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.