Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-09-04
CHAPTER XVII.

=
For miles and miles, at this season of
the year, not n green thing appeared
upon which to fasten the smallest hope
of ever changing the waste into fertile
fields of grass and grain.
The settlers already there seemed
upon the verge of starvation. But three
or four inches of rain fell during the en-
tire year, and for months at time the
soil was unmoistcncd even by dew.
Those who possessed little money
when they came had expended it in
futile efforts TO produce crop, and all
were now dependent for the means of
subsistence upon small patches of
ground near the lake, distant in many
instances from four to seven miles from
their claims.
Even these patches had to be con-
stantly guarded from droves of raven
ous and half wild cattle belonging to
the hcrdsmcn who gave little tention,
and who were lily disposed toward any
attempts at incosing or cultivating the
land which, although seemingly little
better than desert, Mt certain periods
of the year produced thin growth of
wild alfalfa upon which their stock fed,
being in the main driven TO better pas
lures rs the dry season advanced.
These patches of ground were made
fertile by their ncarness to Lake Tulare,
and by being but little above the level
of its waters.
Veritable oases in the desert these
spots seemed, and upon them the set
tiers raised the few bushels of corn and
beans and vegetables which formed
their sole means of subsistence while
prosecuting the work of redeeming their
claims by the herculean task of digging
an irrigating ditch upwards of twenty
miles long, by means of which they were
to obtain water from the river above
them, and convert the desert into a
garden.
But if these oases furnished garden
spots for the settlers they were also de-
sired by the herdsmen, for few OF
whose cattle they supplied pasturage
the year round, and being without the
means of fencing them in, the protec-
ton of Their little crops meant con-
stant watch upon the cattle, and one
which consumed the entire time oi
some member of each family.
Owing to the lack of feed, but few
were able to keep teams, and that they
continued the unequal contest for theii
homes can only be understood when il
is known that of all the rich farming
lands of the State not an acre remained
for prc-emption or purchase except n
secondhand, and as rule, in large
bodies, being held by corporations ol
individuals who claimed it under pre-
tended grants from Spain or Mexico
given before California was ceded t.
the United States, or by act of Congress
since that time. So that this barren
sandy plain offered the only hope TO
poor men in California of obtaining
portion of the inheritance of the race.
Besides, they had confidence tn at
once irrigated, it would produce abund
dainty, and well repay all their labor
by future yields of fruit and grain.
All efforts to induce men with capita
to invest in the enterprise of cutting tn
ditch and depending upon the sale O
water privileges for reimbursement
had failed the idea that any amour
of water could render the sand OF tn
plains fertile being secuted as vision
ary, the land being Judged not wort
paying taxes upon and the settlers ha
, undertaken the task themselves, a
unaided, and had been two years 9
{ work on the main ditch when Erastu
; Hemmingway arrived in the con
: munity.
, So drcary and forbidding was til
, outlook that he felt tempted to leay
, again Immediately but knowing tn;
no land remained open for pre- -emptio
elsewhere in the State, at last he dt
cided to stay and cast his lot with thos
who were so manfully struggling
overcome the difficulties by which the
were surrounded.
, Guided in part by the advice of sue
, acquaintances rs he had made since H.
arrival, he located claim of one hur
drcd and sixty acres, and made n
, rangements to live for II time in til
family of settler who was on clail
adjoining his own, agreeing to pay
{ small sum weekly for such food an
J accommodations as they could offer.
Of the half dozen men who accOn
panied Erastus to the Slough, not on
had the hardi ood to remain. All wei
too much discouraged by the outlool
, and either returned to the old neigl
, borhooi or sought p aces for rent
+ other portions of the country.
, When he had staked out his clail
t Erastus hitched up and drove aero.
, the country until he found pasturag
and ranchcr who was willing to !,
, the colts run with his own stock unit
: such time rs the light rains, whic
i might be expected to fall few montl
| later, should revive the seemingly dca
. grass of the Mussle Slough countr,
4 He then returned to the Slough on foo
, and went to work with his fellow-se
tiers upon the ditch, which was the
7 only hope
For weeks and months he worked
| company with these men, many {
A whom had worked through all IL
a weeks and months of the two preyiol
/ years; ill-fcd-. often without bread
any kind for long periods at n tim
I sleeping upon the ground almost rs fr
| quently rs in a bed, working at nigl
t rs well rs by day. their families CAM
{ ing in wretched little huts at the lal
: watching the patches OF vegetables m
corn upon which their very existent
n depended.
1 When the rain came and vegetatio
started up. the colts were brought dow
from their pasture and made to do
y polLlOh VI VII bliN
g young master taking the best care
o them possible under the circumstance
d He had written home soon after po:
= lively deciding to locate at the Sloug
y but had refrained from giving n vel
# accurate descrlption'of of the country
@ OF his prospects, not wishing to excl
any anxiety in the minds OF his fricn'
v regarding his welfare. In reply he hi
l. received letters from the family telliI
e him of affairs in the old neighborhoo
a Then for some weeks he was silent. n
3 feeling that he had anything choerf
to communicate, and dreading. y
n longing, to hear further regarding h
d engagement between Lucy and M
10 Annelsey.
,t Meantime the dam which was TO sa
10 the Parsons settlement from the owe
N flow had been completed, but scarce
N was the work accomplished before
In became evident that it would not lol
gtay the mass of slickinOg which w