'clock his highness enters, ac companied by members of his family and his staff; cannon are fired, the pe culiar hands of the East play suitable sirs, and the chief captain announces that the hour of sacrifice has arrived, sad that his highness, after prayer, will be present at this set. All then adjourn to the mosque, ami when the sacrifice Is over the pasha re-enters the court, and those of high rank kl his hand; the Inferior slightly touch ing It with their Hps. This occupies Ibout n hour, when all rellre to take coffee, the captain thanking the crowd for their presence as a mark of at tachment to their ruler.