Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-21
AROUND GRIND ISLAND.
AN EXCELLENT PROSPECT FOB THE
COMING YEAR.
A Favorable Season for the River and
Island Farmers and Fruit
Growers.

| OSsC4oA cars nave PhoSCQ SliCC TIC luA IL
ers and fruit-growers along the lower Sac
| ramento river and on the various islands
formed by its branches have enjoyed such
promising outlook for years prosperity
as that which now confronts them. New
lerees have been constructed, old ones
strengthened, and flooded lands drained,
until now the farmers are getting their
fertile tule lands into good shape for Guilt
walton. There will, no doubt, be high
water in the river and sloughs in the
spring, as usual, but the levees are in bet
ter shape to Withstand freshets than they
have been for some years past.
This is especially true of Grand Island,
which may truthfully be designated as 1.-The
tight little isle" for its levees successfully
withs.ood the terrible floods Of last winter,
Which were the worst experienced in
thirty years. Some water remained in the
interior of the island from the flooding of
former years and the natural sipage from
the river, but this has nearly all been dis
posed of by pumping, and the island will
soon be wholly free from water. The
present outlook warrants the belief that
nearly every acre of land on that fertile
oasis in the tule desert will be brought
under cultivation the coming spring, and
several crops gathered therefrom before
next winter.
A representative of the Rio Vista Neus
last week made the circuit of Grand Island
in naptha launch, and found farming
operations in progress on both sides of
Steamboat and Old River. The following
reference is made to few of the elegant
homes along the rivers:
st was late Saturday morning when
start was affected, but it was but a few
moments when the launch was blowing
the placid waters of Steamboat slough.
Mr. Chas q. Allen of Ryer island beckoned
the small party-or two small parties-to
his place, where successful landing was
made, and the two invited to stop to din
Ter. They could not under the circum-
stances, refuse. If they had, it would have
been the first time on record. They were
not record breakers" and they staid.
Mr.. and Mrs. Allen are fne hosts and
make everyone feel that they would like to
stop right there till the Angel of Death
summons them to go only one step
higher.
Mrs. Fred Myers place on Grand is.
land was made point of interest, but for
only few minutes.
Just opposite the source of Steamboat
slough is the grandest sight on the Sacrs-
mento river, the magnificent and palatial
residence of o. r. Runyon. Here q stop
was made, and George Runyon and his
brother-in-law, Mr.. Krause of Sacramento,
took passage in the launch for CORTLAND,
or Houstonshire, distance of two miles,
where q few moments were spent, TO-
gether with several four-bit pieces, at the
bar dividing one portion of the hotel from
the ether.
TT is one of Mr.. Houstons innate pro-
clivities to agreeably entertain his guests,
and this occasion was NO exception to his
usual custom. He owns and comprises
the town of CORTLAND, operating the large
store directly opposite the hotel. Six years
ago be was unanimously elected Mayor,
Board of Supervisors and Sheriff of Court
land, and so successfully and ably per-
formed the duties of the several offices that
at the last general election he was re- elected
with an overwhelming majority.
AT 10 o'clock the next morning the
launch pulled cut, and on previous in
vitation from Mr.. George Runyon, again
stopped at the Sol. Runyon ranch.
THE missionaries were shown around
the premises. and were wonderfully i'm
pressed with the place and its many con-
veniences for the raising and handling of
a. AhC aOOls AobSh 10 NAAcls
known throughout the State, but no one
can form the slightest conception of its
magnitude and grandeur until visiting the
same. The mansion and its rich furnish
ings would do credit 10 any city, while
the lawn, bedecked with beds of choice
flowers, is not surpassed in taste and
beauty of arrangements by the great park
of the State, Golden Gate
Mr.. George Mcintyre is fast getting his
Grand Island ranch reclaimed. He recent
ly put in a new aood-gate, and will drain
the low land and have it prepared for
crop the coming spring.
"Mr. Jesse r. Thomas, Superintendent
of the Ryer Island reclamation district. is
pleased with the progress being made on
the new levees. With the one dredger
they have already built mile and half,
at the low cost of four cents per cubic
yard, including break. downs, clearing
banks, etc. The levee has base of 100
feet and an average hight of eight feet