Free Government Lands To All Who Will Pay The Price Fixed By The State Of Oregon For The Reclamation Of These Lands. Selections Made Under The "Carey Law." Now In The Hands Of The Deschutes Irrigation And Power Co. For Disposal In Crook County, Oregon

The Deschutes Irrigation And Power Company, Bend, Oregon

Publication: Privately printed, nd ca 1905, NP

First edition. 9" x 4" in printed wrappers. [16] pp. Illustrations. Map. "The Carey Act of 1894 led to the creation of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation which initiated many irrigation projects by authorizing the federal government to contract with the states for arid land reclamation. The State of Oregon authorized entrepreneurs to build and operate canal systems for profit. The right of agricultural users to the water were provisional until irrigation actually began producing crops as provided by the Carey Act. On June 30, 1950, the State of Oregon decreed that the Carey Act had provided ample time for interested water users to have staked a water rights claim, and ended the eligibility opt-in period to receive irrigation water." "The Deschutes Irrigation and Power Company Canal is significant as a component of the first large-scale irrigation project in Central Oregon. Built by the Deschutes Irrigation and Power Company, the canal was one of two early irrigation facilities constructed to irrigate desert land for prospective settlers in the central Oregon region in the early twentieth century. This initial canal system was instrumental in the establishment of the city of Bend, Oregon and its surrounding communities. Because of the size of the Deschutes Irrigation and Power Company Canal project and the necessity of constructing it in an area of solid basalt subsurface conditions, the surveying, construction and operation of the company were substantial engineering feats for the period." Lots offered from 40 to 160 acres with perpetual water rights for the land. "Under this contract, the company agrees with the settler to bring the water in ditches to the land of each purchaser and the company is to keep up all repairs on the ditches, etc. being allowed to collect $1 per acre per annum for the irrigable acres as a maintenance fee from the holder of land." Offers an extract from a report of the State Land Board which claims that the board inspected flumes and ditches and was pleased. Offers an extract from Bulletin No. 1, Oregon State Board of Health which explains good water means good soil and good soil means good crops. Information about the canals, the soil, the climate, advantages of irrigation, prices of fencing, lumber, railroads, wages of carpenters (approximately $3 per day), information on where the land are located and how they can be reached. Double page map at center entitled, "State of Oregon Free Land in Crook County that can be secured by paying the cost of irrigation as fixed by the Oregon State Land Board." Light soiling and with light wear to the extremities along with a small chip to top corner of rear wrapper. Very good.

Inventory Number: 41059