New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-11
CO-OpERATIYE FARMING.

THE PEOPLES DITCH, NEAR yIsALIA-SUCCESS-
Full COOPERATION IRRIGATION SCHEME
TIE PIKE ONCE MORE-WILD GEESE ON
TULARE LAKE-A GREAT EMBANKMENT PRO-
POSED.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
BAKERSFIELD, Kern Co., Cal, March 3d.
Six or miles northeast OF Vsaia lies little ham
let called Farmersye. AS you approach 1t you find the
land we'll fenced the houses near each other as to be-
token what here called small farmsl6Oacre tracts
and orchards and vineyards, and grain fields in such
numbers as to show thrifty community. This contn-
ues for some miles beyond Farmersvile Postoice, up
TO the foothills indeed, and the further you drive
ward the water you see-running water In bitches,
large and small until at last you TO mill, which
stands the lower end Of what is called the Peoples
Ditch" and has its waterpower from that. The aspect
Of the whole countryside which is included in this
drive is that of prosperous, well established commu-
ny and except that the farmhouses are Insignificant
and poor they almost everywhere in this State,
you might think yourself In thrifty farming country in
New-York in the month Of May, for the wheat and
barley fields look and rich, the peach trees are just
past their bloom, the roads good, and little brooks
run through pastures OF what at distance you might
mistake for clover, but which is really alfalfa.
THE STORY OF THE PEOPLES DITCH.
Now all this prosperity, which Is not only apparent
but reaor the drouth Of last year did not rob these
farmers Of crop-comes OF the Peoples Ditch" and
that as It's name denotes, from the people them
selves Here ia the story OF this Peoples Ditch: Four
years ago several farmers the necessity irrigation
for their lands. They talked the matter over,
and finally called meeting of their neighbors.
At this meeting it was resolved to dig
ditch do 1t by general effort of those who should
subscribe the stock to have 100 shares each share to
be entitled to water enough for leo to elect
president who should call the stockholders to labor
which call should be promptly obeyed; to engage an
engineer lay out the work and to obey his instructions
a.
engineer himself of the stockholders, Mr. VIM.
8. Powell Of Visalia energetic and competent man,
and the leader in the enterprise Work was begun
the following Monday and in six weeks the Peoples
Ditch-eght miles long, "a feet wide, and three feet
deep-was completed The sum OF 5000 was expended
upon it, in money, for lumber for fumes and gates, &c.
all the rest OF the work done without the ex-
penditure OF q cent OF money. It after
ward found that this ditch did not give
water enough and the stockholders enlarged and took
in some other stream that 1t is miles long and
four feet deep, with pitch lo eight feet to the mile.
IL supplies than enough water In the drest season
rrigate 1900 of land namely 100 l6cacre lots
Near the lower end the ditch stands grisni, which
is very great convenience to the neghborhood, and,
believe source Of income to the Ditch Association.
out OF the main ditch proceed three arms and out Of
these, again, numerous smaller arms-as many, OF
course, there fields to irrigate The water is
divided by selfactng gates and the arms or branches
are dug not by the company, but by those members IN
teresed The labor Is far less difficult tedious than
any one who had not It done would suppose and
the ia complete. Last year the irrigated crops
almost. not quite. great those OF rainy year,
and prices were high the farmers made more money
The who can raise a crop in year Of severe drouth
is sure OF good price.
LITTLE LABOR AND SURE CROPS.
There is a water-maser, VINO is paid to 20 over the
ditch and that all goes righwh it; and preside mt
who Is not salaried but has authority to call ON the
stockholders for repairs; and year. in March.
when the farmers work here is done, and he and his
teams idle, all hands meet to clean out the ditch
which Il "a labor OF a few days.
Now the work Of six weeks OF these farmers doubled
the value OF their land at 1t was about the cheap
est way to make money that they could have devised
II made them OF crop matter how dry the year.
II gave perpetual fund OF nanure for the test