The herald., 1893-10-22
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS,
Its Work of a Highly Educa-
tional Character.
A Review of the Agricultural and
Arid Land Question.
The Great Want of Eastern Farm ers
Cheap Land and Plenty of Water
with Perfect Title co Both
Where to be Found.

From IL states and territories came
men the best qualified to impart infor-
nation on the construction OF dams,
canals and other structures connected
with irrigation, and also farmers we'll
skilled in the best methods OF applying
water to the soil. Russia, France and
Mexico sent emminent engineers, especi-
ally trained in the science Of hydraulic
engineering and matters connected
with irrigation. The papers read at the
congress by these able men were full OF
interest and instruction. Several Amer
lean engineers read papers on irrigation
works that were of very great interest
and value and will in future be referred
to as authority on the subject of irriga-
tion. Ali this is in the line OF educa-
ton.
But there as another direction in
which education not less important has
been impaired. With all that has been
written and spoken about California,
eartern people know very little about
our state. The soil and climate here
are so different from what are found eaRt
of the Rocky mountains that the pecpls
there cannot believe it; and the products
OF the soil 80 far surpasses anything
ever eeen there that description OF those
products reads like wild fables, and are
received as such. During the past week
many OF the eastern delegates have been
travelling over the southern counties
with the various excursion parties that
set out after the close of the congress.
Everyone of these delegates says that
all he had ever heard, read, or imag-
ined of Southern California falls short
OF the truth. The beauty of the coun-
try, the fertility of the soil, the genial
climate, all far surpass expectation,
and each one of the dele.
gates says on his return home
he will take svery opportunity of telling
what he has seen with his own eyes.
But one objection occurred to these
eastern delegates that appears to them
very serious-the high price OF land.
They found that in the more advanced
settlements lands are held at from $3.50
to $1,000 per acre. they found it quite
true that even az these prices oranges
and other fruits paid good interest on
the capital invested, and for men who
have capital enough it is perfectly safe
to invest in these lands. But east of the
Missouri river are thousands of farmers
who own small farms of so and 160
acres, and If these men should sell their |
farms ut prices now ruling and come to |
California they would not be able to buy
enough of these high-priced lands on
which to make living for themselves
and families. The delegates said that |
if acres sold in the east would buy any
where near like number OF acres in
California many very desirable citizens
would econ be added to tho population
of this state.
and its resources 80 varied that even
many OF her own citizens do not yet
fully realize the extent and variety OF
their own state. Los Angeles is the
center of a region where the man OF
rounded with such beauty and in such a
genial climate as cannot be equaled
upon the earth; but the east
ern farmer of limited means may sell
his small farm, and within easy reach of
the city may become the owner of as
many acres as he sold in the east.
Touching Los Angeles on the north is
q strip of Kern county about 81 miles
wide, which separates the former from
Inyo county. The latter also bounds
San Bernardino county on the north.
Inyo has an area OF 10, 800 square miles;
it is yet but sparsely settled. Owens
Valley is the best settled part OF the
county; it extends along the eastern
base of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The valley is 100 miles long and has an
average width OF about 10 miles. The
lowest part Of the valley ie Owens lake,
at the south end this is about 5000 feet
above sea level it is Is miles long and
IA miles wide. The lake has no visible
outlet; it is intensely saline; no fish are
found in it, but vast numbers Of geese,
ducks, pelicans and other birds gather
there every winter. In winter the
weather is cold enough to form ice
freely in shallow pools of standing water;
except near the north end OF the valley
snow rarely fails, and when it does fall
all disappears in few hours. For
weeks together during the months OF
December, January and February the
days are bright and warm with sunshine
and the nights clear and just cold
enough to be bracing. In summer the
thermometer frequently riees to 104
degrees, but the dry atmosphere and
altitude of the valley prevent all dis
comfort from heat langour, lassitude or
debility from heat, such as known in
the east, are never experienced in
Owens valley.
The Sierra Nevadas shoot up sud-
denly from the valley, wall of granite
from 5000 to II 900 feet above the plain
the highest peak, Mount Whitney, has
elevation above the sea OF $1,000 feet
On that great range the snow falls to a
great depth and feeds many streams
that rush down to the valley. Most of
these streams abound in trout; this fact
will give hint of the volume and pur.
ity of the water. 1t is along these
streams that nearly all the farms are
located. The early settlers found it 80
easy to get water upon the land that
this as an inducement to settle; no
canals or other works were needed-a
plow furrow was enough to carry water
wherever needed. But the mountain
streams having been appropriated,
beginning has been made in taking the
water from Owens river. Heavy canals
having an aggregate capacity OF $4,000
inches are mpleted. The coat of
these canals has varied from $4 to So
per inch for the quantity each will con-
vey.
In Los Angeles and other neighboring
counties water is worth $1,000 per inch,
and this is one of the main factors in
the high price OF land. 1t is plain,
therefore, that in Inyo, where water is
go very much cheaper, the cost of land
will be less also. But the capacity of
the canals already completed being far
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