Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-04
THE NORTH AND SOUTH.
The Opinion of a Visiting Horticuiturist-
II II.


The visiting horticulturists left this
morning on an excursion up SoHoma
county to Guerneville. They will return
this evening, and tomorrow or next day
will depart for Riverside. All of the visit.
ors seem to be pleased with the northern
half of the State, finding it far different
from that which they had been led to sup
pose. The character of the information
concerning California which finds its way
to the people of the East, the effect which
it produces and the total overthrow OF
such false ideas by visit to Upper Califor-
| mia, are shown in the speech of President
Earle AT Marysville: have to express
my surprise at the country which | have
had but a few minutes 10 observe. For
years | have been educated up TO the idea
that citrus fruits were TO be grown only in
Southern California. In this | have now,
for the first time, learned that l was mis-
taken, and am so impressed with this sec
ton that | shall visit it again"
The contrast between the tales which are
told by interested parties for the purpose of
comparing Southern and Upper California
10 the disadvantage of the latter, and the
truth will be made apparent by the follow
ing extract from private letter dated San
Diego, January 30th, speaking of FL Cajon
valley: at is warm during the day, but
the moment the sun is hidden it is colder
than Greenland, caused by the snow on the
mountains. We shall stay here
(San DieCo) until it gets warmer and the
snow is melted from the mountains; then
we want to get into the interior where it is
warm and IS f. Bulletin, Feb5udry3d.
viii the Panama Canal be Finished
No exact estimate of the time and
money required to finish the canal can be
made. as much of the data needed is I'M
known. Charles de LesSeps said to me :
ain two years the canal will be finished
from Colon to kilometer forty-four, and
from La Boca to Paraiso. As to the
Culebra, l leave you to form your own
conclusions. 1t is 4 great and difficult
work"
1t is evident that the rate CT excavation
in work of such magnitude must be
small until the plant is complete; it is
equally true that more work can be done
in a given time with complete installa-
ton than with one of less size. Hence it
is false reasoning to conclude that if g.
100000 cubic meters are eXcavated in five
years, it will require twelve years to ex-
tract the remaining 100000. That
such reasoning is absurd is shown by the
cube of last year, which was 1l,727, 600
cubic meters At this rate it would re-
quire about seven years to complete the
canal 1t is not probable that this rate
will be exceeded materially for year or
more.
Keeping in mind the sum already ex-
pended, and the purposes to which it was
applied, it is unreasonable to presume that
the final cost of the canal will be less than
1000, 100000 francs, or about S375 ,000,0 900.
These figures are now acknowledged by
the company but owing to the great sac
rifice at which the loans are obtained, the
liabilities of the company will be nearly
double this amount.
Any views concerning the completion
of the canal by the present company must
be coniectural; but if the present loan be
expended with economy, the results will
enhance the prospects of success.
At Colon there were many residents and
foreigners not interested in the canal. The
most bitter opponents of the enterprise
were Americans and Englishment, or for
mer employees of the company who had
been discharged or had similar griev-
ance. But from all sources there was a
free admission that the company has both
brains and energy, that the canal presents
no insuperable obstacles, and that its COM
pletion is question of time and money
Lieut. Chos. G. Rogers IN Popular Science.