Last updated: January 22, 2022
Place
The Titanic Effort of Moving Water
NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
Cant Ranch Historic District
Significance:
An additional irrigation ditch allowed for more land to be cultivated at the ranch.
The Rock Creek irrigation ditch, constructed by the Officer family between 1885 and 1904, runs through the lower orchard and along the near edge of the field.
In 1912, the Cants built another irrigation ditch on the far side of the river. Named the "Titanic Ditch" to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic, this ditch originated two miles to the south at the confluence of Rock Creek and the John Day River. The new water rights associated with this ditch allowed an additional 73 acres of land to be put into cultivation.
Two men were hired to maintain the irrigation ditches on both sides of the river. This was a time consuming job that required constant work throughout the year as flash floods and spring runoff repeatedly filled ditches with debris. Water flowing along the irrigation ditches had to be continually moved through small lateral ditches across fields for crops.
In 1912, the Cants built another irrigation ditch on the far side of the river. Named the "Titanic Ditch" to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic, this ditch originated two miles to the south at the confluence of Rock Creek and the John Day River. The new water rights associated with this ditch allowed an additional 73 acres of land to be put into cultivation.
Two men were hired to maintain the irrigation ditches on both sides of the river. This was a time consuming job that required constant work throughout the year as flash floods and spring runoff repeatedly filled ditches with debris. Water flowing along the irrigation ditches had to be continually moved through small lateral ditches across fields for crops.