The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-12
WHAT IRRIGATION HAS DONE FOR
CALIFORNIA.

The proceedings of the International
Irrigation Congress, now In session at Los
Angeles, Cal. ought TO be of deep interest
TO the people of this state. This assembly
10 the result of the irrigation congress held
at Salt Lake two years ago. while the invi-
tations to all the world to take part in il
we're drawn up by tie department of state
st the request Of the Trans Mississippi
Congress held last April at Ogden.
The prosperity of Los Angeles Is largely
the result OF irrigation. Ten years ago 1t
had but $4,000 people. while today it has
5000. and the assessed property of the
county has increased from $4,000 600 TO
ss4, oOo, 900.
Similar wonderful results of the anplica.
ton of irrigation to the redemption of
arid lands are afforded by the counties of
Orange. San Bernsrdino, Riverside and
San Diego. There are now in these five
counties of Southern California some
sixty irrigation companies. Some OF them
consist of land owners who have united
Go make their fields fertile, while others
are corporations that sell water at fixed
prices. This water Is obtained from rnu-
ming streams. from storage reservoirs or
srtesian wells, or in some cases by build
ing underground dams to force the subier-
ranean flow to the surface.
The system dates back only 10 about the
year isTo. when bitches were started at
Anaheim. Riverside, Duar.e and Pasa-
dena. The average value of irrigated
lands, including improvements. ranges
from sat.So an acre in Wyoming to $50 an
acre in California. the general average be-
Ing sss.2s, bat in some regions devoted to
fruit culture in California Glands that
we're worth from 80 cents to S. per acre
have, hy the expenditure OF from $40 10 sao
per acre 10 the construction OF irrigation
works. become worth $50 per acre aud
upward. Such lands. set out with citras
trees, have within ten years OF planting
sold At Si.oo0 per acre aud more"
Under irrigation pastures yield heavy
cTeps al hay. Alfalfa. the great forage
crop of that region. is made 10 give from
Eve 10 eight cuttings in = season, and corn
also yields more abandantly With irrira-
zion. Citrus trees. which require n,ors
water than any sthsrs, are generally irrg-
gated every four weeks during che snn-
mer; orange trees, about six times annu-
ally; sprieots, peaches. praaes and museas
grapes. three times, olives and corn onix
once; alfalfa. after every cutting. Grain
Is net irrigated. as the farmer can plonrh
IN December. SON in January and hsrves,
IN May. the usual winter rains from De.
center 10 April being enough 20 produce
iiae crop of wheat or barley. surar
eee;s. also. ara not irrigated.
The town Of AnAhsim in lSs- wss =
tract q It's acres On an arid p.aia south
vest OF LIS Angeles. and vas purchased
by CITY worklasmen OF san Francisco for
8 81 acre. including The righs 20 waie-
This tract was irrigated by builaius $
ditch seven miles long 80 the santa Ana
river. Anshs,m today exports loo car
leads q iaras prodacss
IN ISL the aesola,e plain uow occupied
hy Riverside had not a honse. a fence, =
tree. o. even at Of brush upon II, and was
assessed a. only 5 esnts an acre. Last year
Riverside exported abeas 2.So car loads Of