The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., July 2, 1897, page 2

THE DITCH COMPLETED

     The long-talked about ditch for the west side of Hood River valley is at last an accomplished fact. The ditch and flume of the Valley Improvement Co. were finished last Saturday, June 26, 1897, and the water is now flowing through the streets of Hood River. The ditch is 11 miles long, with 6 miles of the flume, and will carry 2000 inches of water. It will water all the west side of the valley lying east of the Belmont and Christian churches and north of Belmont, embracing some 10,000 acres. The work cost $28,000. The stock is all held by citizens of Hood River, excepting about half a dozen shares.
     The first organization of the company was effected August 38, 1895, when the following agreement was signed:
     This agreement, made this the 30th day of August, 1895, between C.A. Bell, L.E. Morse, J.E. Hanna, J.H. Ferguson, H.F. Davidson, P.A. Snyder, and C.M. Wolfard,
     Witnesseth: That the above named parties for the purpose of building a ditch from P.A. Snyder's place on Hood river to the town of Hood River agree to the following:
     First. It is agreed that they will pay to C.M. Wolfard five dollars each to defray the expense of a preliminary survey and to get out incorporation papers.
     Second. It is agreed that the five dollars so paid shall be deducted from the purchase price of stock in the new ditch company when incorporated.
     Third. That H.F. Davidson shall be manager of the preliminary work, and shall be paid $1.50 per day for each day of labor actually performed.
     Fourth. If the above fund should prove inadequate to pay the expenses of the preliminary work, it is agreed that each of the parties shall pay five dollars more into the fund as before mentioned.
     Fifth. That all accounts shall be audited by Ferguson, Bell and Hanna, preliminary finance committee, and be paid from the funds subscribed, upon proper warrant from said committee.
     Sixth. That when the preliminary work is done, if it shall be found practical, the above mentioned parties will incorporate and issue stock and BUILD THE DITCH.

(signed)                             L.E. MORSE,
                                         C.A. BELL,
                                         J.E. HANNA,
                                         J.H. FERGUSON,
                                         P.A. SNYDER,
                                         H.F. DAVIDSON,
                                         C.M. WOLFARD.

     Ditch companies had been organized before to bring water from Hood river through the valley to the town, but none ever materialized. For fifteen years or more the subject of a ditch had been agitated and company after company incorporated, only to go to pieces at the levying of the first assessment. It was left to these seven men to begin the work and carry to completion an enterprise that will be of more lasting benefit than anything ever attempted by our citizens. September 9, 1895, these seven men filed articles incorporating the Valley Improvement Co. Though none of them had money to burn they resolved that Hood River should have a ditch. They made surveys, secured right of way, advertised for bids to begin the work, sold stock, and talked ditch till people began to see they meant business and that the great want of the community was about to be filled. Frank Davenport early interested himself in the work and was given the contract to build the flume. He soon moved a saw mill to the place of beginning, secured the timber and began operations. To Mr. Davenport, more than any other man, it may be said, we owe the success of the enterprise. His energetic push of the work inspired confidence and gave an impetus to the work that never lagged till the last nail was driven, June 26, 1897. C.A. Bell, Capt. A.S. Blowers and Judge L. Henry gave their time and money to help the ditch to completion. H.F. Davidson, as secretary, rendered valuable services. Frank Davenport sublet the building of the flume to W.H. Bishop and S. Cox, carpenters, and these men are deserving of praise for their excellent work and the dispatch with which it was accomplished. Davenport Bros. also had the contract for building the ditch and sublet to the following parties: M.M. Davenport, Fred Howe, M.F. Loy, E. Udell, O.L. Stranahan, Gibbons & Stranahan, John Purser, M.P. Isenberg, Kiser Bros., A.K. Isenberg, Scott Boorman, Hartley & Hanna, Alfred Ingalls. Charles Ross had charge of the blasting.
     Of those who built the flume, the following are residents of Hood River and stockholders in the company: W.H. Bishop, S. Cox, Capt. J.H. Dukes, Wm. Lockman, Isaac Nealeigh, P.A. Snyder, Marshal Isenberg, Wm. Isenberg, Walter Thompson, John McCoy and Levi Monroe. W.H. Bishop and Capt. Dukes were the only ones that commenced with the work and stayed with it till the flume was completed.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer