, 1875-11-27
CALIFORNIA; NEXT PROJECT.
a Grand Scheme OF Irrigation 20 Cost
SI2.3OG,DO0.

subject uf irrigation No dOubt l. express, u
in any quarter that general system Of irri-
cation would be Of very great value TO the
State, but the question how It can be secured
Is very far from being easy Of solution. The
cost Of a system which would suffice for all
parts of our interior valleys would be ten
times greater than the amount Of annual
State taxes The length OF the main canal
would not be less than 500 miles, much Of
which would be Of a costly character. The
primary ditchts III connection with 1t would
be many miles in length. and the whole
work would require 70 be executed in the
most substantial manner 10 Withstand the
floods of winter. The expense for bridges,
locks, waste weirs ard other necessary orec-
tious would be many millions. In our orin-
ion, the cost Of such system VIII be beyond
the means of the people Of this State for
many years 10 come.
But system which would suffice to I'M
gate tie Jt0, 900 acres west Of the san J,r-
quin river, where 1t Is most needed, seems to
be all that Is sought Tor at present We
think the undertaking may possibly he feast
bic, but tie dificulrios in the way Of accom-
plishing even 50 much are very impert,ct!y
understood, ana the cost entirely moderated.
In ord,r TO get At tie real facts IN the
case, without which all discussion and spec
nlaticn aIs idle, We have consulted L. NJ.
Brare;on If the LONDON Institute Of Civi.
Engineers, 4 gentleman Of eminent attain
men,s anC large experience in matters per
tanning to irrigation. lie was Chief Eugi-
ueer Of the grant ILdian Peninsu!ar Railway
connecting Bombay and Calcutta. and also
the Bombay and Madras linr-aitogether
1910 mife, in extent. lie was also Consult
ing Engineer Of the NIz.m Of the Deccan,
and carried cut in detail all the irrigation
works in connection with the railroad system
OF India His opinion upon irrigation mat
tiers are therefore entitled TO the highest con-
sideratiop. HIS means of forming Just COR
cIusions 90 not end here. lIe II perfectly
acquainted with the country proposed 10 be
irrigated, having been employed by Arssrs,
Friellauder, Rals;on, and Chapman, in 1872,
to examine and report uPouit, Ny BfeTetuI
has kindly replaced a copy Of his report at
cur disposal, and also furnished Us 4 great
number # facts and estimates barring upon
he subject He considers the PROJECT Of a
canal, 10th for irrigation and navigation
from Tu}are Lake to Antioch, entirely fea-
sible. The distance is about two Hundred
miles, and the supply Of water abundant for
| the irrigation Of half a million acres In LIS
opinion the work could not possibly be done
for less than 50 Per acre, and perhaps not
! for that At present. prices for labor This
/ world make the cost at leas: $l2, 800, eco.
| The country through which the main
canal would Ia>S, although in most resi- Gets
| favorable for canal construction, and 70 the
eyes arproxilnatcly level, Is not 50 IN fact.
Differences of level at different points exist
Of no, les than forty-fve feet, md The
amount Of fail IRON Tulsre Lake 10 Antioch
Is 200 feet. Several locks and wGste-weirs
would therefore Ie necessary TO control the
| water. The necessary levels have nev r
! been made i. detail, and II cannot be know Il
IN advance What Tie course Of the main
| canal or os the various distribution channels
NAV be. Tie latter may Le many miles IN
extent. involving heavy outlay and careful
| levcling and surveying, and all should be
/ urder one system cf control IN order TO an
,oUi,abIe distribution Of the water. No &C,
curats estimate Of the cost can he made with
ont the necessary plans, sections and the ac-
tual location Of the canal and branches ty
competept engineers. The canal now run-
pins, from Fresno slough 5 valuable for local
,,urr.oses only. Iut ,auuot lie made available
A. mart Of the Iile 70 Antioch. To irrigate
for spch a distance, water must be taken
from TuIars Like, and before CONNER cling
hi work A most thorough survey Of The whole
5istr;c; TO lie irrigated Is Indispensable. Il
would be very rash TO make the attempt Z
construct works 20 extensive without most
exact calculation Of the cost as well as OF tn,
benefits
4 few Jrief calculations viii enable is e
| i.dge Of the present feasibility Of the under
t.king. Taking So Per acre IS The inside
cost. the whole outlay wouli be $l2,55o, 600
which i a sum greater than the present mar
kgt value OF the land proPos-d 90 be irrigated
/ Can such an amount Of money Be rais d IoI
tie nurpo-e> This i the immediate Practl'
cal Question. If raisgd at all It must be
r--izei IL taxation. aud this taxation must bt
-, C7,.s.-,f Of The owners # the land Our
oi ,b- 400 900 acres II the land 10 be lrrl=at-
4 .bout 430. .UCO are owned ty SIX lHdiVI1'
mails and J0. 600 acres r0re by holders d
frqrn 2nGO 10 5000 acres each, mostly not en-
,,an-d IL stock raising, and who 90 mol stand
IN need Of irrigation Only -U,UCO can q
owned ty farmers engaged IN gram culture
T., nay the interest on the cost OF the nscss'
serv works would require an annual tax Oi
cv:r s. 80 per acre, sun equal 10 the pres
eDt value OF the land ior gr-zins purposes.
VIII the owners consent 10 such taxation IN
view Of the advantages 70 be derived in the
ia,nr.g We doubt It. Messrs- Miller and
INK would hare 70 pay about Si5O,OO0 an
pually. and Hessrs- Chapman and Page,
$50 I6sO. J. D. Patterson, 0,C00, aud Mr..
Smitb. So, coo Whether the bonds Of the
,,ropossd irrigation district sold at par or not,
this would not pay the annual amount oi
/ tax-s required, saying nothing Of the cost oi
rspairs sud superinteudencs. This l. such a
rate Of taxation e. was never paralleled II
human history. Is i justified under The cir
eumstances? u every foot Of the 100000
acres were irrigated and under cultivation,
il would certainly produces twenty GENITAL PEI
acrs CT Inore, Oh an average. At that Kate