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The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., October 27, 1911, page 2

CONBOY DITCH
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Big Thing for Camas and Laurel Districts

For almost half a century the residents of the Camas Prairie district of Klickitat county, Wash., most of them of German birth, have been raising stock and replenishing the hay mows from the wild grass meadows that grow luxuriantly of the six thousand-acre bottom of what has long been known as Conboy Lake. They came into the country in the early days and homesteading the land built their homes on the gentle slopes among the forest at the edge of the fertile basin. On every side is seen their homes, small comfortable dwellings, and adjoining each one is always a large barn -- in most instances two or three. Indeed it is a section of big barns with enormous hay mows; for the peculiar adaptability of the region to stockraising and successful dairying do the pioneer settlers owe their prosperity.
The formation of the Camas Prairie region gives an interesting basis of study to the geological or soil expert. It is almost a perfectly flat basin, eight miles in length and about three miles wide at the middle. For ages four streams, because of the level condition of the basin, have been pouring their waters upon it, in no defined channel but spreading them over the whole area. From the south, the Chapman creek flows, from the east range the Holmes, and from the north, the Bird and Fraizer creeks enter, the latter fed by glacial springs and the snows of Mount Adams. The water from these streams have overspread the land for about ten out of twelve months in the year. The time of harvesting the rich growth of wild hay has naturally been short.
The basin is entirely surrounded by forest covered hills. A wide expanse of fir forests stretch away to the east and south, while on the north and west the ranges are covered with fir and pine. It is a beautiful country, especially in the fall of the year with the darn green of the trees on every hand and the snow-capped peak of Mount Adams at the north overlooking all.
For a number of years the progressive residents of the region have realized that the value of the region could be greatly enhanced and its products be increased many fold by draining the excessive waters of the lake. A study of the topography of the region showed that this could be easily done. However, the execution of the work was retarded by a few of the residents, who feared that the cost of constructing drainage ditches would be too heavy for them. The matter was taken into the courts and only this year was the litigation brought to an end. Immediately on securing a favorable decision in the courts, the bids for the work of digging the drainage ditches were advertised and the contract was let this summer. Work was begun on the drainage canals August 1 by Bertleson & Son, Tacoma contractors, who will finish the task this fall. Fifteen miles and a half of main and lateral ditches will be dug. The main ditch will be five and a half miles in length, with the average top width of twenty six feet. The canals will carry off all the water of the creeks and make it possible to till the soil of the basin during all seasons during which it is possible to cultivate that of the surrounding highland.
The former opposition to the work of progress has dwindled to nothing and all the residents of the community have become enthusiastic over the wonderful possibilities that the completion of the undertaking offers them.
On the borders of the prairie region are three postoffices, Fulda at the south end, Laurel on the west and Glenwood on the northeast. The progressive citizens of Laurel have organized a development league and are placing before the public the possibilities of the region. Glenwood is an important village because of the fact that it is the packing place for the sheep men, who pasture in the Forest Reserve during the summer months. During the past summer 80,000 sheep have fed on the government land around the base of Mt. Adams. The government charges the sheep men seven cents per head for the old sheep for the entire season, making no charges for lambs. Six thousand lambs were shipped in one train from this region last week to Chicago.
Until the community has railroad transportation the resources of the region will be mainly drawn from stock raising and dairy products. However, because of its proximity to the White Salmon Valley, where all landowners specialize in fruit growing, its hay will find a ready demand. This and other adjacent fruit sections are developing rapidly. Every foot of their development means an increase in the demand for the hay raised close at hand.
However, because of the agricultural and timber resources of the community and the present closeness of transcontinental lines and their easy access to the community it will be perhaps be but a short time until a railroad penetrates it. Several surveys have already been made through the region. With the exception of the Columbia river the grade across Grouse Pass west of the Camas Prairie region is said to be the lowest across the Cascades. On the hills surrounding the hay and stock growing region is about three billion feet of first class merchantable timber, fir and yellow pine. Because of the fertility of the soil, when transportation facilities have been facilitated by the advent of the railroad, the lake bottom, with its unlimited depth of decayed vegetable matter, will be an ideal location for the small truck farmer.
The good roads of the region are a revelation to the stranger, road building, because of the confirmation of the country, has been no great task. There has been no difficult work in cutting heavy grades and on all sides of the basin the autoist may delight in long stretches of level, graded highways. The fruit growing communities along the Columbia have realized that good roads will not only be of assistance in drawing the Camas trade to them but that will make it easy the transportation of the feedstuff of their barns. At this season of the year the traveler penetrating the community meets wagon after wagon loaded down with hay, which the White Salmon orchardists have purchased at good prices and which they are hauling home for their winter stock feed.
For a number of years water has been taken from the Bird, Frazier and Holmes creeks for the purpose of irrigating the upland at the northeast corner of the basin. However, along the north and northeast sides of the level region is about 12,000 acres of fertile land covered with scattered pine and sagebrush. Because of the slight growth of timber, the clearing of this land is comparatively easy. Five years ago the progressive farmers of the Glenwood section filed upon the waters of Hell Roaring and Cougar Creeks, glacial stream at the northeast of Mt. Adams. Active steps are now being taken to form an irrigation district for the region, whereby at the coat of $7.50 per acres water may be secured for the whole extent of fertile soil. L.N. Amsbury, formerly of Kennewick, where he developed a large acreage of strawberry land, is one of the citizens of the district most actively engaged in hastening the irrigation project. Mr. Amsbury is owner of about 600 acres of land in the region.
The yellow pine in certain sections of the community is being worked up by small sawmills. As soon as the timber is cleared from the land, the owners follow up with grubbing crews and the are under cultivation is gradually growing.
Four miles north of Glenwood the Klickitat Development Co. has a large crew of men at work developing an enormous amount of power. The company has purchases both banks of the river for six miles. A flumeway is being constructed that when will give them at its end a fall of 650 feet.
During the past year many citizens of Hood River have made visits to the Camas prairie region, where because of the excellent agricultural opportunities offered, they have made investments. Among those from this county owning land in the Washington district are: J.R. Putnam, James E. Montgomery, E.O. Hall, N.W. Bone, Fred W. Wasson, Charles L. Wheeler, Joe G. Vogt and L.N. Wood. The latter, who is a brother of J.M. Wood, of this end of the colony basin last fall. Casper W. Hodson, a wealthy New York publisher, and James Williams, of Portland, have each bought holdings through Mr. Wheeler. -- Hood River Glacier.