The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., September 13, 1895, page 2

VALLEY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY

     The Valley Improvement Co. has posted notice of its intention to divert 4,000 inches of water from Hood River for general irrigation and domestic purposes. The head gate of the ditch be on the east side of Hood river, on the Nesson place, about one mile below the forks. That ditch will follow down the east side a short distance, then cross to the west side. The proposed route is on a higher level than the Smith-LaFrance survey of a few years ago, and the main ditch will run west as far as the John Wilson place, then to the town of Hood River on the north side of the Indian creek. Lateral ditches will cover all the territory lying to the east and north of the main ditch. The incorporators of the company C.A. Bell, L.E. Morse, J.E.Hanna, J.H. Ferguson, H.F. Davidson, P.A. Snyder and C.M. Wolfard. Capital stock, $20,000; 1,000 shares of $20 each.

The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., March 6, 1896, page 2

THE VALLEY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY

     The Valley Improvement company was organized under the present articles of incorporation on Nov. 15, 1895, by C.A. Bell, L.E. Morse, J.E. Hanna, C.M. Wolfard, J.H. Ferguson, P.A. Snyder, F. Davenport and H.F. Davidson, by whom a majority of the capital stock, $20,000, was subscribed.
     The matters of securing the right of way and other rights and privileges were pushed ahead as fast as was practical, until the right of way was secured all along the river bluff about as far as to the land owned by M.P. Isenberg, near where Mr. S.W. Arnold now resides, and all parties holding land below this place are very willing to give the right of way as soon as the route is definitely located.
     The survey has been made and stakes are set on the line of the proposed ditch as far as it is necessary to have any surveying done, and all is in readiness to go to work.
     The expense of the legal work and surveying are all paid, so at the present time any assessments which might be levied will be used for constructing the ditch and flume, as soon as a sufficient amount is collected to justify making a start.
     The demand for water is an imperative one, as this season the applications for water from the present water supply company have been double the capacity of the ditch, and with a mere prospect for a full supply another season the demand would be trebled, as the general clamored is for "More water! and how and when can we get it?"
     As a business proposition, this enterprise is certainly desirable, especially to those who have real estate or business interests in the valley.
     The water supply company have paid over $8,000 for their ditch system and have for sale 250 miner's inches of water, costing at the rate of over $32 per inch, and the stock in the company has never sold below par. By the new ditch 3000 miner's inches will be brought into the valley at a minimum cost of $25,000, making the property worth, on the basis of the present water company, $96,000. But presuming that the demand for water for the year after the completion of the ditch would not exceed 1,000 inches, the property would then be worth $32,000, or about $7,000 more than actual cost, and will pay a good income on the investment with a certainty of a gradual increasing demand until the entire supply will be used. When we say there is a demand next year for 1,000 inches of water we mean at the rate of the $5 per inch, which is the price now realized, and that a reduced rate much more would be asked for for irrigating meadows, pastures, etc., while the $5 rate might be too high for an extensive use of water for these purposes and the water use confined principally to irrigating and vegetables.
     The stock books open now and in the hands of the postmaster, L.L. Morse, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions to the capital stock by those who feel able and willing to help push this matter forward.
     The size of the undertaking will of course necessitate the very strongest effort on the part of every individual in the valley or interested in the progress of the valley, in the line of giving it substantial aid. The more general the stock is taken up the faster the work will be put forward. It is reasonably certain that the ditch will be built, and the time it will take depends upon the liberality of support.
     There will be a meeting of the subscribers to the capital stock in Hood River, on Saturday, March 14th, at 2 p.m., for the purpose of giving the subscribers at that time an opportunity to choose a board of directors and make such recommendations as they wish carried out. Let every person make himself a committee of one to see to it that no person who is able to give this proposition help fails to do so and enable himself to take part in the election of officers, and help in making the immediate progress of the valley a matter of importance to home-seekers.

[HOME]
©  Jeffrey L. Elmer