Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-30
COLUSA COUNTY.

Concerning this section of the Sacramento
valley, W. s. Green, editor of the Colusa
Sun, recently wrote as follows From Sac
ramcnto to the southern line of Colusa
county is about 40 miles on right line
The county is 60 miles from south to north,
and will average something less than so
from cast to west. a due north line from
San Francisco runs nearly through the CEN
ter of the county For about "a miles from
the upper end, the Sacramento river forms
the eastern boundary then the line runs
across to Butte creek, then down that
stream some twenty and odd miles to the
river, where the river again becomes the
boundary. 1t reaches west to the summit
Of the Coast Range. OF the area of the
county some 800 square miles lies in the
great Sacramento valley. Most of this is
fine alluvial soil, made by the river or by
the deposits of the creeks which drain the
foothills Of the Coast Range, and no other
800 square miles of land can be found in
one body in America of greater fertility.
The wheat crop of 1884 will average more
than 25 bushels to the acre. The soil of
the foothills along the western border of
the county is very fine. and produces wheat
equal to the valley, while the valleys OF
these foothills are of surprising fertility
and loyeliness.
THE SACRAMENTO RIVER
Is navigabIe by freight steamers the entire
length of the county, and the price of
freight from Colusa, the county seat. to San
Francisco is only 81 80 per ton. Every
acre of the valley land is capable of irriga-
ton by canals from the riverand the creeks,
at a cost which is comparatively nothing
SO, upon the whole nature never
did more for any extent of country
Of the same size than she has done for
Colusa county. 1t was intended for the
garden of California, which is the garden
of America. When all the lands of Cali
fornia shall be brought into use and made
subject to intelligent labor, guided by Il
spirit of enterprise Colusa county. by
reason of the fertility of her soil, its great
extent and the great ease of irrigation, Will
be the center of the rural population of the
State.
DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES.
But while Colusa has been for many
years the richest county in the State in pro
portion to population-about 81 200 to each
inhabitant and over $1,000 to the voter-the
development of her resources has been less
rapid than that of any other county so near
to the present center of population. The
reasons are obvious. Railroads are the
great developing agencies of the country.
Some years ago the California and Oregon
road was built on the east side of the Sac
ramento, through Nuba, Butte and Tehama
counties, and the California Pacific was
built through Yolo and Suffer, thus leav-
ing Colusa the only county in the Sacra-
mento valley without a railroad. People
. j
land became valuable. When land was
selling for S25 an acre in gold in the adj
joining county of Yolo the same quality of
land, with freight on produce just as cheap
to tide-water, was laying subject to entry
at 81 % per acre in greenbacks, when green
backs were worth six bits on the dollar.
The consequence was that COlusa was given
up to the stock men, who wanted large
ranges, and they entered the land as neces-
Sity compelled them to do so. Consequently
it came to be held in large tracts. Finally
the Northern Railway was built, and the
attention of farmers called to the great fer
tility of the soil; but wheat-growing on
such soil was profitable, and the large land
owners went into that, so that the small
farmer, with his varied productions. found
no foothold. Fine orchard and vineyard
land can be had cheaper in Colusa county
advantages The people are only begin
ming to realize what grand bonanza they
have in the soil, the climate and the water
WATER SUPPLY.
Let us see how cheap it is. n d. Rideau,
H. b. julian, John Boggs and W. S. Green
had made q survey for a canal from the
River, which with its branches,
its bridges, its culverts, all ready for work.
would cost only 100000, and would water
$50 square miles OF land. The same parties
made another survey from Stony Creek
covering 125 square miles at a cost of about
$150,000 L. +. Moulton had made Il sur
vey ON the east side OF the river which
would water nearly 100 square miles in
ColuSa and a great deal in Butte at a cost
OF about 100000. Six hundred and fifty
square miles of land completely irrigated
for less than a million of dollars
But irrigation is not absolutely demand
ed for orchards and vineyards Enough
las been tried to prove that fine fruit can
be grown on the driest lands with good
cultjgdtioa When water can be had so
very cheap, however, it is best to have it.
must always be cheap, be-
cause the river thepeople's highway, regu-
lates the charges on the railroads 1t is
better for the purpose than all the Railroad
Commissions ever started Colusa is I'M
grown, undeveloped; it is in the heart of
the State, and wealth untold lies in that
dpyelODment