The record-union., 1892-05-30
PROGRESS IN YUBA.
Cutting Up and Settling of Large
Land Holdings.
Progress of Irrigation in a Foothi!I
standardization Given Largely
to Citrus Fruits.

The foothills of Yuba County lie along
the lower region Of the Sierras. from Bear
River on the south to Honcut Creek on
the north, a distance of about twenty
miles in length, and in width from the
plains OF the great Sacramento Valley to
the more abrupt portions Of the Sierras,
a distance of from ten to fifteen miles.
This width, about six miles on an aver
age, the entire distance from Bear River
to Honcut Creek, lies in what is known
as the citrus or thermal belt, the home of
the orange, lemon and vine.
In Yuba County the greater part of this
belt is embraced in two enterprises.
About one-half Of it, running from Bear
River to the Yuba River, which includes
the Smartsville district, is being rapidly
bought up by the Ayers of Massachusetts.
who own the water supply of this dis
t-ict-the Excelsior Water and Mining
Company's water. This company has
extensive hydraulic mining interests at
SmartSville, which we're stopped by the
anti-debriS injunctionS. OF the future
movements of the Ayers nothing is
known on the outside, but it is thought
that extensive Improvements will be
made by them.
On the north side of the Yuba River.
and lying between it and Honcut Greek.
! lies the famous Browns Valley irrigation
district, comprising 44,32S acres OF the
very finest foothjll lands in the thermal
| belt. This district was organized in Gc-
tober, 1888, under the Wright law. and
has issued SI41,0O0 OF bonds and has sold
| them nearly all, and has about completed
the construction of immense irrigation
works, by which water Will be dstrib-
uted over the entire district by the first
of July next. This will bring under cul-
tivation immense cattle and sheep ranges,
which have long been known for their
luxuriant pasturage, but, like all other
foothill lands in summer, dried up, and
the stock were consequently moved to the
mountains in that season.
Although the water is not now on the
ground, a change has come over the entire
community. Investors, owing to the
cheapness of the lands (ranging from Sl5
to $50 per acre, have been fiocking in and
buying places. There will be three colo
nies in full operation in the district the
coming year, the lands therefor being
already purchased and how being put in
preparation. Small olive groves, ranging
from ten to forty acres, ana vineyards and
orchards are being planted. Alfalfa has
been Sown III many places, and what was
vast expanse of sheep and cattle rangea
few years ago now bids fair to be one vast
wilderness OF orange and olive groves
vineyards and alfalfa fields. Deciduous
fruits also grow to perfection, and the
coming winter planting, which has been
held back for want OF water, viii take
place in earnest.
The district has nearly completed one
hundred miles of main and distributing
canals. including nine miles of fiuming
and over one mile of piping, besides a
suspension bridge 10 feet high across the
Dry Creek Gorge, on which lays 30-inch
pipe. At the head of this system an i'm
mense log and rock dam, thirty feet high.
across the North Fork OF the Yuba River.
has been constructed, over which $4,000
miners inches of water runs to waste al
the lowest stage OF the river and when
the irrigating hume is full to overflow
ing, thus showing the abundance of
water supply.
Railroad projects are strongly talked of
through this district, and the inhabitants
have strong belief that a road win be
! put through the same inside of two years
East OF this district lies another good
foothil country at higher altitude. but
owing to the absence of water supply
no progress is looked for there of any
kind until some water project IS started.