The record-union., 1893-05-06
SALT0N LAKE REGION LANDS.
MANY ACRES SOLD TO AN EAST
ERN SYNDICATE.
Immense Irrigation Scheme to Make
the Lands Produce Fruits,
Nuts and Vegetables,
Special to the REcoRp.UNIoN.

special 10 Jne RECORD-UNION.
NEW YORK, May 2.-The local papers
say that C. p. Huntington yesterday ne
gotiated for the sale Of properties con-
trolled by the Southern Pacific Railraad
aggregating 100000 acres, carrying with
it the control of 100000 more. The
amount of money involved is over 81
100000, and the negotiations made by
huntington are with company of cap
italists of New York, Chicago and Dem
yer, represented by John Straiton.
The sale which is effected includes the
Salton Lake, that strange phenomenon of
Southern California, which by some mys-
terious drainage from the sea was filled
with water centuries ago. Salton Lake.
therefore, has passed from the control of
the Southern Pacific to capitalists who
propose to make permanent lake of it.
Their estimates are that it will furnish a
reservoir thirty miles long. with an av-
erage width of five miles, and that they
will be able to make use of it so as to
cause 1t to be permanent lake without
reference to a possible inflow from the
sea. If the purposes of the capitalists are
realized, the entire territory of Southern
California and below the national bound
ary of Northern Mexico will be so re-
claimed that it will be possible to estab-
lish there an empire of more than {, 1000, 600
people, who will not only be able to
support themselves but furnish the east
end of Europe with fruits, honey, nuts
and some vegetables, which the soil is
abundantly able to produce.
The syndicate have secured possession
of more than 100000 acres of land.
I,000,0 900 acres of which are in Southern
California included in. the pear-shaped
strip at the northern end of Mexico, near
the Salton Sink. They propose to build
n canal from the Colorado River at a point
about 100 miles east of Yuma and an
equal distance south of Eureka CANYON.
This canal is to be simply 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 expectation
that it will be possible by means of these
channels or canals to irrigate the land in
Southern California and the million acres
in Mexico at the head of the Gulf of Cali
fornia.
There is another territory on the west
side of the Colorado River, in LowerCali-
fornia, which may ultimately be re-
claimed and through which the Colo
rado Canal is to be built Immediately.
That, however, is part of the estate which
the California courts have recently de-
cided belonged to Florence Blythe, and,
owing to litigation entailed by the con-
test of the will OF Blythe, it has been i'm
possible TO make arrangements with capi-
talists to develop that country. There
are more than 100000 acres, and no
doubt within few years it will also be
developed by irrigation from the Colo
RADIO River.
Huntington said, as he laid down his
pen after signing the contracts of sale:
"If were fifteen years younger L should
abandon my railroad business and take
hold of this development of irrigable
lands in Southern California and North,
ern Mexico. l am satisfied it is possible
to develop these lands, so that in the
course of ten years they will represent a
valuation of sl5,0O0,O0O or $40, ,0O0, 900. l
think, however, 1 am too old to go into
new enterprises. But 1 am glad to have
lived long enough to realize that this
splendid country is to be reclaimed by
the irrigation plan"