Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-16
GBpDING AND sUIsUN IRRIGArING
CANAL

The Red Bluff Democrat of the 18th
inst. gives the following information con-
corning the projected irrigating canal. to
run on the west side of the Sacramento
valley:
Major N. c. Gardner, protector, and II.
II. B nee, civil engineer, of the proposed
irrigating canal To be made from point on
the Sacramento river near Redding 20 Sui.
sun, were in town, aud from them we learn
that for the last two weeks they have been
on the route taking levels and making sn
exploration survey for the purpose of as
pertaining the practicsbility of this mos
important scheme. They report that they
have extended their surveys and prelimi-
narily located the route as far as the top OF
the ridge between Dibble and Blue Tent
creeks, about two miles north of town and
not far from the farm of Antoine Kohru.
mel. From this point the ditch will take
course entering the Sacramento plains, and
passing through Tehsms, Coluss, y olo and
Solano counties to Suisun bay Mr.. Gard
ner and Mr.. Bence both unite in asserting
that the project is perfectly feasible and
will not be over expensive, considering the
vast amount of benefits to be derived by
the public from the contamination of such
an irrigation scheme as will be accom-
plished by the building of this proposed
canal. The Importance of such a scheme
of irrigation cannot be over. estimated.
This canal in Shasta county alone, from its
head near Redding to Cottonwood creek, a
distance of p miles, viii include within its
irrigating limits not less than 90 square
miles is, 900 acresl of land lying between
the route of the canal and the river, and
most of this is mesa land, that viii not
produce large crops without irrigation.
Messrs. Gardner and Bence thinks this
Iortion of the eansl-from Reading
to Cottonwood-wil not cost to exceed
Sl50,000 The protector intends the canal
to be of a capacity sufficient to carry 49,.
600 inches of water. II this scheme can
be carried out in full it will add millions of
agricultural wealth to the counties through
which it passes. and cannot fail to pay a
large interest on the capital necessary to its
completion, and moreover it will not be a
benefit of . day or year. but will last as
long as grass grows and water runs The
necessity of irrigation for the successful
raising of crops and feed for stock on this
coast is getting to be well understood by
the people in the State, and the communi-
ties of farmers must sooner or later resort
to irrigation if they expect to realize much
from agricultural pursuits. Another
scheme, which is expected to be accom-.
pljshed by this proposed canal, is the float
ing and storage of saw.logs A company
anticipate building sawmilI near Redding,
and on the line of the canal, and float their
logs down the river from the timber forests
above to the head of the canal, thence
down the canal to point where large
pond will be opened out for the holding of
millions of feet of logs for the sawmill.
From this mill lumber, fence-posts and
wood may be foated in the canal to points
along its course not contiguous TO the rail.
road, and at points in many instances right
at the doors, as it were, of the farmers,
where wanted for fencing and other uses
[Suoh canal, engineers state, would in
size be-dependent upon velocity OF flow
from so to 100 feet in width and from eight
to ten feet in depth, 70 carry $50, 600 inches
of water.-EDs
THE CoLUsA Speaking of the
Colusa Canal, the Solano Republican says
the canal is to be 90 feet wide and seven
feet deep, with a capacity of enlargement
to carry $50, 900 inches of water. 1t adds
that the water is to be taken out half mile
below Redding, and the ditch is to dis
charge into Suisun slough near Suisun
City. 1t is intended also to lay pipe in
the bottom of the ditch, to supply towns
and cities with drinking water. The ditch
is also to be made capable of floating down
saw timber. The fall will be two feet to
tho rpiie