Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-28
IRRIGATION.

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that what remains is not capable of meeting
the demands on it. The same kind OF
problem long ago confronted the people OF
India, and centuries before the British con-
quest of that country the natives had
solved it by erecting tanks and dams
at the most available points, and
thus storing the surplus of the winter
rains for use in the spring and summer.
Within the past quarter of century En-
glish engineering science has, however, in
troduced vast improvements upon the prim-
tive system of Indian irrigation, and so
complete are the works now in operation
that nothing short of an absolute failure in
the winter rainfall can bring about the
destructionpf the crops. Experience and
observation demonstrate that 1t wall be
necessary to adopt similar plan in deal
ing with the question of irrigation IN this
State. The winter rains must be held in
the mountains and accumulated in reser-
voirs and by dams. This is the conclusion
to which the engineers have come, and it
is upon the application of such a scheme
that the permanent salvation of the now
arid lands Of the West San Joaquin and of
the Tulare Valley and other southern To-
calities must depend. But it is evident
that the construction of the necessary
works for comprehensive irrigation sys,
TEN must demand expenditures such as, If
imposed wholly upon the lands in the
districts to be reclaimed and irrigated, will
constitute an exceedingly onerous if not an
altogether insupportable burden for the
sparse population of those regions, while
it would SO handicap settlement as to
check the sale of lands. The case, in fact,
appears to be one of those in which it is
necessary to invoke the broadcast and most
enlightened liberalism. 1t resembles very
closely the problem presented by the SO.
called debris question. The end to be at
tanned is the principal consideration. That
end is the securing of permanent fertility
and enhanced production and value to an
immense area, which if not relieved and
assisted by some such artificial means
must in all probability cease sooner or later
to support considerable population of any
kind. Whatever measures are calcu-
lated to produce the beneficial effects
to be anticipated from a system of
water. storage and irrigation, must be di-
rectly contributory to the welfare of the
whole community. And this in the plain
est and most practical way, since it is
clear that the opening of the San Joaquin
and Tulare valleys to settlement on great
scale must result in such an increase of
the wealth of the State as to tighten the
burdens of taxation to the individual.
Whatever enlarges the productive capacity
Of any section OF the territory which forms
one common government must benefit all
the other sections. The introduction of
five hundred thousand new settlers to the
State would be SO great benefit to the
existing population that they could well
afford to pay considerable bonus for such
an immigration, and still be gamers.
True craftsmanship is never narrow or
parsimonious, any mere than true business
instinct is. The successful business man is
he who has the sagacity to realize that it is
his interest to expend largely in extending
his connections and advertising his wares.
Unsuccessful statesman is hewhoperceives
the wisdom Of favoring expenditures which
promiselarge returns. Noeommunity which
is afraid to spend money upon anything
which does not directly help every indi-
vidual who contributes to the outlay need
expect to prosper speedily. 1t is the com
munities which possess the business
instinct, which do not hesitate to tax them
selves for the accomplishment of great en-
terprises whose returns are none the less
certain however indirect, that make aston
;shing progress. The man who lives in
San francisco or at the north Of the State
may say that he has no direct
interest in irrigation, but if he
does say so it is only because he does moi
look far enough beyond his immediate con.
Germs to comprehend the mutually and
interdependence of all the interests which
make up the State. There is not taxpayer
in California who is not helped by the in.
crease of the aggregate of taxpayers, and
the larger this increase the more everyone
is relieved. And this is not all, for with
the growth of population and wealth
comes higher civilization, increased op.
portunities, increased facilities of commu.
nication, transportation, education, general
enlightenment and prosperity. The great.
est need of California to-day is the devel
opment of the resources of her soil. 1t is
there that her future really resides,
and not in mineral deposits. The
dams and reservoirs proposed to be
constructed in the Coast Range and
the Sierra are possible mines of
wealth far richer and more extensive
than the Comstock Lode. To develop
these riches, to convert the now arid
plains of the southern valleys into fruitful
areas affording sustenance to heavy. popu.
lation, is the subject about to engage public
attention, and we desire to bespeak for il
the most intelligent and thoughtful consid.
Grafton. We believe it to be matter in
regard to which the most liberal spirit
should be invoked, not from any sentimen.
tai motives, but from the practical stand
point OF the common interest. There can
in our opinion be no theory so mischievous
and paralyzing as that which would con.
fine all interior improvements to what the
| immediate bene6ciaries of them can afford
to pay. Had that theory been followed in
national affairs the United States would
never have made the advances it has
achieved, and what is wisdom for Nation
certainly cannot be other than wisdom fer
a State.