Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-29
IRRIGATION MEANS WEALTH.
CITIZEN SHIELDS STRONG FAITH IN
THE VALUE OF WATER
Brought Upon Dry Lands, He Argues
That Population and Wealth
Would Follow.

district. 1 discussed the question of rela
tive cost of windmills, horsepower and
steam pumps, but not at all infinitely. The
narration of that conversation, however,
have since remembered was essentially de-
fective and left the question IN the lurchr
whereas single remark atthe close, which
1 had forgotten, places the conversation
and the subject on better and more practi'
cal grounds.
Allow me space, please, to clear The sub
iect at this time. The remark made was
this: But suppose the running water
could be placed on the land practically free
forever? ?"
He replied, Thar might do Cor, That
would be a different question:; do not
give the exact language, but its practical
meaning.
What / wish to represent is the fact that
the iriigation question with us Is one OF
dollars and cents in an equal degree with
health and beauty. If the proposition
were TO have, say the 1000 farmers Of this
county expend the large amount OF money
necessary to build dams, dig bitches, and
operate both, it would be instantly an.
swered, almost unanimously, in the mega
tive-and this not only in conversation but
by votes. The sum required is too large
and the lands would be too nearly con-
sumed to bear the burden. In other
words, no 1000 men (guessed att could
make the lands pay for the introduction Of
water. But if the land was subdivided
until 10000 men should own the land, it
would be, as my farmer friend suggested to
another question, "a different matter"
Allow me to give little history here of
irrigation in this county. We once had q
little boom in real estate. 1t originated in
the discussion of the irrigation question,
though having relation to the boom in
the southern part of the State, which II
was expected would be transferred to ours.
The little boom lasted while the irrigation
question was agitated, and died with its
cessation. There is nothing unnatural in
this succession of events. Water increases
water and increased production gives new
life and business and prosperity. These
constitute a true boom.
During our little agitation the furthest
point reached was a visit from the proper
agent of the Deep Gulch Mining Company
of Ell Dorado county. The only published
interview with this agent was about as
follows: as ii the purpose of your COM
pany to introduce water for irrigation pur-
poses into this county," The reply was:
s'If enough takers of water TO justify its in
PRODUCTION can be found, We are ready TO
introduce it."
This is plain business talk, and if it had
been followed by subdivision of our lands
it would have been introduced then and
our county would have been cultivated by
several thousand more people than it is to-
day.
/ then made the practical proposition
that he (the farmer must divide now, and
sell part now and part as property rises by
virtue of improvements and increase of
population. The people from here to
Florin, say, must meet and agree 10 sub.
divide their Landslide first tier fairly
facing the railroad, with roads between the
subdivisions (laid OUT, reaching TO the sec
ond tier, and continue through the second
to the third and even the fourth tier if
necessary. l intended only to use this To-
calitT-as an illustration. The same remark
woula' apply to all the land between this
city aud Folsom and between these sec
tons toward the Costumes.
After three years of holding my nose to
the grindstone, | can see no other practical
way of accomplishing this great end. We
are doubtless somewhat nearer there by
the drifting process, and some day We
shall no doubt be driven into port by q
providential wind, which also will turn
our mills TO give US water
But the spirit of the times beckOns Us
forward. We may not wait for the next
generation TO do what we can do better.
There Is danger that our children viii in
herit our staying quail ties, and thus our
history shall be that Of other semi-trOpical
peoples who have waited for food, physical
and intellectual, 10 grow by Natures I'M
assisted powers. / therefore propose that
these divisions be made. That when a sufi.
Gent number has been surveyed to justify
introduction of water, that they be offered
for sale at a valuation that shall cover the
cost Of its introduction. That these sur
veys be marked with numbers so that they
can be seen by examination, and the roads
for an outlet be plainly marked on the
ground.
Until this is done, we shall have nothing
to work upon. No definite proposition
can be made to bring in settlers and cult
ivators; no one can select place according
TO his tastes, uor quantities Of land accord
ing to his purpose in life. No basis can bt
given for the introduction of water I'VE
have tried this, and know whereof We
affirm by capital, and we can promise nc
one that water will be brought in by ar
irrigation district. So far as | can see, wi
can offer no one home with access Il
roads and railroads, with a promise O
employment, according to taste, in dairy
ing, in stock raising IN small fruit or II
horticulture
The remedy is to subdivide and mark th,
SURVEYS; then offer the land for sale anC
work cultivators. If the land is iii 70
small fruits, the labor fl for raising thes
will purchase it. Ii tor other groTths, le
the depth and quality of sell be designated
and advertised. II is q very nice thing t
read of sales and improvements, bat be
meath them all is always 10 be found b.
search a preparation that won them. Some
times it is near market; sometimes goo
climate: sometimes heslth-but IN 81
cases anavlsis Of soil, supply OF water, re
fnement of citizens, prospects OF perma
nence. etc enter into the count before
conclusion is reached and purchases an
improvements made.
Lest may be supposed to interest mysel
beyond my proper bounds, even so lar g
TO be meddlesome, allow me IN selt-deiens
to say that took g very actiye part IN start
ing the fruit csunery OF our city. IN IN,
arguments, repeated full, as FAR as our com
mlttee COutI Dcdk--di4u oite tA-i-ts 7SStii~
pleasant to my earl said that our COUNT
did not produce more than one third OF III
fruit and vegetables that it could; that
did not DO so for the reason that these art
Giles could not be marketed and consumed
and there was no way of preservation 0
the surplus; that if We in the city, with id
hands at present, would prepare to can an
dry and preserve fruit il would stlmulat
its production and enhance cur population
by the employment il would ctier.
am, therefore, committed 10 the polio
of increased Productions in our own an
adjoining counties, and 10 the mulupltca
tor, and enlargement q canneries, dryer
and preservers, and we cannot promot
these last without stimulating the first.
reneat then. that the two must 80 together
and to give my weak assurance ~,
or similar plans shall be adopted, uul
-, ene can be attained, and
miehty thrift for both city and country D
gained. .---. b, ~, 1.r,o~-
a,,o work. no reward II We want beau
tifnl and prosperous ccanty or CITY; Y
,,nst make il so by work. That We sbs
do ca there is, I know, no doubt. TN
49, thonsand farmers and our present cit
nonnlation eau do it, none OF rs bellev
That we win use our common sense an
invest our energies to that end IS .he ui
solved problem for us, or for those Who vi
tale our unimproged opportunities
we should place ourselves IN a poslaee
90 $40 come stems in the night direction,