14
Southern Okanagan Lands Project workers pouring cement20th Century, Circa 1920's
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Johnstone, James Cameron
15
The area purchased for the lands project totalled approximately 22,000 acres of land, stretching from southern Penticton to the Canada- US border. Of this land, the Liberal government estimated that 13,960 acres could be irrigated at a total investment of $935,000.16
North view of valley prior to large-scale settlement20th Century, Circa 1920's
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Kelowna Photo Bank
17
An inquiry by the Department of Industries under the Conservative government revealed that of the original 13,960 acres intended for irrigation, only 1270 acres were completed by 1923. At the beginning of 1924, 1381 acres of the purchased 22,000 had been sold to landowners.18
Picture of Highway 97 south of Oliver20th Century, 1910-1930
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Corbishley, Don
19
The geography of the valley was, in many places, unsuitable for in-ground construction of the ditch. Depressions in the valley, rocky terrain, and alluvial fans all represented impenetrable barriers. To overcome these obstacles, sections of the canal were built on raised flumes, carrying the water across until the project could continue in-ground.20
West Lateral Flume20th Century, Circa early 1920's
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Johnstone, James Cameron
21
Construction workers were housed in tent camps along the canal. These, while inelegant, were relatively inexpensive and could be moved as the project progressed.22
Looking south-east over Engineer's Camp #43 January 1921
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Venables, Frank II
23
The initial estimated cost of $935,000 assumed an open-earth canal, and did not take into account the slowly rising cost of materials, nor the cost of flumes. A more thorough evaluation of the land suggested that an open-earth ditch would be unsuitable because the soil lent itself to washouts and water absorption. The project would require vast stretches of pipe and canalwork.24
Picture of Flume #220th Century, Circa 1920's
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Johnstone, James Cameron
25
Major engineering changes were made, including the addition of cemented canalwork and flumes, spillways, underground pipe, and an increased overall flow volume throughout the ditch. Many of these changes were made regardless of the increasing cost imposed. A reassessment of the construction costs estimated the project value at over $3.3 million; more than triple the original quote.To give an idea of the scale of this project, $3.3 million is approximately equal to $40 million in 2008; this does not factor in the increase in the cost of skilled labour or increased material costs.
26
Picture of Flume #320th Century, Circa 1920's
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Johnstone, James Cameron
27
An inquiry in 1924 by the Conservative Party's Public Accounts Committee found that only 1270 acres of the purchased 22,000 had been irrigated, and the project had returned only $89,000. In the face of these huge losses, the Conservative party used the results of their project inquiries in an attempt to convince settlers that the area would not yield sustainable profits. They claimed this inefficiency would result in hundreds of thousands in unpaid loans, and the cancellation of the Southern Okanagan Lands Project. Fortunately for the little town, the farmers did not scuttle the project, and development continued until the ditch was completed. |
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