New-York tribune., 1885-08-16
A HUGE IRRIGATION SCHEME,
DIGGING A GREAT CALIFORNIA CANAL.

COST OF THE LARGEST CANAL IN TIE CoUS-
TRY.
rRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE ]
| SAN FRANCISCO July 10. To one who visits
different sections OF this great State of California 1t
constant surprise to the vast enterprises which are
beng undertaken by wealthy men for the rapid develop
ment OF tho OF the country. To name only
few of these. each of which is worth visit Senator
stanords Palo Alto ranch for breeding choice stock
comprising 5000 in the heart Of the rich Santa
Clara Valley. and his great 10000 acre vineyard al
vina in Tehama County; the immense wine cellars ana
vineyards OF Kohler Frohling. up IN the lovely Glen
Ellen district OF the sonoma Valley; the Fresno ana
Riverside colonies which have transformed desert INTO
vineyards and orange groves and made land saeabe at
$3.50 rer acre which was regarded fifteen years ago as
dear at s5 an acre; Santa Anito ranch OF Lucky
Baldwin, which produces thousands OF gallons Of hne
wine and brandy yearly and sends out thoroughbred
racing stock which has he'd It's very well on the
Eastern turf this year. the prnclpaltes oEned by the
cltte kings Lux and Miller. which stretch half across
the state the royal domain OF ]. r. Haggin, upon
which valuable experiments being made In the ras-
ing OF cotton and products heretofore regarded ~
not adapted TO the State; and the olive orchards OF
Ellwood Cooper and Colonel Hoster OF Santa Barbara
which have demonstrated the advantages OF the coast
lands for this ayorte product OF the Riviera These are
Dnly few OF the enterprises which have cost millions
and whsh have scarcely begun repay their projectors
for the large amount rskei In their princey ventures
A BIG IRRIGATING CANAL
To these must now be adic1 work which Is unique Is
this State for labor whch will be spent upon It ana
the results that will follow from Its use. This Is the
great Merced irrigation ditch which Is expected to water
tract OF the Merceh Valley forty miles long by twenty
wide and convert wheat fields into orange and lemon
groves vineyards and orchards visit to tho ditch last
week gave me idea OF the power OF capital when
applied enterprises which seek to transform the face
Of q country and overthrow the obstacles placed by
In the way OF their development Merced County
lies I'm the hcart OF the San Joaquin Valley which has
been the chief wheat producing section since tho days
when men gave up placer mining and turned their
attention the and profitable labor OF wheat
growing IL extends from the Sierra Nevadas on the
east to the skirt OF tho Coast Range the west ITS
greatest width being ninety miles while Its length north
and south Is about forty miles There Is billy land on
each side Of the valley nears themountains, but
elsewhere 1t Is either level barn floor gently
rolling like the n calm day. The chief town.
Merced l4l miles from San Francisco and Is rca3hed
by O six hours ride the Southern Pacific Railroad
THROUGH THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
Tie ride at this season OF the year cannot he COM
mcnded for comfort the tran dashcs out from every
place In q cloud OF DUST and tho dust You have always
with you-blinding. sudocatng. penetrating through
dustcr or veil For half the journey skirts along the
bay and wDcs through the rich wheat fields OF Contra
Costa san joaquin and stanisaus counties. Even In
this month when everything IA a tawny yellow and the
wheat been mostly thrashed and hauled to tho ware
house the country IA picturesque because 1t Is dotted
here and with cnps " live oak and the presence
houses these vast plains Is indicated by the tall
sep-green eucalyptus. which at a distance bears
striking resemblance in shape and general effect to the
Iombardy poplar. After reaching stanislaus County.
however the freshness OF tho mir s lost and hence
orth one must submit to dust aud heat
A TYPICAL yAIJ.EY TOWN.
Merced Is a struggling town. with many Southern
characterstics streets houses with ample yeran-
das stores with long coIonnade in front which
as promenade during the heat Of the day, aud nne
court house whose imposing architecture goes far TO
redeem the lack OF IL elsewhere. IL boasts Of 1000
people but has probably 1900 in all. II suffered
recently from $4,000 IRE, but the burnt ground i
belng rapidly covered with ana moro substantial
stores There an air prosperity abodt the ranchmen
who In all kinds OF curious rigs hut all 20 Tdcrcd
with the pervasvo dust For eight months the climate
is said to bc pcrfec,ion-dry cquabIe. without harsh
Winds aud with the Visible oyery dag Ia tho clear
sky. During the summer however. the nimbc mercury
up above the nnciics aud tile heat Is sweltorng
one may work Ia the open air without danger OF sun
stroke but there Il no comfort In IT, Teamsors the
road have little umbrella, larger than lady's
paraso fastened by wires 10 their shoulders. that
whether on inc foot they saved from tho
fierce heat OF the sun. 10 Ooks very queer 70 SEQ
monnted herlsninn with this curou, head Towering
sitting olt upright Oh the level plain
WAITING FOR THE BOOM
Every one IN MERGED f. waiting for the ditch 10 come
through Then boom is expected which viii lead onto
fortune for land holders and great ncreascof popua
ton aud wealth. Those who own Land In the Immediate
y,nlty OF the town scarcely know what to demand for
IT, The great majority would lot sell nov at anyprcc.
They have IDEA that the possibilities OF irrigation
unlimited and that thsY might commit tho indsereton
Of allowing outside speculaor TO benefit by the
boom. The ditch. which caused such revolution In
alfr hal frtsfu fha
One takes stage road aue norhelstho old turnpike
road which WA built for the accommodation OF Yosemite
Valley travel but which Ia little used now that the rival
MADEIRA route absorbed nearly all the tourist travel.
For six miles ono drives between wheat folds and
pasture lani without sian OF human habitation and
without glimpse OF water Then the Six Mile House Is
reached-a shanty with an overshadowing windmill
where cool beverages are kept for the rcfreshen OF
solourners in this weary land From this place 70 the
nearest part he ditch Il about mile and half tho
road cutting straight through OF the dreaes bits OF
country that Will find In days travel IL is thin,
grayey land gently ronganl the only signs OF life
the little ground squirrels which dive their holes.
and an occasional Jack rabbit which dsar with tho
long ope that is warranted 10 discourage any dog but
the greyhound.
VISIT TO THE DITCH.
The first sigh, OF the ditch suggests the earth works OF
fort the ground being ridged M from six TO eight feet
The tents whore the men sleep the cooks galley. the
queer house on wheels In which the OF
tlon lives with his family, and tho windmill which
pumps water tho wclal these features give the
place tho appearance OF Of the early mining camps
There Is evidence in the camp OF sul OF materials.
but no idea OF thet work tthat Is being done |
be gained until the process OF excavation.
In charge OF the 800 men NJ work on, tho canal |
s j. O. Drake old railroad contractor whose expert
ence in this work back seventeen years Ho Is
a big hearty wholesome man. with n clear eye and a
skin which tho has colored TO the hue Of ripe
peach. The heat which willis other men and saps their
energy seems TO have no effect him. From him was
learned the history OF the undertaking and Its main
features
formed and obtained q charter TO run ditch from tho
Merced Rlyer through the adIncent country. few