Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-08-13
IRRIGATION.
Its Influence on Climate
and Health.
DIR. II. $. oRME's VIEWS.
An Interesting Paper Read Before
the state Board Of Health.
Others Views.

Two years ago the State Board OF
Health had published in their annual re-
port paper on irrigation in its relations
to health, which embraced large nun.
Der Of very valuable suggestions on this
important subject. The paper starts on
with certain preliminary statements
showing that although irrigation has
been ptacticed in California for century,
il il only in recent years that the above
phase Of its effects has come into proini-
nent notice. This ia due first to the fact
that only in recent years has irrigation
been practiced SO largely a. to greatly
affect the climate and health OF the re-
sion. Again, this irrigation has been
practiced for the most part in.Southern
California and here mostly on up
lands where there is much slope
and where the nature OF the
soil il such a. 70 give good
drainage without artificial aid. Even
where the lower mesas had been irri-
gated, the land was gravsily and 80 deep
that natural drainage WAS gooa. Ii
Ton Angeles and other counties OF south.
err California. the lands are 80 situated
ga - such character, a. Indicated
sh ~ thai vbsn they are flooded all
-, -. q. surfsos several times = year no
49,. ~ water under the surface
= .'-s..;his and therefore there 10 no de-
80 = N or4anic substance going on all
~ 49, - mske the germs OF disease
~h,ch wben turned by the pillow, rise
ITO the IL and thence get into the
49, h.r..r o.esnisn. bringing about malaria
-sJ .hs .s.v.ral tvpes Of fever growing
ont ~ malaris In the system. All these
points arc carefully noted in the paper
fesd by Or. Orme.
The question OF digging wells in such
an irr;eated region as holds the water in
suspension 40 q to create steady do.
csv II organic matter. and the effect Of
drirkipe the water as 1t comes from such
ana ~ also dwelt upon ~ ssme lsagtn.
FoIIo ZINC this. the Doctor takes up
ths crorsr remedies. such a. drainage,
Az rlsntins Of fust.Rrowing trees, and
other plsnts with large absorbtive pow
a.. The supfower and the eucalyptus
~ named 81 those most commonly
asaa The paper is supplemented W
letter. from q score Of eminent physi'
eiaus in many parts of the state, nearly
ii Of which point to danger to human
hssith lurking in all heavily irri.
csied REGIONS where the slope Of the
land And the nature Of the soil do not
sfFord GOOD natural drainage.
White il sesms u be : we'll established
f..t that nsarlv ali the irrigated lands
Anosles AID other portions Of
Am, harm California come within the
rsngs Of the favored classes named
shays IN both their slope and the char
$500 ~ the soil which mostly cambined
turo;.b good. natural drainage, yet this
matter i 90 important that u recall at
tsntiop 70 Il can hardly 10 smiss. This
imnortapce i daily becoming greater.
The area Of lands put under irrigation
i ran;dlv extending. Some Of the sec.
lions ~ coming under cultivation may
1900 under tn. head Of lands - situ-
sted. s,d Of soils 90 composed - to
nr~ci,,ds naturaI drainage wherever ir.
r;sss;o. bv doodins d applied to low
s.8d with no natural siope. or to soils
somnosed mostly Of clays, and alumni
~ insrsdients which arc retsniive
Ywstsr artificial drainage must be ap-
sl;sd 10 seoure the best results in sgri-
srI,urs and to shut Of the danger of
-~isyisl diseases to the human family.
~ snah ! region where 10 years ago
u - M, frst 10 water. when now on
scso,nt Of de Application Of irrigation
II aoodIne over large sress surface
1ster i obsainable within 10 feet, esn.
pot bs healthy. That there are such
sxoerisucs. Of record in this State is not
TO be disputsd.
That there are not sueh in or near
L. Ansele. i A most fortuuste matter,