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About The Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 19??-1984 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1936)
Section 3 THIRTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY PAGES 1 to 6 VOLUME XXX Uhe Hermistun Aerali HERMISTON, UMATILLA COUNTY, NUMBER 5C WESTLAND AREA STRUGGLES THRU J. W. Messner. DAM BUILT — New Settlement Follows Summer Irrigation; Messner Stays. MC KAY The Westland Irrigation District contains 13,000 acres, of which 5,- 000 are now being cultivated and 3,000 under distribution canals, 2.000 more under main canals and 3,000 acres requiring a pipe line from the highline to the land to supply water. The Westland district is one of the oldest in history and one of the latest in fulfillment of its develop ment. In 1881 G. W. Hunt filed water rights on the Umatilla river and built a ditch from the present loca tion of the diversion dam and head- gates of the Westland canal five miles west to about the Hawley Bean ranch. The canal was 30 feet wide on the bottom. Hunt was a railroad builder and his fortunes failed to the extent that he could not complete the work. In 1903 the Hinkle Ditch Com panw was formed by J. T. Hinkle, O. D. Teel and Dr. H. S. Garfield. This company set up that the Hunt filings and works had expired for want of use and relocated new water rights. It extended the canal with Jack’s Cafe Open All Night Compliments the Herald on its Thirty Year Anniversary edition and service in the community. Jack House, Prop. JIMMIE’S Barber Shop Experienced Help L. A. LOVERING, Assistant Barber JIMMY MONTGOMERY. Manager District manager of the Westland Irrigation District in which capacity he has served for a quarter of a cen tury. a ten foot bottom to Butter Creek and bought 7,000 acres of the Hunt lands west of Butter Creek. In 1908 the Western Land and Irrigation Company was formed by J. W. Messner, then of Baker, Dr. W. J. Stapish of Walla Walla, and Elmer Cleaver and Clifton Cleaver of Pen dleton. This company paid the Hinkle Ditch Company $150,000 for its interests and assumed all obliga tions. It then made a contract with H. G. Newport to complete the pres ent system of main canals, at a cost of over $100,000. The irrigation system has cost, including diversion dam, gates and distribution ditches over $300,000. The main system is sufficient to carry water to all the lands of the district. The district owns 40 percent of the storage water of the McKay re- servoir storage. Within its bound- aries are 55 farms with an average size of over 90 acres each now oper ating. A large number of these farms are 150 to 400 acres, but the tendency is toward smaller tracts of not over 4 0 acres, on which basis homes for over 300 families could be supplied instead of the 55 that now live there. The system also now carries the waters of the old Courtney, Allen and Pioneer ditches which are di verted from the main canal to the lands supplied in the Umatilla Mea dows. The general manager of the dis- trict is J. W. Messsner, who took charge in 1908 and has occupied the position for 28 years. He is the only man remaining of the group who formed the Hinkle or Western Land & Irrigation companies. In 1918 the Westland Irrigation District was i formed under the direction of a board of directors composed of J. W. | Messner, Clarence Roberts, Herbert Strohm, J. M. Brindle and A. D. Smith, and in-1925 the new district organization took over the assets of the district water system and lands The newly chosen board consisted of J. W. Messner, Hawley Bean, J. M. Brindle, Roy Attebury and Lee Save- ly. Later under state law this i num- ber was reduced to a board of three M composed of Hawley Bean, J. . Brindle and Roy Attebury and J. W. Messner was made general manager The lands are now owned by 55 farmers with about 5.000 acres; Western Irrigation Company, com posed of stockholders in Cincinnati Ohio, 700 acres; Northern Pacific Railway Co., 1.200 acres; Mortgage Company of America. 600 acres; Umatilla county, 2,000 acres; with the remaining 3,500 not supplied with water or requiring a siphen pipeline service belonging to Uncle Sam, the N, P, Co,, state and others. These lie mainly west of the West- land school house and compose a fine body of arid lands. The main canal from the headgate to Butter Creek is 13 miles long and with a capacity of 300 second feet of water. At Butter Creek it is di vided into the high line, covering the lands due west of Butter Creek into Morrow county six miles in length, and the low line, seven miles long, which covers the lands northwest of Butter Creek and west of Hermiston two miles. Under the main canal to Butter Creek and in the Butter Creek valley are some of the oldest and best improved farms in Umatilla County and the newer lands give promise of equal qualities for future development. Land values are low and opportunities for farm ers under the Westland district are no better anywhere else in the Ba cific northwest. Delays in settlement of the lands in Westland have been caused during the years by an insufficient summer water supply, or want of storage. The McKay dam in 1928 gave that necessary supply of water. The early promoters of this pro ject, like those of the Irrigon and Furnish projects, had witnessed the high production on Butter Creek and the Meadows with spring or flood water supply. Winter irrigation 30 years ago was much talked about and its value proven by neighborhood re sults. But the factors of soil, water table and crop varieties were not given sufficient investigation or con sideration. Alfalfa with a long tap root grew prolificali in the rich deep soil of Butter Creek with a six foot impervious water table along Boys’ Shoes BOYS’ BLACK KIP OXFORDS— Popu lar wing tip style. No- Q@ mark composition sole. A 7 big value!............................. Y—" A 0 AM "Y BOYS’ BLACK CALF OXFORDS— Has trouser crease vamp. Fine 40 00 calf uppers, leather soles, 7 MX rubber heels.......................... YM'Y BOYS’ WORK SHOES— Good quality black elk uppers, no mark (4 00 compo soles, heels. Lots sh I MX of tough wear in these........ Y ■ "Y YOUNG MEN’S BROGUES — Just the thing for school wear. Brown pebble grain uppers. Two full ( A AC double soles and leather -4 Mzi heels....................................... Y BOYS’ LONGIES Sturdy whipcord long- ies. Sanforized shrunk. Sizes 6 to 16. BOYS’ POLO SHIRTS NEW! DUKE OF KENT Warm jersey knit, long sleeves. Just the thing for fall. Plain ry g colors with fancy col- / Va lars. Hurry for these! • Deep-Tones. Fine broadcloth . button down collar. Navy and g g brown. Sizes 6 to 141/2. gr Ua Vat dye e/% $1.19 BOYS’ SWEATERS BOYS’ SHIRTS BOYS’ CORDS Mixed mohair and wool. Full zipper front and fancy back. Fine broadcloths . . fast colors. Plains and fan Heavy, narrow wale corduroy that will take a lot of wear. Full cut. Navy and castor. Sizes 6 to 16. $1.98 OREGON, $1.98 Numerous Other Styles We invite you to call on us during the Fair! MEN’S STORE Hermiston, Oregon PHONE 111 Section 3 THIRTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY PAGES 1 to 6 SEPTEMBER 17. 1936 which the drainage of lands above from the then plentiful water sup ply on the upper watersheds flowed most of the summer season. Capil lary attraction from the six foot water table depth reached easily the roots of alfalfa, also produced grains and some gardens in selected places. These features did not prove out in the lands of the higher tables. Win ter irrigation and even late flood waters were found insufficient. Some beautiful orchards were grown to maturity on the west side 20 years ago with flood water until June, but would not mature fruit. Alfalfa would make one crop and maybe a light second, but it was dif ficult to hold a stand. Only early gardens were possible. ALFALFA SCENES ON WEST SIDE. I ■ • 13. , aoy’r. Ir ’s It was then that many of the settlers abandoned their lands. The fact of failure was faced, and this resulted in the demand for storage and the final construction of the McKay dam, which cured these early evils. Upper View—Looking northeast from near the C. A. Corliss place Twenty hay stacks were in sight. But by this time the depression toward the Jess Brindle ranch. Lower View—Looking eastward from near the Roy Attebury ranch had set in and land settlement had across the Ralph Richard place on Butter Creek. eeased or become nearly impossible, and many acres of the Westland District still lie idle, awaiting the Justice of the Peace handiwork of good farmers. In 1908, new voting precincts With the impulse that is being During the days just before pro were created at Hermiston and a given the Bacific northwest through hibition went into effect, wine ma new Justice of the Beace district, great public works and the move kers were considering the Columbia previously all such duties being at ment of drouth stricken farmers this river valley for growing wine tended to at Echo. F. C. McKenzie way, and the growing demand for grapes, They sent a Swiss wine ma- was the first Justice of the Peace. irrigated lands where crops are In- ker to investigate the territory be- E. B. Dodd succeeded him and re- sured, settlement of these vacant tween The Dalles and Lewiston. signed after eight years. He was which he reported favorable. His succeeded by R. C. Todd, who held lands should proceed more rapidly name was Albert Angermayer, sup the position three years. “Dad" In addition to these factors, condi erintendent of wineries in Califor West then became the justice and tions have greatly improved locally nia. His report said: “The quality after he was in office seven years through crop and marketing devel of wine grapes that will successful was succeeded by P. P. Sullivan, the opments which insure success to ly rival the best products from the present official. the newcomer on new lands. With Rhine and Moselle districts in Ger- Hermiston Postmasters. the advancement of the dairy, egg many, the Bordeaux, Gironde and and turkey industries, the adoptation Medoc in France, can be grown in The first postmaster was J. K. of corn and other proven soil crops, the sandy soils here, which would be Bland. The second was J. H. Wil and through the benefits of the free from disease. The flavor would liams. Bresident Wilson appointed many cooperative institutions here, be free from all taints of vinegar. John Young who was succeeded by the lands across the Umatilla river The elevation and latitude were C. H. Skinner. Bresident Harding now with abundance of water should special factors.” Brohibition was de appointed Mrs. L. A. Phelps; Presi- dent Roosevelt appointed H. J. Stil be transformed into successful clared and all development of the lings, who resigned. Harvey De farms. industry here, dropped. Moss is present postmaster HERMISTON MERCANTILE COOPERATIVE renders service to its Members and Customers Read these prices! Macaroni or Spaghetti, 4 lbs. . 25c Crackers, graham or white, 2 lb. box 25c Peanut Butter, Hoody’s, 2 lbs. 25c Pickles, sweet, quart . . 35c Deviled Meat, %. , 6 for . . 25c Salmon, Alaska pink, 3 cans 35c Salt, 8 pound sack . . 20c Soda, 1 pound pkg. . . 5c Coffee, 3 pounds 45c Matches, 6 box carton . . 18c Flour, 49 lb. sack . . . $1.39 Tomatoes, size 21 can • • • 10c Catsup, per bottle . . . 10c Sugar, pure cane, 10 lbs. . . 57c Shortening, Swift’s, 4 lbs. . . 43c Phone 401 Harry Connor, Mgr
