Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-07
WATER FOR THE PLAINS.
DIR. Shields Advances Further Argumen
in Favor of Irrigation.

DIR. Shields Advances Further Arguments
in Favor of Irrigation.
EDS. RECORD UNION: Since twenty
fold application of water to the plains
between Sacramento and Folsom has
produced no increase OF sickness, but
by the resulting shades of the trees
and the lowering of the temperature
by the trees and grass plats and alfalfa and
vineyards the comfort and rest, and there
fore the health, has been promoted, why
may we not with propriety add another in
crease of the same proportion with like
benefit and result?
1t can be done. II is always pleasing
and often profitable to draw aside the cur
tain of the future and see its attractions
and conditions. One way to do this is TO
see what has taken place in the past and
what is taking place in the present. These
are both so prominent that l shall not
again rehearse them.
| will only call attention to the fact that
no tremor of fear arises at the thought, and
nothing but pleasure and profit is presented
TO the mind. 1t is probable that changes
coming slowly are viewed with camness,
but if brought about suddenly they create
doubt and fear.
But the result is the same and no more
sickness will be created by adding thou
sand new homes, with their beautyacreated
by water mainly, in two years, than if they
should be placed in ten years.
This truth can be abundsntly substan-
tiated by communities not too far away to
be evident by observation and repetition in
the journals of everyday perusal.
No one doubts the value of water upon
H. LII
only for producing sagebrush and bunch
grass, but it has been proven by trial and
analysis that the soil is rich, and gives re-
turns rich in proportion to the supply OF
water.
The General Government has already 10.
Gated reservoirs and marked their bounds
with posts that settlers may locate in their
vicinity with reference 10 the convenient
carriage of water to the land. Some mill
ions of acres will thus be turned from the
habitations of wolves to the dwellings and
farms of enterprising men. The change il
greater than that we have witnessed here
but il will be wrought by the same sgen
cies, and especially water.
1t is not probable in desert reclamation
we shall ever hear the question discussed
that so often greets our ears in this vicinity
-as how far cultivation eau be substituted
for water. But when the desert shall witt
water produce more abundantly than oul
farms without it, we shallthen endeavor t
equal it by following their methods, wher
we should have preceded them by our ex
ample.
Shall we be obliged to build reservoirs in
our system of Sacramento irrigation. is |
question that has not been discussed, ant
/. for one, do not but would like 10 know
Hon. John Didwell, in an address befor
the State Agricultural Society, in 1S60 o
1861. said, in substance, that the tina
woul come when the mountain canyon
would be changed TO reservoirs for STORMS
: fhe rainfall Of winter for use on our agrt
cultural lands in summer. | had som
faith in what he then said, and the fulfill
ment has since been partially realized. |
does not require very close reason to Sc
that in few years it will be completely SC
In our own surrounding counties tn
,nmber of reservoirs may be small, but al
enume ration Of them and statement
the number of gallons would surpris