Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-09
OBSERVATIONS IN FRESNO.
Interesting Letter from immigration
Commissioner l. N. Hoag.

OBSERVATIONS IN FRESNO.
Interesting Letter from immigration
Commissioner l. N. Hoag.
EDS. RECORD UNION: / have spent two
days very profitablY in this county, in study
ing the irrigation and colony systems adopted
SO successfully here. found the enterprising
people fully alive to the Importance of my
mission East, and ready to place every pos
sibIe facility at my disposal for gaining cor
rect estimate of the county's resources.
In a short letter can give but hurried
outline of those resources. This is, as to area.
the third county in the State, containing
about 5000, 600 acres of territory, of which
100000 have been classed as agricultural
lands. This area stretches fully across the
San Joaquin. about opposite the Bay of Mon
terey on the coast. The soil varies in its
composition, but is generally light loan,
mixed well with decomposed granite. espe-
cially on the east side Of the valley, where my
observations have been made. The soil is
rich in vegetable food, and only needs water
to develop its producing qualities.
The San Joaquin and Kings rivers afford
valley portion Of the county, and, believe,
the whole valley from Visalia down. There
are suits pending in the Courts to settle the
claims and rights of riparian owners and ap-
propriators for irrigation. Whatever may
be the decision of the Courts the water must
and will be used for rendering fertile this
great valley. If the laws as they stand will not
permit or sustain the use of the water for
such purposes, then they must and will be
changed to that end. The people of the valley
have confidence in this result, and are going
right forward in extending old irrigation
canals and bitches, and in projecting and
constructing new ones. and in very few
years hence there will be no considerable
section of the valley in Fresno not under irri-
cation and cultivation. When this shall be
the case have reason to believe, from what
have seen of the truly wonderful productive
ness of the irrigated sections, that Fresno
will be the richest agricultural county in the
State.
There is a hard pan OF cemented soil under
lying large section of the valley portion of
the county, averaging from three to ten fest
below the surface, aud the general slope of
seven feet to the mile. Though this slope is
not an uninterrupted incline, it is go nearly 80
as to interfere but little with complete and
very economical system of irrigation. The
climate of Fresno is one OF the most agree
able and at the same time most favorable for
vegetable production in the State. The only
present drawbgck-the parched surface and
driving sand and dust storms in the summer
seasons-will disappear with the general
adoption and practice Of irrigation.
Whenever water has been brought upon and
the land properly cultivated, the most mar
velous fertility and production has followed.
T. & l,,a I,-,- H.
Of practical instances that forty acres under
application of water has with careful man.
agement brought its owner q grester net in
come land this is certaiu) than the average of
wheat-growers receive in sections where irri.
cation is not deemed necessary. The grape
for wine and for raisiDs comes into bearing
here the second year from the cutting, and
the third year produces q fair and paying
crop, and the fourth year will produce heavi.
ly, say from four to six tons TO the acre. No
better wines or raisins are made any where
than in this county. The colony system of
settling the lands has been worked up very
near to perfection here, and the very best and
astonishing results are being realized.
The city of Fresno-the capital of the
county-is already the center Of one of the
most prosperous and enterprising sections of
the entire State. The Burton vineyard, the
Eisen vineyard, the Eggles vineyard, the
Butler, Forsyth & Briggs vineyards, com.
prisipg in all some two Thousand acres OF
vines, and the Fresno, the Central, Wash
ington and Other colonies, are in the immedi-
ate vicinity. A ride to and through any one
of these will fill with wonder and astonish-
ment every observer-eYen those who have
resided in this Stats since 1919, and observed
the wonders ia agricultural and horticultural
developments SO frequently met with here
This city has great future before it, and
when there shall be a railroad built from the
Southern Pacific to the Yosemite Falls or
valley, think the switch will be at the city
OF Fresno.
We found the business and solid men of
the county engaged in move looking to a
compromise by the county with the railroad
company of the taxes now ia dispute, upon
the basis of proposition from the company
for that purpose. 1t will doubtless be set
tied at the next meeting Of the Board of Su-
pervisors. This will place the county in
funds to pay eff its debts and to inaugurate
d system OF public improvements to keep
pace with the rapidly settling up CT the
county and with private enterprises being
pushed forward.
Permit me to remark before closing that
the people OF Fresno know how to place their
advantages before the public and to secure
q favorable impression upon strangers, and
they propose TO leave no stone unturned TO
get their share of the desirabls immigrants
the immigration Commissioner will send to
this State The real estate agents here need
no instructions as to putting land upon the
market and to secure purchasers. They,
however, are wonderfully successful in sat-
isfying all purchasers with their bargains.
We saw no one dissatisfied with his invest.
ment here.
Fresno, May 3, 1888. /. n. HoAG.