554 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION December 



tiguity to lofty mountains, receive suf- would be ordered this winter. Unfor- 

 ficient rainfall, and to small areas ad- tunately the project is delayed by the 

 jacent to perennial streams, which are complications which always arise when 

 irrigated. Within that portion of the large areas of ceded land are included 

 state of Oregon which is bordered on in these works. These lands, however, 

 the west by the Cascades and which are necessary to the success of the 

 borders Idaho on the east, are millions project, as without them the pro rata 

 of acres of fertile land waiting only cost per acre would be prohibitive. It 

 the touch of water to blossom into ' is hoped before the winter is over all 

 fields of waving grain, alfalfa, and these lands will be included. The con- 

 producing orchards . tracts will then be let for the actual 



Until the passage of the irrigation construction of the work, 

 law Oregon had received but little at- Extensive areas in Umatilla basin 

 tention from the Geological Survey, in Harney County and elsewhere have 

 When that law took its place in the been withdrawn from entry pending 

 national statutes Oregon for the most more careful investigation of water 

 part was terra incognito so far as re- supply. No effort is being spared to 

 lated to any practical knowledge of the bring up to date all the data that will 

 supply of water flowing in the streams, be required to enable the engineers to 

 the feasible reservoir sites and physical pass upon these projects intelligently, 

 conditions. As these data so essen- In connection with his work this 

 tial to the inauguration of any large summer Engineer Whistler has fur- 

 irrigation work were lacking they nee- nished an interesting report of a trip 

 essarily had to be obtained before defi- through the interior of the ^tate by 

 nite plans could be formulated, all of way of Burns, Paisley, Summer Lake, 

 which required time. Silver Lake, Bend, and Prineville, 



The field is so vast that to cover it which was made for the purpose of 

 with even a preliminary investigation investigating several possible irriga- 

 in one or two seasons would have ne- tion projects. One of these contem- 

 cessitated the employment of the en- plates the irrigation of an extensive 

 tire field force of the service, which of tract of land north of Silver Lake, 

 course could not be thought of. Rec- known as the Low Desert or Summer 

 ognizing the importance of the situa- Lake Desert. The water supply is 

 tion and discerning in sonic degree from the headwaters of Deschutes 

 the possibilities latent in this region, River, one of Oregon's most remark- 

 the Chief Engineer organized a large able streams. The area involved is 

 and efficient force of engineers and estimated at more than 200,000 acres 

 aids, and with as little delay as possible and the lands are of exceptional char- 

 established permanent quarters in the acter. The region is remote from the 

 state in charge of John T. Whistler, railroad, but the reclamation of such a 

 an engineer of experience and ability, large body of land would undoubtedly 

 The work has been crowded along as bring transportation facilities very 

 fast as possible, and notwithstanding quickly. A very careful investigation 

 the serious obstacles in the way of the of this area will be made next spring, 

 engineers, Oregon's prospects for hav- The government engineers have dis- 

 ing one of the largest government pro- covered a feasible reservoir site on 

 jects under construction at an early Chewaucan River which will store wa- 

 date are fully as good as those of other ter for the irrigation of 50,000 acres 

 states, concerning the hydrography of of excellent land. There is apparently 

 which the department was much bet- no question as to the sufficiency of the 

 ter informed. The Malheur project, water supply, and the majority of land 

 so far as the government is concerned, owners are urging the Reclamation 

 is ready for building at once. If all Service to extend its investigations in 

 the land under it were the property of this section. In this case, as in a num- 

 the Federal government construction ber of others in Oregon, the govern- 



