Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-05-19
CANALS FOR CROPS.


carrying with it the control of half a
million more. The amount Of money
involved in this transaction was over
81, 900, 900, and the negotiations were
made by Mr.. Huntington with a COM
pany of capitalists of New York, Chi
cago and Denver represented by John
Straiton.
The sale, which was effected at
O'Clock to-day includes the Salton
lake, that strange phenomenon of
Southern California which by some
mysterious drainage from the sea was
filled with water two years ago. Sal
ton lake, or as it is known in the
west, the Salton sink, by this negoti-
alton has therefore passed from the
control Of the Southern Pacific rail-
way to capitalists who propose to
make permanent lake Of it, Their
estimates are that it will furnish
reservoir some thirty miles long, with
an average width of fve miles, and
that they will be able to make use of
it as to cause it to be permanent
lake without reference to a possible
inflow from the sea. If the purposes
OF the capitalists who to-day COM
pleted the negotiations are realized,
then the entire territory of 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 100000 people who will not
only be able to support theEsel'e es,
but to furnish the east end Of Europe
with fruits, honey, nuts and some
vegetables which the soil is abundant
ly able to produce.
The syndicate of capitalists repre-
sented by Mr.. straiton which to-day
signed the contract to purchase with
Mr. Huntington have secured posses
sion Of more than 100000 acres Of
land; 100000 acres are in Southern
California and is included pear
shaped strip at the northern end Of
Mexico, near the Salton sink.
They propose to build a canal from
the Colorado river at point about
100 miles east of Yuma and an equal
distance south of the Eureka canyon
This canal will be simply new chan
mel for the Colorado river. 1t will ex-
tend throughout the entire Salton
territory, and will also be carried by
another branch into Mexico, with the
expectation that it will be possible by
means Of these channels or canals to
irrlgate the land in Southern Califor-
mia and the million acres in Mexico at
the head Of the Gulf of California.
There is another territory on the
west side of the Colorado river in
Lower California which may ultimate
ly be reclaimed, and through which
the Colorado canal is to be built i'm
mediately. That, however, is Part
of the estate which the California
courts have recently decided to be-
long to Florence Blythe, and owing to
the litigations entailed by the con-
test of the will of Mr. Blythe it has
been impossible to make arrange
mehts with capitalists to develop
that country. There are more than
l 100000 acres, and there is no doubt
that within few years it will also be
developed by irrigation from the Col
orado river.
The negotiations completed to-day
bring territory as large as the state
Of Connecticut and capable Of pro
ducing almost every fruit and cereal
that can be grown in temperate OF
sub-tropical climates, into immediate
development. II the territory In
Mexico which is practically adjacent
to this in Southern California be also
developed by irrigation, there will be
section of country hitherto practi
cally yalueless almost as large as New
England without the state of Maize
made available for fruit and vegetabl,
culture.
Mr. Huntington said this Afternoon
as he laid down his pen after signing
the contracts of sale; "If l were IF
b teen years younger, should abandon
my railway business and take hold o
/ this development Of the irrigabl'
lands in Southern California an(
Northern Mexico. am satisfied tina
it is possible to develop these lands S,
that in the course of ten years the,
will represent a valuation of $1,000,
900 OF $4,000, 900. / think, however,
am too old to go into new enterprises
but am glad to have lived lonl
enough to realize that this splendit
country is to be reclaimed by the irri
cation plan"
The wonderful nature of this coun
try which seemingly awaits only irri
cation was explained to-day by Urial
!. Cummings, who spent a season there
but who has no other interest in /
4. than that which any person tina