Clinton H. Hutchinson, the “Father of irrigation projects in the West”, came to Oregon in 1894 with hopes of establishing an irrigation system in Crook County. After succeeding, he turned his focus on to Southern Oregon and its potential.
After an individual applies for water rights, they are given an permit. After receiving this, they have initial access to water and they must establish a plan of water usage. Once this is acheived, they are given an official certificate. When water rights are granted, there are two kinds of appropriators. The first being the 'senior appropriator', who is the first to receive and obtain water.
Another important aspect to establishing an irrigation system in Southern Oregon was also the creation of water rights. In 1909, 73 Legal aspects were published in the newspaper, covering aspects of the laws such as the rights of not only the public, but the government as well. There are three distinct categories of rules; Legal, human, and scientific.
Keeping the supply of water as a consistent source was achieved by the making of pumps. These are connected to hydroelectric plants, which uses energy to transport water from mountains into the valley. This was used with the Rogue River to bring water further into the valley and due its fast rapids, the pumps were very efficient in keeping a steady water supply within the region.
Due to farming being a huge determining factor of creating an irrigation system in the Rogue River Valley, it was essential to create an organized system of land tracts so the water could be distributed equally.
In order to have an adequate supply of water to provide to the Rogue River Valley, it was integral to find reservoirs that could easily transport water to the region.
Bringing an irrigation system to the Rogue River Valley had the potential to completely transform the region. Luckily, the valley had immense potential to become a major agricultural export, it just needed some additional irrigation plans to help it thrive.
Clinton H. Hutchinson, the “Father of irrigation projects in the West”, came to Oregon in 1984 with hopes of establishing an irrigation system in Crook County. After succeeding, he turned his focus on to Southern Oregon and its potential. The Rogue River Valley had everything it needed to be a agricultural region, except and adequate irrigation system.
Pan across Crater Well Drilling truck / drilling well next to house in country / water or drilling mud splashes about copiously, pan along stream of muddy water to homeowner--looks like East Medford / / group of men walk down sidewalk past camera (Beatty & McDougal Insurance, 204 W. Main, Medford in background), go into building, Sen. Bob Duncan sign in window / very young Bob Packwood self-consciously smirking and schmoozing on sidewalk, Davis Gift Shop, 135 W.
Men milling about, pan across heavy equipment / pan down extended cranes / pan across bulldozers, front-end loader, earthmovers, men examining same / / construction site in hills, uncompleted concrete structure, masons working on rebar / pan across view of hills / bulldozer spooling heavy cable through woods, down steep hill
Judge reading aloud at bench, pan to another judge / speaker reading / man pins corsage on elderly woman / speaker / family members / pinning corsage on another woman / speaker / judge / audience applauds / more of same
Two strikers picketing on sidewalk, Central Avenue, Medford / "Pacific Northwest Bell" on building / man with "Unfair to Glass Workers" tunic picketing, pan up to "40 East 10th" address / "Medford Plate Glass Unfair" sign / / carpenters working on frame of new residence in older section of town / pan across framework / more of same
Pan across hundreds of middle schoolers and school buses assembled in woods / speaker / students troop past camera / man explains samples of bark, foliage / / good color, silent: men hunkered in barren plowed field--looks like Upper Rogue area / closeup of rough rocks gathered on top of soil / pans across field, tall stakes pounded in ground / closeup of hands with arrowhead / pan across arrowheads mounted on board / hands demonstrate mortar and pestle, grinding stone / assemblage of projectile points
Sign: "Forest Fire Danger Today" / forester indicates forest areas on wall map of "Southwest Oregon" with yardstick, speaks at length / / sign: "Public Auction," list of equipment--sign is posted by unidentified bridge / pan across heavy equipment in yard--looks like central Medford: earth movers, dump trucks, water trucks, Tru-Mix cement trucks, front end loaders / men examine equipment
On building: "Phoenix Civic Center" / interiors: voter talking to poll watchers / signing in / closeup of special election ballot to recall Councilman Dale Haggard--Reason why: "He refuses to cooperate and work with other city officials." Haggard's statement: "I was unafraid to stand up to a power structure for the best interests of all the people of Phoenix." / / woman at lectern speaks / pan across band playing national anthem, VIPs and students with hands over hearts / pan across sparse audience, North Medford High School auditorium / speakers / view from back of auditorium, pan across h
Young men on motorcycles lined up in front of building / pan across same / older man walks down line, inspecting / now with helmets on, they drive off / / Pioneer Village: horses in harness / George McUne on stagecoach talks to group / pan across group and Pioneer Village / hitching horses to wagon, pan to other wagon / they ride through gate of Pioneer Village / painted on canvas: "On to the Rogue River Valley, Trail Rider's Paradise" and "Northwest Trails Covered Wagon Mail"
Hand pulls file drawers open, showing thousands of file cards / pan across open drawers / closeup of ballot instructions page / / color, completely faded to red: helicopter spraying seed or fertilizer / pellets falling on conifer branches / bulldozer cutting tree with clippers / yarding logs / loading on log truck / log truck on dirt road in woods
Sign: "Medford Senior High School" (North Medford High School) / boys playing volleyball in gym / girls doing archery in gym / NMHS courtyard / wrecking ball demolishing floodlit Jackson Hotel at night /
