Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-17
WHOLE NO l1,1O0.

owners, as would be the case where the
land is owned in comparatively small plats.
30 that these large grants, which once ap-
peared 10 be curse to that section, turns,
by Jndicious management to be a great
blessing and if some of the large grants in
northern California were thus treated, or
managed, what great blessing it would be
to this part of the State.
Ihere IS no good reason why we in Cen
trai and northern California should not ac-
compiish as great and good results as has
been or ever can be accomplished in the
southern counties, for they certainly have
no advantages over us in climate or soil,
and our water facilities, in the shape of
natural supplies, are infinitely superior to
theirs. Let us compare supplies.
In the counties of Los Angeles, San Ber-
nardino and San Diego they have the Los
Angeles, San Gabriel, Santa Ana and San
Diego rivers, and few small creeks. These
are all small, and do not believe that any
OF them have their source in perpetual
snow, as do all our rivers. Theirs also have
very sandy beds, into which large quanti-
ties OF water sink and is lost. 1t often oc-
ours that for many miles the water sinks
and leaves only the dry sand in sight. In
the Sacramento valley we have the great
Sacramento river traversing the whole
length of the valley, and naVigable for 800
miles. On the east side we have-I orth--of
Stockton-the Calaveras, the Mokelumne,
Cosumnes, American, Bear, Yuba and
Feather-seven rivers-the smallest of
which affords as much water as the largest
in the southern part of the State. All
these head in perpetual snow, and carry. at
the very lowest stage, from 5000 to 12,G00
inches of water each. The Feather is nav
igahle for good-sized steamers for a distance
Of oTf fIr
inches at the lowest water Besides these,
there are, on the east side, fifteen or twenty
good-sized creeks, some quite large. such as
Dear, Chico and Butte creeks. The west
side of the Sacramento is nearly as well
supplied with water as the east side There
is, therefore, a great abundance of water
now running to waste in the Sacramento
valley-sufficient to irrigate every acre of it
and all its available foothills The whole
territory, covering an area of 300 miles
long by an average of so miles wide, might
and could be converted into one vast
garden and orchard if its waters were only
properly utilized. If this were done, what
vast population could be sustained
within the limits of the valley. Ten to
twenty acres of this land, well watered,
would support decently and well any ordi-
nary family. All kinds of products that are
raised by the husbandman on any part of
the globe, could be successfully raised
within the limits of this territory. Thou
sands of happy homes, hundreds of flour
ishing towns and cities, would spring into
existance like magic were this section COW
cred with a network of irrigating bitches,
and the great Sacramento valley would
become the pride and glory of its happy
occupants, as well as the admiration Of the
entire world.
In future communication | will enter
more into details, and suggest some plans
and methods for carrying out, at least in
part, this scheme for developing our great
natural resources. ROBERT WILLIAMSON
Sacramento, November 10 1856.