San Andreas independent., 1857-10-10

that in each and every year there is more rain
that falls on the Coast Range than in the nte-
rior of the country; there is also much more
rain In the latitude OF San Francisco and
Stockton than in Los Angeles and San Diego.
A writer in the San Diego Herald says: 1T
is well known to every one who reads. that the
absence OF rain this season has completely de-
stroyed all crops in the country not one soil
tary blade OF barley, wheat or other cereal Is
lett; every blade of grass this side OF pan
Bernardno is parched up and withered oail-
iornla, so old Californians say, has had some
seasons of drought infinitely more severe than
has occurred since lo49; thousands OF cattle
and horses have perished for the wan OF wa
ter and food. These seasons may never reeur
again; it is rather too presumptlous IN US 10
say that we can Americanize the climate OF
California there is limit to Angle Saxon
ability, though we are not much inclined to
admit it, Now, with more dense population,
should we have recurrence of similar seasons,
should we have no rains falling from the hea-
vens to enable the farmer to plow and to sow,
there may possibly be great suffering there
may be famine in the land-gold will not al.
ways procure food and water. But even II
we had no reason to anticipate such seasons OF
extreme drought, yet we have had no season
since lS49 when an additional quantity OF
water was not wanted by the farmer, and II
more land is to be brought into cultivation, II
is indspensably necessary; it is great matter
of doubt whether we can bring into cultlva-
tion as much more land as is now cultivated,
without resorting to irrigation; and by resort.
ing to irrigation, at least twenty millions OF
acres of land more can be cultivated. we
can then, in o great measure, be lndepehoehI
of the seasons.
Every one who is acquainted with the topo-
graph of California knows that the conlorma-
ton of the land is admirably fitted for lrrlga-
tion. We have, as in Italy, our snoW-clad
Sierras we have bold, rushing streams lssu-
ing from them the summers sun melts the
snow, and an ample supply of water can be
had to rrigate the plains of Sacramento, San
Joaquin, and the thousand other plains and
valleys of California When the celebrated
BriDdsey (who has immortaized his name by
the construction of the famous Bridgewater
Canal, in Engand) was examined by Com
mittee of the House of Commons, he is report
ed to have said that the only utility Of rivers
was to supply canals In California it is still
more evident than in England-if our river
beds were drained dry, and the water that
runs in them distributed over the land, the
whole country would be garden.
Our State is not the only one that suffers
from drought and from the want of water in
due season to enable the crops to nature
Only two years ago, in the year 1855, there
was a severe drought in the United States
Great distress followed it, Thousands in the
great cities were, in the succeeding winter, in
want of food, and thousands were asking of
their fellow men for leave to toll. Horace
Greely OF the New York Tribune, said that
the loss to the people of the United States by
the drought was in that year, an hundred
million of dollars. Ii this statement was trne,
or if it approximated to the truth, might it not
be well for the older States to also turn their
attention to rendering their country somewhat
independent of the seasons for if one hundred
million of dollars has been lost in one year by
drought, and the expenditure of an hundred
million of dollars would prevent similar loss
in other years of drought, (which may fire.
quently occur it would certainly be proftably
and economically expended.
/ shall be met by the objection that an ex-
tensive system of irrigation requires an i'm
mense outlay of capital. Granted. 1t will
\
ricultural resources of the State to their ut
most extent. may require more than two hun
dred millions of dolrrs. 1t is not expected to
be done in one or two years The present
wants of the country, perhaps does not require
it-at least, if we have no greater population
than we have at present But If 1t is deslra-
bic to have an addition of nine or ten mill
ions to our population, it will also be found
advisable to have nine or ten millions of acres
of lard in cultivation. The work should be
commenced, at least the foundation laid this
present year, and it may pay for itself as it
progresses, if Government displays the same
liberality in making grants of lands for canals
in California as they have done in the older
States for the making of railroads If they
will give every alternate section of land, the
work can be commenced on sure basis. If,
in addition, our great land barons will give one
half their lands for this object, thereby making
the balance of tenfold more value, their d'sS'l-
terested hberaluy will help the work along. But
Government could well afford to give every
foot of land it has in California, and then save
money by the operation, for it will cost more
to survey and sell it than will ever be refunded
to the United States treasury, unless a great
moral revolution should take place.
When there is will, there is way, and that
way the Anglo Saxon Californian can md.
We belong not to that race, who always see a
wolf in the path, and if there is one, it is bound
to stand aside. Capitalists and shrewd specu,
lators may learn lesson from the Central Rall
Road Company, in Illinois. The land that " was
donated for building the Illinois Central Rall
Road more than paid for it, and the Company
are now in receipt of an immense income from
a work, which cost fifteen millions OF doilars'
but did not cost the Company one dlme'.
The great works constructed by the miners
for the purpose of bringing water TO mining
grounds. and which have cost nearly II NOT
unite twelve millions of dollars, show that al
most insuperable obstacles can be overcome by
determined will, assisted by science and art.
Rivers. ravines and mountain gorges are cross
ed. and hills either levelled or tunnelled
through, and water conveyed to almost any
desired locality. Their canals and fumes also
show that the water in the mountains can be
used for other purposes than mining i here
are hundreds, nay thousands, of little patches
of land. which are now irrigated with water
brought in mining canals and flames. 1t is
also shown that agriculture and horticulture
-, ho oarried m successfully wherever water