The record-union., 1892-04-30
RECLAMATION IN T0LO.
Valuable Farms That Have Been Res
cued From Floods.
The Six Miles of New Ievee Opposite
sacramento-What Pluck and
Enterprise Have Done.

the floods of 1850 and 1891, with the re-
sulting paine break" and other over
flows from the Sacramento River, the
long stretch Of valuable fertile front
lands from Elkhorn, below Knights
Landing, down to the islands at Rio
Vista, were overflowed to such an extent
and for SO long a time that practically no
crops were raised by the farmers, the dis
aster extending through the two sue
cessive seasons.
The depressing effect of this loss ex-
tended much beyond the boundaries of
the submerged lands, for this region is
directly tributary to Sacramento City,
where nearly all the enormous products
OF this fertile region find market, and
where the profits resulting are expended
with our merchants. Owing to the loss
OF the products of alfalfa fields alone the
supply OF alfalfa hay about Sacramento
was not sufficient to meet the home de-
1nand, and consumers were compelled to
import large quantities from Nevada,
where usually this section finds a ready
market for its surplus. The farmers and
stockmen in the flooded district were
compelled to buy many carloads of this
Nevada product to carry their stock over
TO the present season.
NOW, HOWEVER, ALL Is CHANGED,
And our Yolo neighbors seem about to
enter upon a season Of prosperity which
promises to surpass any previous season
enjoyed by them. Completely disgusted,
but not discouraged with the situation of
affairs last fall, a strong organized effort
was made by the landowners to thor
oughly protect and reclaim their valuable
property. Individual owners first began
work, and the example aroused whole
neighborhoods to unite to form reclama-
ton districts, which work has developed
until vast work has been already ac-
complished, which is really but the be-
ginning OF the end aimed at.
a RECORD-UNIoN reporter recently
visited the section and made an inspec-
ton of much Of the work done the past
season. He found that the first district
formed is directly opposite this city, and
extends from the north line of the Bryte
ranch down along the river to the south
line of the 4. $. Carey ranch, distance
OF about six miles, and extends back
toward the tule basin far enough to in
clude all the high front land, and COM
prises
ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND ACRES.
Heretofore the levees on that side of the
river were narrow, and only barely high
enough to stand twenty-seven feet of
water in the Sacramento River. This
point of flood was reached in 1890 and
1891, aud the narrow rim Of top Ieyee
gave away in numerous places, when, of
course, disaster ensued. Now the leVees
In this district have been raised to uni
form hight Of thirty feet-three feet above
the t1ood-line-with twelye-foot width
on top and from one to three feet slope on
the river side, where completed.
drive down that side of the river is
now very pleasant and interesting. The
front levee work is finished in most in
stances, and a notable instance of solid. |
splendid work is the levee along the front
Of the old JEFF Wilcoxson ranch. now
known as the Crum ranch, about a mile
below Washington. When all the front
work contemplated viii be completed
to the standard there established, the
levee on that side of the river will be ap-
parently impregnable.
The levee in front ofthe north half of the
Mcgowan ranch, further down the river.
is also in splendid shape, but the lower
half of this levee is still more than foot
below the grade, and in a very rough
condition. Mr.. Mcgowan is, however.
one OF the trustees Of the district, and an
enterprising man. and will no doubt
complete his levee this season, and thus
remove danger point.
The levee along DIR. Snider's ranch.
about three miles down the river. is also
several inches below grade, and the
"runways" for hauling up dirt are not
fully hlled yet, making a bad road to
travel; but he is also trustee and will
doubtless soon remedy the evil. When
these two portions are completed and a
few places given the proper slope on the
river side. there will be six miles of as
tne, substantial levee as can be found on
the Sacramento River.
WHAT ONE MAN HAS DONE.
The most notable and complete niece of
reclamation work in this district is that
OF DR.. q. Nj. Dixon of this city, on his
'Argonaut Stock Ranch," four miles
south of Washington. He commenced
work vigorously over year ago, and be-
fore any organized effort was made on
that side, and has diligently prosecuted
the work until he has constructed solid,
substantial levee, wide enough on top for
four horses to work abreast. 1t is 800
rods long, and extends entirely around
his farm of III acres, every acre of which |
is level sediment land, adapted to hons or !
alfalfa. His levee is high enough to keep |
out back-water from flood as great as |
that following the great paine break |
and he proposes to raise it three feet |
higher this season.
In doing this work DR.. Dixon had the |
advice Of Marsden Manson Secretary and |
Engineer OF the California River I'M
provement Convention, and under his |
instruction took most of the material put |
into the levee from the inside thus form |
ing wide ditch entirely around the |
IdrLn, Wnlch serves TO receive the Sipage /
and surface rainfall all of which Is oar |
rled by the ditch TO reservoir at the |
northwest corner of the farm. Here he |
has placed pumping plant, consisting of |
a centrifugal pump run by q ten-horse- |
power engine, and capable of discharging |
1,UOu,OO0 gallons of water in twelve hours |
Ihe pump is now at work, and is keep
ing the land free from water, while there |
are many acres Of valuable hop and al |
faIia land above and below the Dixon |
ranch that are submerged by sipage from |
the river, which latter now stands above |
twenty-five feet.
DR.. Dixon now has 100 acres in alfalfa. |
ana Is at the present time cutting hay |
thereon, with the promise OF a yield of 800 |
tons this season. He has Just completed
large stock and hay barn. 66xI0O feet
with an iron roof and ten box-stalls He
is also fencing the ranch into small fields !
Win good board fences, for pasturage
purposes during the winter months.
OTHER RECLAMATION WORK.
Immediately below DR.. Dixon's ranch
Is levee district, formed by the owners
OF about 1900 acres of land and having
good front and back levees. Then comes
the well-known Lisbon District which
was submerged in 1890 by the breaking
OF Its back levee after the Paine break, |
put whleh stood safe last year and has !
been extensively improved this season |
by the work Of steam dredgers.
The entire west side of the river oppo-
site and below the city is now rapidly
taking on the appearance of thrift and
prosperity. Those who saw its desola-
ton after the two years of floods would
now scarcely recognize that locality. the
prosperity of which is of such vast inn
portance to the landowners and the city
of Sacramento.
AUTOGRAPH SOCIAL