The record-union., 1891-11-13
LAND AND WATER.
Brought Together at Woodbridge,
San Joaquin County.
Six Thousand People Celebrate the
Opening OF the Headgates of the
Woodbridge Canal.

AANNAO IAl6a5c VI w dDOuL
fourteen miles this side of Stockton, in
san joaquin County, was the scene of a
remarkable popular demonstration yes
terday, the occasion being the celebration
OF the opening of the headgates Of the
new canal Of the Woodbridge Canal and
irrigation Company. At least 5000 peo-
pie were present, and great enthusiasm
prevailed. The roads leading into the
town from all directions were lined with
carriages and vehicles Of every descrip-
ton. Fourteen carloads of people came
over from Stockton by special train, and
many arrived from that city in carriages.
Beside the attendance from the immediate
nelghborhood, many were present from
distant parts of the State.
Arthur Noble, J. NJ. McCarty, J. NJ.
ingalls,, Frank Cobb, w. w. Prugh, J.
Peters and many other members of the
San Joaquin County Board of Trade
came In carriages, accompanied by w.
II. Mills, Nice-President of the State
Board of Trade, Judge G. J. Swinerton of
Stockton and j. a. Morrissey, San Joa-
gum County's representative in the State
Board Of Trade, who had the general di-
rection of the celebration
The Reception Committee consisted of
the President and Directors of the Wood
bridge Canal and Irrigation Company
and the citizens of Woodbridge, and the
visitors were given a welcome they will
never forget. The Southern Pacific Com
pony ran free train backward and for
ward all day between Lodi and Wood
bridge, distance of about three miles.
Early in the day the town presented an
animated scene. Street fakirs had taken
up positions on every corner, and made
things lively in their neighbOrhood.
they seemed to do lively business and
were we'll paid for their presence.
An excellent band from Stockton went
out to meet the invited guests on their ar
rival and furnished music during the day
Whlle the booming of a cannon, located
near the headgateS, served to enliyen the
occasion at intervals.
The most remarkable feature of the cell
ebrat1on, however, was the grand dinner
provided by the ladies of Woodbridge
Lodi, Acampo, Stockton, Gait and the
surrounding country. Under great pa
Vlllon eighteen long tables had been
spread, at which, during the day, five
thousand people were fed. The tables
were handsomely decorated with flowers
and evergreens, and were simply loaded
down with such viands as are only fur
nished by the skillful housewives Of the
country. There was everything that
could be desired-fat roasted turkeys,
chicken pies, barbecued meats, glorious
mince and pumpkin pies. cakes and
sweetmeats in quantity and variety. 1t
was great dinner and was served by the
charming ladies themselves.
The tables were in charge of the fol-
lowing ladies', each one OF whom had four
young ladies as assistants:s Mrs. Dr. H
Bentley, Mrs. Charles Smith, Mrs.
Charles Allison, Mrs. DIR. Burchard Mrs.
". Carr, Mrs. Rebecca Ivory, Mrs. B. S.
Myers, Mrs. George Ashley, Mrs. Z. S.
Hogan, Mrs. j. A. Sollinger, Mrs. Amos
Boyce, Mrs. Charles Newton, Mrs. Rob
ert Boyce, Mrs. Wesley Horton, Mrs
Henry Barnhart, Mrs. A. S. Thomas,
Mrs. Thomas r. Burkett and Miss Han
nah HutchingS.
To Mrs. DR.. Bentley's table fell the
honor of entertaining the Board of
Trade and invited guests. She was as
sisted by Mrs. b. A. Laws, Mrs. B. F.
Sprague, Mrs. r. Salisbury and Mrs.
Emerson.
The Ladies Dinner Committee was
Omcered by Mrs. Charles Z. Allison
President, Mrs. Hattie II. Saunders Sec
retary, and Mrs. King Treasurer.
THE CANAL AND DAM.
The canal is one of the largest and
longest yet built in the State and has an
apparently exhaustless supply of water.
1t is torty-eight miles long, with an
average width of ninety feet and aver
age depth of six feet. The course of the
canal is such that nearly all the territory
between Woodbridge and Stockton can
be watered by it. Already many lateral
bitches, from ten to thirty feet wide. and
aggregating fully ninety miles in length,
have been projected. The work has cost
about $500 Only white labor has
been employed in digging the big ditch
and nearly all this money has been paid
out to men who live in that locality.
Credit for suggesting the canal is given
Byron ID. Beclwith, an old resident of
the county, He was granted a franchise
for the project on December 80. 1856.
James Blakeley of Lodi was one of his
enthusiastic supporters. HI. II. Sanders
gave efficient aid, and B. T. Laws super
intended the work. Others who thought
favorably of the idea, and have since
given what help they could, are B. F.
LangdOn' and c. II. Corson of Lodi, and
j. II. Woody and Thomas Creighton of
'Tulare County. Beckwith and the early
movers In the scheme were badly handi-
capped by limited means. A company
was finally organized, with $500 900 capi-
tai stock, which is now held in New
1ork, Plttsburg and San Francisco. The
present officers OF the company are: NJ
Y. b. Watson of San Francisco President,
n. l. Moses is Secretary, the Bank of
California is Treasurer, and B. A Laws
Superintendent. Others in the company
are Judge Greene of Oakland, Thomas
Lancaster of San Francisco and Judge. S.
w. Dexter of New York.
At the driest time of the year it is fig
ured that 10000 inches of water are
available at the canal headgate at Wood
bridge. The Mokelumne is full, flow
ing mountain river. For ten months of
the year it is fully ninety feet across in
the valley, and ranges from ten to twenty
five feet deep. The headgate consists of
ten small gates with a total width of
,fcrI l. n - L
lumber TO build it. The dam that diverts
the water from the river raises the bed
Of the river fully seven feet. This is ac-
complished by waterway 200 feet long
and q series of carefully-ccnstructe
channel gates.
THE EXERCISES
Of the day consisted in the ceremony of
opening the f1ood-gates and letting the
water of the river into the canal for the
first time, and an address by William H
Mills, General Land Agent of the South
ern Pacific Company, and Vice-Presi-
dent of the State Board of Trade. After
the multitude had been fed by the ladies
the vast concourse of people assembled
about the headgates and were called to
order by Judge q. j. Swinerton of Stock
ton, who acted as President of the Day in
place of s. d. Woods, who was unable to
attend He said:
''The time has now come to celebrate
the opening of what is probably the most
important event in the history of this
county, and it has been thought proper,
by those having this matter in charge,
that inasmuch as this is an enterprise
which is certain to reach out to the bene-
fit OF the entire State, that all parts of the
State should be, as far as possible. repre-
sented here. As one feature of this occa-
sion in line with that idea. the committee
have selected William H. Mills, Vice
President of the State Board of Trade, to
send the first flow of water thrnngh this