The record-union., 1892-08-26
NATURAL RESERVOIRS.
Many that Abound Throughout the
Modoc Region.
Sagebrush Lands that Could be Made
Rich and Productive by the
Use of Water.

Correspondence of the REcoRD-UNIoN.l
The extension of transportation facil-
ltles and the assurance of market would
| stimulate many irrigation enterprises in
the Modoc country, as it has done in
| honey Lake Valley. Ia a recent visit at
tentlon was called to the following oppor-
tunities:
RATTLESNAKE,
Elght miles northeast from Alturas, the
county seat OF Modoc, is a reservoir site
reserved by the Government by survey
OF William NJ. Fitzhugh, civil engineer.
a dam sixty feet high and about 600 feet
long on top would flood the twentv-four
sections reserved to an average depth of
thirty feet. 1t would command a water
shed OF 10000 acres, and serve 45, COO acres
OF Government land of red sandy loan
soil, now covered with very heavy
growth of sagebrush. AS general rule,
IN desert land the higher the sagebrush
the deeper the soil. This information
was supplied by county officer who ac-
companled Engineer Fitzhugh on his
survey, and who has personally much
experience ID the country and in survey
ing.
JESS VALLEY
This is one of the best of natural reser-
| volr sites near the head of the South Fork
OF FIT River. and could be very cheaply
improved. Although there is little good
lano needing irrigation in that section,
an immense body of water could be
stored and carried down Pit River to a
dlVerung dam wherever it was needed.
ROUND VALLEY
Is just above Adm, and now occupied bv
farms covering, probably, twelve thou
SAND acres, and worth in the aggregate
from $4,000 to 100000. A dam at the
mouth OF this canyon would need to be
quit OF masonry land would be necessarily
quite expensive, but good basalt rock is
at hand Tor the structure, and it conId he
illade TO cover at least two hundred thou
Sand acres Of fair to good land in Big VAL
ley tnat is now covered with sagebrush
adJacent to natural meadows along Will
low Greek, Ash Creek, Pit river, and all
other streams.
ASH VALLEY
is more distant from the land. but COM
mands site about equally good. Both
Cnese SIZES nave exceptionally fine water
Sheds IN high mountains, well tiInbered
where snow begins to melt late in the
season.
GOOSE LAKE
is large body of water, and cut could
easily be made to turn in all the water
that would be used for irrigating alone
Pit River, without injury to farms along
the banks Of the lake. The river itself
would carry enough water for the early
part OF the season, and the lake could be
used as great reservoir. With its area of
3lO square miles any amount of water
likely to be taken for irrigation would not
be missed.
In the northwest part of Modoc there are
not less than two hunded and fifty thou
sand acres of good yellow-pine timber
growing on land nearly level, and with
few rocks to hinder the lumberrnen.
Jesse ID. Carr has a pasture of $50. 600
acres Enclosed in the Rhett Lake and
Clear Lake country. Much of this is in
Modoc County.
From 1880 to 1890 the population of
Modoc County increased 587, and her
assessed valuation has increased during
the past two years about quarter of q
million dollars.
IL Is fair to presume from the effect in
other sections that the advent of rail-
road and cash market tor produce in
Modoc would so encourage increased pro-
duction, development of irrigation
schemes, investment of outside capital.
and immigration to Government lands as
to double her wealth and population
within five years, and cause similar addi-
ton for decades to come.
FRANK S. CHAPLIN.