The record-union., 1892-01-28
BOOM FOR INYO.
Large Number of Irish CoIonists
Coming.
Purchase of Fifteen Thousand Acres
OF Land by II. A. Herbert
of Ireland.
[san Francisco Chronicle. january 27th.I

(San Francisco Chronicle, January 27th.j
Robert L. Fulton, a colonization agent of
the Southern Pacific Company, sent a let
ter to w. H. Mills, the Land Agent of the
Central Pacific, from Reno yesterday,
stating that 400 Irish families would soon
cross the ocean and come to this coast to
settle in Inyo County. 1t was stated that
Henry A. Herbert of Muckross Abbey,
Lakes of Killarney, Ireland, who has be-
come interested in large project of irri-
CATION in Inyo County, was the chief
mover in this migration, and that he was
now i'll New York on business connected
with the enterprise.
In connection with this statement some
interesting facts were learned from Mr..
Mills and other gentlemen as to the irri-
cation project. Mr.. Herbert was ascer-
tanned to be a large English landholder.
He has a great estate in County Kerry,
Ireland, and is well known throughout
the British isles as one of the most prac-
| teal agrlcuituriSts in Queen Victoria s
realm. Mr.. Herbert came TO California
last spring, backed by English capital
running up into the millions. lie was
looking for cheap lands, and he found
| them near Owens Lake, in 1nyO County.
project
the Inyo Canal Company, whose system
OF irrigation spreads over $4,000 acres of
land MIR. Herbert made careful tests of
the soil in different places, and found that
1t was far superior to that which he had
tested in Florida and other parts of the
country which he had visited and exam
ined With a view to colonization. The
result of his Investigations was so favora-
bic that be concluded to buy 200 acres,
and the sale of the land to him is now
practically consummated. He proposes
TO start town on this land as soon
as possible, and Will bring over a
large party of colOnists from Ireland
soon. lie will provide welI-buit paper
houses constructed in England-such
houses are now especially baiit for colo
nists and are shipped to all parts of the
world. These houses cost from 500 TO
$500, those furnished for the latter price
having four or five rooms and atfording
the best OF shelter, being proof against
the worst weather as well as against
earthquakes. Lumber is high in inyo,
and the houses will be much cheaper than
if constructed of wood.
1t is proposed by Mr.. Herbert to estab-
fish various industries on this property,
bat chief Of all will be that OF fruit grow
! ing. At present the roundabout route OF
the Carson and Colorado Railroad is the
| only one by which shipments Of grain
| CAN De Illdue 10 Underwater by rail, and
the cost of carriage is high. but as the
road connects with the Central Pacific at
Reno, the route to the East is as practical
for fruit shipments as is that Of any in the
State. For this reason fruit-growing will
! be one of the best industries IN which the
colonists can engage. The soil is said tC
! be we'll adapted Tor the purpose, being
rich and loamy.
The canal company has its heldquart-
ers in Carson. 1t takes its water from
! Owens River, which flows into Owens
! Lake, and its canal runs for nearly
! twenty miles along the valley, watering d
! large section of country The colonists
win have the use of 10000 inches of water
! which is considered ample for their pul-
! poses.
The first party viii probably reach Cal
/ ifornia before March lst, coming via the
! Sunset route. 1t will go to Los Angeles
thence proceed to Mohave, from which
! point to keeler, the southern terminus OF
the Carson and Colorado Railroad. A
stage line has lately been established and
| is doing a rushing business. as Inyc
| County, with it's recently developed irri-
CATION facilities, is attracting many set
! tiers to its fertile territory