The morning call., 1893-05-06
SOLD OUT THE DESERT
Mr., Huntington Has Made Very
Good Bargain.
And He Sighed as He Laid Down His
Pen, Possibly Because 1t
Was No Better.
Special to THE MoRx1Ne CALL

New YORK, May 5.-The local papers
say that G. 2. Huntington yesterday nego-
tiated for the sale of properties controlled
by the Southern Pacific Railroad, aggregat-
ing half a million acres, carrying with it the
control of half million more. The amount
of money involved is over $1,000, 600, and
the negotiations made by Huntington are
with company of capitalists of New York,
Chicago and Denver, represented by John
Straiton.
The sale which is effected includes the
Salton Lake, that strange phenomenon of
Southern California, which by some mys-
teTious drainage from the sea was filled with
water centuries ago. Salton Lake, there
fore, has passel from the control OF the
Southern Pacific to capitalists who propose
to make a permanent lake of it, Their
estimates are that it will furnish r reservoir
thirty miles long, with an average width of
five miles. and that they will be able to
make use of it, so as to cause 1t to be a per-
manent lake without reference to possible
inflow from the sea. IL tine purposes OF the
capitalists are realized, the entire tract in
Southern California, and below the national
boundary in Northern Mexico, will be SO
reclaimed that it will be possible to establish
there an empire of more than 5000, 600 peo-
pie, who will not only be able TO support
themselves, but furnish the people # Europe
with fruits. honey, nuts and some veget-
aDles, which the soil is abundantly able TO
produce.
The syndicate have secured possession of
more than 100000 acres of land. LOCO, 900
acres of which are in Southern California,
aud Included in the pear-shaped strip at the
northern end Of Mexico, near the Salton
Sink. They propose to build canal from
the Colorado River at a point about 100
miles east of Yuma and equal distance south
of Eureka Canyon. This canal is to be
simply q new channel for the Colorado
River. 1t will extend throughout the entire
Salton territory, and will also be carried by
another branch into Mexico. with the ex-
pectation that it will be possible by means
of these channels or canals to irrigate the
land in Southern CaIifornis and the million
acresin Mexico at the head of the Gulf of
California
There is another territory on the west
side Of the Colorado River in Lower Cali
fornia which may ultimately be reclaimed,
and through which the Colorado canal is to
be built Immediately. That, however Is
part of the estate which the California
courts have recently decided belonged to
Florence Blythe, and, owing to litigation
entailed by the contest of the will of
Blythe, it has been impossible to make ar
rangements with capitalists 10 develop that
country. There are more than 1000, 900
acres. aud no doubt within few years it
will also be developed by irrigation from the
Colorado River.
Huntington said. as he laid down his pen
after signing the contracts OF sale: "If l
were fifteen years younger l should aban-
don my railroad business and take hold OF
this development of irrigable lands in South
ern California and Northern Mexico. | am
satisfied it is possible to develop these lands
so that in the course of ten years they will
represent valuation of S15,0O0 900 or S2O,-
100000 1 think. however, I am too old to
go into new enterprises. But | am glad to
have lived long enough TO realize that this
splendid country is to be reclaimed by the
irrigation plan"