ARID WASHINGTON AND OREGON 



scene of the earliest colonization efforts. Still farther 

 west is the region watered by the Des Chutes and John 

 Day rivers. Here an area of two hundred miles hi ex- 

 tent is susceptible of irrigation. The Hood river flows 

 through a country which is not entirely arid, but which 

 would be much improved by irrigation. The waters of 

 this stream are likely to be turned upon the land during 

 the next few years. Indeed, it seems probable that the 

 irrigation industry will be extended to the higher valleys 

 on the western slope, since the process has already begun 

 in a small way in the valleys of the Rogue and Willamette. 

 The irrigation systems already in operation in eastern 

 Oregon are generally applied chiefly to bottom and low- 

 lying lands immediately adjacent to the streams. Where 

 canals are extensive they are used for the production of 

 hay and grain as an adjunct to stock-raising. There are 

 a sufficient number of orchards and small farms to de- 

 monstrate the possibilities in this direction, but for the 

 most part eastern Oregon is undeveloped. It is within 

 bounds to say that it can readily make homes for a mill- 

 ion people when irrigation is applied to the best advan- 

 tage. The first impulse of a new era had begun to be felt 

 in 1890, and rose rapidly until the panic of 1893. This 

 impulse must again assert itself powerfully, and it seems 

 not unlikely that this will happen during the next few 

 years. 



