Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-02
THE RIVER ISLANDS.
For Fertility of Soil They are UnequaIed-
How they are Reclaimed.

VI CAbhty coli lnty are On6QualeU-
How they are Reclaimed.
Lower Sacramento county consists of isl
ands formed by network of sloughs con-
Meeting the Sacramento river with the
Mokelumne and San Joaquin. Grand Is
land, formed by Old river and Steamboat
slough, and Sherman Island, inclosed by
Seven-Mile slough and the Sacramento
and San Joaquin rivers, are the principal
ones in size, while Andrus Island, between
Old river and Georgiana slough, stands
first for productions, being thoroughly re-
claimed. Tyler Island, southeast of An
drus, Brannan Island west and Twitchell
Island southwest, constitute the remaining
lower portion of the county.
North of Grand Island between two and
three thousand acres, inclosed by Suffer
and Steamboat sloughs and the Sacramento
river, is known as Suffer Island.
These islands are all saucer-shaped. be-
ing highest near the banks of the streams.
GRAND ISLAND
Has an area of $500 acres. A strip aver
aging one-half mile in width along the
Sacramento river is in high state of Gull
tivation, and from the head of Steamboat
slough: for distance of 6feeen miles, is
presented an unbroken line of orchards.
The central portion of the island is
Hooded with water, never having been
drained since the flood of 1873. About
1000 acres of this island belongs to the
estate of General f. III. Williams Owing
to disagreements between the General and
other owners regarding reclamation, he
embodied in bis will clause which pre-
vents any action in that direction for five
years succeeding his death. Under these
restrictions two years will elapse before one
of the most fertile islands of the world can
be brought to cultivation. Of the front
land, as it is called, that lies next to the
river, there is none in the market, and
while 1t does not seem possible that the
soil could warrant such figures for cult
waiting purposes, it is fact that 81, 800 per
acre is looked upon as an ordinary price.
w. IL. Barry has place Just below Court
land, four acres Of which is in Bartlett
pears, planted 1874 trees to the acre. about
eighteen feet apart. These Melted 81 900
per acre in 1888, 1884, 1885 and 1886, and
$500 per acre in 1887.
Eastern people might wonder at the
bare statement and believe it exaggerated.
But let us see. At an average of only
seven boxes to the tree, which is the mini
mum, we have 1892 boxes, which, at 81 50
per box. only affair average price, we have
1888. Allowing $500 per acre for ex-
penses, which is nearly double the maxi
mum, we have then a net profit of 81 900
per acre, as Mr.. Barry stated.
Mr.. Barry, on Grand Island, has twenty
five acres, which has melted him $4,000
per year for the last ten years. He also
has two acres of orange-eling peaches.
which uetted lin in 1888, 1884, 1885 and
1886 81 200 per acre.
Peter Hanson, on this island but twelve
or fifteen miles further down, has pear
orchard fronting Old river that netted
profit OF $1,000 per acre. Another year.
when prices were such that he only real
lied net profit of 81, 100 per acre, it seemed
question whether or not there might be
ground for complaint
In August, 1885, A. NJ. Tullis was MUIR
dered on Grand Island He at that time
was the possessor of 365 acres, noted for its
fruit product. For several years it lacked
the attention of skilled director, and
finally was purchased by Joseph Greene
for $50, 900. Seventy acres of bearing trees
have brought him a return of $500 per
year. He is rapidly bringing it up to a
tirst-class standard, and could to-day real
ize in cash more than double the price
paid.
| ANDRUS ISLAND.
Is SO miles in circumference, low and
nearly level, being about two feet above
high tide mark. At the upper end the
lands ale some higher, but gradually fall
to this average. Like Grand Island the
surface is higher at the waters edge.
gradually sinking towards the center.
This island is well protected by levees
that will, without question, withstand a
flood greater than that of which we have
any history. The inhabitants all live on
| the banks of the Sacramento river, and
raise fruit, hay, cereals and vegetables.
The streams maintain their depth to the
edge of the banks which rise perpendicu-
larly from the water, and each ranch has
its steamer landing. The soil is exceed
ingly fertile, and the reader may form his
own estimate as to the value from the fact
that every acre of the unimproved lands
on this island rents every year for from
SD to $50 per acre for the season,
! half cash in advance.
Peach, pear, nectarine, apricot and
| cherry orchards line the river front. The
peach trees are planted 10 feet apart, 100
to the acre, and will average, one season
after another, ten baskets to the tree that
market for an average price of IS cents per
basket. Back Of the orchards are the rich
tule lands, and as a representative tract
we will refer to the farm of c. p Henslev
! to show what methods are used to produce
| the best results. This farm of $50 acres
has frontage on both Georgiana slough
and the river. Inside the leyee a ditch
| two feet wide and three feet deep protects
the land from sipage in time of high
water, and ditch through the center
drains the rainfall. A siphon pump costing
| but 50 900 keeps the water under COM
| plete control. Should irrigation at any
time be desired, the water from the river
can be turned in these bitches OVERLOOKING
eground one dayand being pumped out the
next. While this method is entirely prac-
I ticable it has as yet not been found neces-
sary. From his alfalfa meadow Mr.. Hens
| ley this year harvested FIVE crops of hay.
The first crop averaged three tons to the
acre the second, two and half tons; the
third and fourth, two tons each, and the
| fifth, one and half tons total of eleven
tons to the acre. This taken from the
bank to San Francisco by schooner at nom
inal cost, markets at from $40 to SIG per ton.
The soil is alluvial and "no bottom to it,
and from it are taken two crops each year.
For example: Mr.. Alexander, whose tract
adjoins lsleton, has tenants who this and
in former years take two crops of potatoes,
or one crop of potatoes and one OF
beans, or one crop of barley and one
of beans, or one crop Of barley and
one of late potatoes.
With the assistance of irrigation on the
Wilcox place there was harvested this year
a crop of barley of seventy bushels per
acre. The land was plowed and from it a
volunteer crop of hay cut, a trifle over two
TN to the acre. A third crop heavy
enough for hay was pastured. Small
fruits produce in the same proportion a: