The morning call., 1890-09-19
HINTS TO SETTLERS.

The Fourth Census District of California
comprises eleven counties, to wit Fresno,
Tulare, Kern, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San
Benito, San Luis 0bspO, StaniSaus, Mer-
ced. Mono and Mariposa counties; that Is
to say, all Of the counties south of the south
ern boundary of Santa Clara, San joaquin
and Caiaveras, except InyO San Bernardino,
san Diego, Orange, Los Angeles and Santa
Barbara. In these last named counties irri-
CATION has been in use for some years. and
until the Colorado desert is reclaimed no
revolution in their output - through i'm
proved agricultural processes-is likely to
occur. But the eleven counties lying north
of them-and which, as we said, are en-
bodied in the Fourth Census District of Cali
fornia-comprise the portion Of the State
which is most likely to improve in the next
two or three decades, when the uses Of water
are more generally understood and it is made
to do its work. They are probably destined
to Increase faster in population than coun-
ties which have less 10 hope from new pro
ceSses.
The total population Of the district is
given by the census of this year at 151, S3S.
This is an increase of nearly 81 per cent
since 1880; but sti!l, the whole district does
not cor tain much over one-eighth Of the
total population Of the State. In 1880 it con-
tanned something over one-tentn. 1t can
support a very much larger population, and
we already note more rapid growth in
some parts Of the district than any other por
ton OF the State can show. Fresno. for in
stance, has increased go per cent in pOpu-
lalion since 1880; Tulare and Kern have
both more than doubled in numbers, while
Mono and MaripOsa have fallen off. Two
counties on the lire of The Southern Pacific
MERGED and Enthusiastically show moder-
ate increase. Their growth is coming in the
future, hen their irrigation systems are eX-
tended and fruit orchards take the place of
wheat fields. 1t is more than likely that the
Dutch colony which lately settled in Mer-
ced will be followed by others.
Eastern people often ask, In what part of
California would you advise new settler to
locate? The query may be answered gen
orally that all PARTS of the State offer excel
lent opportunities TO settlers who are indus
tri0us, frugal and intelligent. There is money
lying around loose Tor every one who chooses
to pick it up in every county from Si5kyou
to San Diego. But of course, some localities
are better than others. 1t is not good policy
to buy land at fancy prices on the theory
that some future Spectator viii take it of
tie owners hands at profit. There is
plenty of good land for sale III this State at
reasonable figures. 1t is not good policy 10
buy land which is worthless without iTT!ga-
ton, unless the water is already laid on it.
1t always costs more to bring water to arid
land than original estimates figure. Ii is not
good policy to buy land which will only bear
one kind of crOp-as, for instance, wheat;
the wheat crop is a failure one year in six OF
seven.
a judiciouS settler will buy him a farm
that will grow wheat, barley, fruit and
grapes. He will choose a locality where the
average natural rainfall is not less than ten
inches; if it is twelve or fourteen, all the
better. He will not pay over $50 or SIS an
acre for his land. There is very good land
indeed now for sale in Kern, Tulare, Stanis-
laus. Santa Cruz and other counties, within
half days haul Of a railroad, for even less
money than this. Above all he will not buy
too much land. More farmers in this coun-
try have ruined themselves by becoming
land poor than in any other way. new
conner from the prairie States always figures
on buying quarter section. This is court
ing failure. Labor is scarce in this State,
and there is not much money in growing
wheat which cannot be harvested, or fruit
which cannot be picked, for want of hands.
Forty acres is a very large tract of land to
cultivate thoroughly. Given two new
corners, one of VIII m buys 100 acres, while
the other takes forty, tits odds that in twenty
years the latter will be the richer man of
the two. Finally, new settlers will consult
their advantage if they plant their tent in
localities where they will have neighbors.
Isolation. in the country, is bar to i'm
proyement and a serious drawback to com
Portable life.