Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-02
hIERCED'S JUBILEE.
Celebration of the Completion of thu
Great Canal and Reservoir.

0Feat CanSl ana h6serrOtr.
Copyright 1888, by the California Associated Press
MERGED, February 1st-The greatest
event in Merced's history came off to-day
the turning of the water from the Merced
Canal and Irrigation Company's canal into
their mammoth reservoir. Interesting cere-
monies attended the opening of the dam of
the great basin covering an area equal to a
mile square, situated eight miles from the
town of Merced. Excursionists had been
arriving here for two or three days
past in considerable numbers, among
them Governor Waterman and Private
Secretary Boruck. At II o'clock last
night an excursion train from
San Francisco arrived, bringing large
number OF distinguished strangers, among
them Charles Crocker, who, like our own
townsman, Charles Huffman, is entitled
to the distinction of being recognized as a
public benefactor, whose fayors have been
proiitably bestowed upon the town and
county of Merced. Both of them have
lavisned their capital by hundreds of thou
sands of dollars monthly for years past,
that Merced might be provided with an
unlimited supply of water for irrigation for
all future time-an event deemed of such
importance as to justify large outlay of
money in celebrating the completion of
the immense works.
At 10 O'Clock this morning teams began
10 gather in the large squares in town, the
vehicles being decorated with evergreens,
flags, flowers and gaily- -colored ribbons.
They were rapidly filled with men, women
and children. AS each received its com.
plement of persons it took its place in the
line, and, marshaled by Senator Meany,
filed off along the elaborately decorated
streets toward the great reservoir, christened
"Y Yosemite Lake"
At IL o'clock the band struck up lively
tune, and the long train moved in good or
der over stretch of plain a distance of
eight miles, there being fully three hun
dred vehicles in line, comprised of every
kind, from light carts to lumber and hay
wagons, some carrying from fifty to sixty
persons and drawn by six large animals.
Governor Waterman and suite rode in a
large coach drawn by four white horses and
escorted by page in handsome uniform
on either side, following closely the band
wagon.
Arriving at the ground at o'clock P NJ,
the great throng alighted from the vehicles
and assembled on the great dam The
assemblage was called 10 order by the
President of the Day, DR.. H. n. Rucker,
when the band played a solemn air, fol-
lowed by a prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. G.
W. Lyon.
President Rucker then delivered a short
address of welcome, and several distin-
guished strangers and citizens present fol-
lowed Then there was music by the Sec
ond Artillery Band.
The Orator of the Day, Hon. John W.
Breckenridge, delivered a short though elo-
quent and appropriate grafton, replete with
historical facts respecting the great work
accomplished; upon the nobleness,
grandeur and benefcence of the enterprise +;
the great minds that conceived it, and with
to successful conclusion.
A poem by Merceds local poet, Edward
Jackson, after an interlude Of music by the
band was read by VIM. Conley
Governor Waterman being called for
made a short, though pleasing address, and
was followed by Mr.. Boruck, Hon. c. c..
Wright of Stanislaus, Hon. G. G. Goucher
of Mariposa, Bernhard Marks of Fresno,
and J. o. Blackburn of Merced, after which
the signal was given by the lowering of the
flag which fioated at the top of the lower
staff
A big gun announced that the gates had
been raised by Charles Crocker, and at once
the flood came rushing down the aqueduct
into the reservoir, welcomed by shouts
from thousands of human throats and
lively strains of music by the band.
DIR. Rucker next made q short address,
introducing Miss Carrie Huffman, who
duly performed the ceremony of christen-
ing the reservoir " Yosemite Lake"
The ceremonies concluded with the uu-
yelling of a tablet by Miss Gussie Ward
displaying an inscription which reads:
Commenced February, 1883. Lake Yo-
semitic, completed February, 1883. This
tablet is inscribed by the citizens of Mer-
ced to commemorate the opening of the
great Irrigation Canal, and 10 bear testl-
mony of their appreciation of the labors of
its promoters, Charles Crocker and c. p.
Huffman, pioneers of California
The exercises were then closed by a
grand feast, spread on tables at the foot of
the dam, which was partaken of by at
least $500 people.
The exercises were conducted with such
good order that no accident occurred on
the grounds nor ou the road
WHAT THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE" SAYS.
New YORK, February 2d-A. M.-The
Tribune, editorially, says this morning ::
THE interest felt in irrigation on such q
huge scale as is contemplated by the pro-
jectors of the Merced Canal will not be con-
fined to the region benefited, nor to the
State of California"