New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-04
TO PROMOTE IRRIGATION
MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL IRRrGArIo1
CONGRESS TO DE HELD At LOS
ANGELES IN OCTOBER.


CONGRESS TO DE HELD AT LOS
ANGELES IN OCTOBER
The culture of land by artificial irrigation. -.
ready assuming vast proportions IN the ara ois'
tricts of the West Is to receive marked attention
by an International Irrg lon Congress 70 assemble
In Los Angeles. Cal. next October. This Is the nres
OF its kind 10 be held In this country. IL not Inc
first OF modern times. and will excite great inter-
est by reason OF the importance Of the subject IN
Increasing the productveness OF the SOIL and 50 OF
land values. The Idea OF the International Con-
gress originated in the Trans Mississippi Congress
held at Ogden. Utah. In April last and Los An
geles was chosen for the point OF assembly because
1t is the metropolis OF Southern California, where
artificial irrigation has shown the greatest results
and developed more rapidly than In any other part
OF the world
The United States Government. recognizing tho
Importance OF this source of industry and wealth.
has taken the matter up. and through the Secfe.
tary OF State has Issued q letter inviting the at
tendance OF duly accredited delegates from foreign
nations. Thus this congress is OF worldwide inter-
est, and will probably be attended by a thousand
delegates. as well az by many others. unoficially
drawn to listen to the discussion Of the subjects
and TO the great reservoirs. dams and canals
Of recent construction In Southern California ana
Arizona, well as the beautiful groves and park
like cities which have come into existence through
the effect OF irrigation. and are exciting the admi-
from October 10 to Is, and will discuss the follow.
ing subjects: Irrigation Engineering" state
Laws on Irrigation" National Legislation on IT.
rigation" Irrigation Securities and Finance"
1.-THE Relation Of Irrigation to Agriculture a91
Horticulture" Irrigation Machinery and APP
pliances" This list OF subjects reveals that In
the hands of the people Of America irrigation II
not merely turning water into a ditch and flooding
the land but enterprise calling for brains skill.
capital and legislation, which will give empoymens
to vast numbers Of people Of all grades Of ntelli-
gence.
The country is so large and its activities so va
ried and intense that comparatively few people
living in the East and wholly dependent upon
rainfall for ting the soil are aware OF the growth
of artificial irrigation I'm the West and Of the stu
pendous proportions which 1t is destined TO assume
In the near future. The effect OF irrigation upon
population and wealth Is strikingy revealed In the
comparison OF the statistics OF seven counties In
California which have not practised irrigation with
seven others which have. covering period Of
twenty years from 1870 to 1890.
Pop. OF seven counties (no irrigatou). Al 1871 67Ts
Pop. OF seven counties drrisation) 2O20
The increase in wealth in the same counties. as
shown by the assessed valuation. u stu mere
marked
Seven counties mo irrgation). .sl2 55O3s s45.o3s31
Seven counties drrigaton)...... 2,5l3S2O 20I.2l660
Among the colonies in Southern California which
have contributed to produce this wonderful growth,
Riverside IL perhaps the most notable and success
full In 1870 the site where Riverside stands
a barren mesa almost devoid OF vegetation.
assessed at a valuation OF Is cents acre. which
the owner sought to have reduced as excessive. To-
day fifty square miles OF that once barren
land occupied by 1000 people in what Is rather
a park than a city, amid orange and lemon groves.
beautfed by lawns and flower gardens. beneath
the grateful shade Of palms. peppers. magnolias.
pomegranates and fig trees. adorned by spacious
mansions and yielding wealth by the millions every
year. Riverside Is rated by Bradstreets as the
wSthiest city per capita in the United States hav
ing an assessed valuation OF ssOoo,0O0 act
of $4,000 TO each family. All this has been
skill Of Intelligent capital The browning feature
is that not only Is Riverside beautiful city or
comfortable homes but that II Is the product
the soil within its own limits. constantly increas
results only be obtained through the aid OF ir-
rigaion In districts where valuable fruits and nuts
be grown.
1t is not surprising that great interest exists In
the subject Of irrigation, and that millions have
been already invested in the great reservoirs ana
dams at Sweetwater Bear Valley. Lake Helmet.
Pacoima and elsewhere and that other enterprises
still more ambitious under way In the valleys
and table lands tributary to Los Angeles But
gaton interest by reason OF great success and de-
veopment there. is not the only portion OF our
country which will be benefited by Information ana
skill on this great subject
The census reveals that the total land surface OF
the arid region Of this country Is Ss32000 acres.
of which less than one-half OF per cent Is at
present irrigated 1t is estimated that 10000
acres Of this arid lapd would produce crops by r-
rgation This reveals at once its great national
Importance as means OF support for The cpintry'0
rapidly increasing population