Too many Names on the A-Z Lists?

Now easily Search by Name!

Searching Tip – Use the least amount of words necessary, and choose the correct name from the results.
(e.g. “Jones,” not “T Jones,” “T. Jones,” “TS Jones,” “T.S. Jones,” “Ted Jones,” etc. – just “Jones.”)

A-Z Lists:

People

Places

Events

Categories

Snow Moody Pumping Plant

(Salem Bureau of The Journal)

Snow-Moody Pumping Plant

Salem, Or., Aug. 9. Electricity and the pumping plant are changing the face of the map In eastern Oregon, particularly in Malheur County. The sagebrush and the Jackrabbit are being run out to give place to alfalfa fields, young orchards and comfortable homes.

When State Engineer John H. Lewis visited that section recently, he was agreeably surprised at the development taking place as the result of placing water on the land by means of pumping plants. Thousands of acres along the Snake River are being reclaimed in this manner.

Payette Plan Proves Feasibility.

The first demonstration of the feasibility of this method of irrigation was made across the river on the Idaho side of Payette. Several thousand acres adjacent to Payette, now called the Payette Heights, were thus reclaimed.

This success soon brought into reality the long talked of pumping plants for the reclamation of the thousands of acres of Dead Ox Flat, which lately has been given the more euphonious name of Payette-Oregon slope. One of the largest and most successful plants installed on the Snake river is the Snow Moody plant, which is furnishing water to the Payette-Oregon Slope Irrigation District. The plant is just opposite Payette, and will irrigate about 7000 acres at an initial cost to the settlers of $40 an acre.

Pumps Force Water to Heights.

The water is taken out of the Snake River by a gravity ditch three fourths of a mile long, and from there is pumped through pipes about 2000 feet to an elevation of 104 feet, where it empties into a canal that carries it to the land.

There are eight pumps in tbe pumping plant. Three of them, each driven By a 200 horsepower motor, are used to lift the water to a canal at the 104 foot level. Three others, driven by 160 horsepower motors, are used to lift the water to a canal at the 80 foot level.

The two others, driven by 60 horsepower motors, lift the water to a canal on the 60 foot level. In this way the expense of lifting all the water for the first district to the highest level is avoided.

Portland, Oregon

From The Oregon Daily Journal – Aug 10, 1913 – Page 10

************************************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

********************************************************************************************

****************************************************

********************************

CULTIVATED AREA DOUBLED Irrigation Projects Will Open 23,000 Acre In Malheur County. Ontario.

The cultivated area of Malheur County will be almost doubled the coming year and 23,000 acres of new land tributary to Ontario will come under irrigation as the result of new Irrigation systems being built.

The assessor’s report for the year 1911 Indicates that the cultivated area of Malheur county is 23,300 acres. The Ontario-Nyssa project, now completed, will bring under cultivation 7000 acres of new land. The Kingman Colony will irrigate about 6000 acres during the coming season. The Snow-Moody pumping system, almost completed, will water 6000 acres of land on Dead Ox Flat.

Two small projects on the same flat are under way to water 4000 acres. More than 1000 acres abutting Ontario are to be watered by ditches now completed, except the installation of a pipe line from the pumping plant to the main canal. Nearly all of this land is tributary to Ontario, the distance being from abutting the town to five to fifteen miles distant.

Oregon

From Condon Globe Dec 2, 1911 – Page 4

************************************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

********************************************************************************************

****************************************************

********************************

PUMPING PLANT HAS NARROW ESCAPE

The Snow-Moody pumping plant on Dead Ox Flat had a mighty close call Sunday afternoon when the plant took fire during a gale of wind and would have been a total loss only for the Payette fire department making quick response to a call for help. Fire was started in the transforming room in one of the big insolating bushings presumably caused by the current of electricity. but just what caused the current to set fire is not known, at least the accident seemed to be unavoidable. The fire was discovered by Mr. Sulline who lives at the plant and immediately the alarm was sent in to the the city for assistance as fire connected with electricity and grease can not well be controlled with water. The chemical engine from the Payette Fire Department was soon on the ground making the trip of about three miles in five minutes and soon extinguished the flames that soon would have destroyed the entire plant. Considerable damage was done to the three large bushings and other electrical equipment in the transforming room and the interior of the building was considerably charred. No damage was done to the motors or any of the equipment in the pumping room. Just the extent of the damage has not been determined. There was no insurance. The people of that section have expressed themselves as very grateful to the Payette people who responded to the call and also the Central girl at the Telephone Office who kindly gave notice to the people of that section.

From Payette Enterprise – January 13, 1921 – Page 1

************************************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

********************************************************************************************

****************************************************

********************************

WATER FOR DEAD OX FLAT

Chicago and Salt Lake Men Will install a Modern Pumping Plant.

Complete Arrangements With Settlers and Fine Land Will Be Made to Blossom.

WEISER, Aug. 13 -The dream of the land owners on Dead Ox Flat is to be realized at last. George A. Snow of Chicago and Salt Lake, and his associate, Walter I. Moody of Chicago, in company with their chief engineer, C. A. Tush of Twin Falls, operating through the Snow-Moody Development Company, a Utah corporation, have for the past six weeks been working out the details of this project and finally completed arrangements with most of the land owners. The company will at once commence the work of building a strictly modern pumping plant and irrigation system to water this tract.

That portion of this beautiful body of land subject to irrigation under this project, comprises about 10,000 acres and lies along the west bank of Snake river, between Payette and Weiser, and rises gradually from the river bank to a height of approximately 100 feet. For a number of years this exceptional body of land has attracted the attention of experienced fruit growers and those engaged in the development of irrigation enterprises, but constant discussion among some of the land owners resulting from varying views as to the character of works which should be built, has made it impossible for the people to unite and interest capital in the development of the locality. The persistent effort, however, of Messrs. Snow and Moody has at last resulted in accomplishing the desired end and the work of building will begin immediately.

Pumping and Gravity System.

Snow-Moody “3/4 mile long gravity feed ditch” with pumping station on it’s left end near Hwy 201

The company will install a combined pumping and gravity system and divert the water from the west bank of Snake river on section 2, township 17 south. range 47 east. A big canal or race will be built by dredging in a westerly direction across the bottom land a distance of about 3300 feet to the foot hill, where the pumping plant will be installed. This big canal will be excavated to a depth sufficient below extreme low water to ensure a constant supply and at the inlet controlling gates will be built of concrete, steel and timber.

A battery of probably eight large pumps of the centrifugal type, directly connected with electric driven motors, will be installed in a concrete-brick building. There will be three lifts, one of 50 feet with two units, one of 80 feet with three units and one of 100 feet with three units. The high lift discharge line will be 500 feet long and the intermediate and low lift lines each 100 feet in length. The building of this race means a large saving to the land owners in power cost since it obviates pumping against pipe friction a distance of 3300 feet.

To Build Steel Flumes.

Snow-Moody Pumping Plant “3/4 mile long gravity feed ditch” – shot from Pioneer Road looking west towards the pumps

The company will build steel flumes on wood and concrete supports where advisable, install efficient measuring gates throughout the canal system and build bridges over the canals at county road crossings. The fact that construction work will be under the personal supervision of the company’s chief engineer, C. A. Tush, is sufficient guarantee that all will be built in a safe and modern manner. By the terms of the contract the works are to be completed ready to deliver water May 1, 1912, but the company expects to complete the installation by January 1. Generous terms of payment have been given the land owners, extending over a period of 12 years, the first installment to mature April 1, 1913.

In due time it is expected that most of this land will be subdivided into 5, 10 and 20 acre tracts and devoted largely to fruit culture, thus providing independence and happy homes for a great many families.

A mass meeting of the owners of the north half of the tract met in Payette last evening and resolved to change the name from Dead Ox flat to Payette-Oregon slope and by this newly adopted name the tract will be hereafter known. At this point Snake river is the dividing line between Idaho and Oregon, and while this slope is on the Oregon side, it is really a part of the famous Payette valley which has attained special prominence in the growth of fruit, berries, cantaloupe, etc. The valley is credited with having shipped 1008 cars of fruit in 1910 or more than half of all the fruit shipped from the state of Idaho. The elevation is 2147 feet and the character of the soil and climatic conditions gives Payette valley exceptional advantages with respect to fruit culture.

Boise

The Idaho Statesman – August 14, 1911 – Page 2

************************************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

********************************************************************************************

****************************************************

********************************

If you have questions about this page, want to start or join a discussion about it, or add new information, please visit our Facebook Group, “Weiser Area Memories.”

Also See Categories