The record-union., 1895-09-10
THE WATER SUPPLY.
INEXHAUSrIBLE ABUNDANCE BY
RIVER AND STREAM.
Irrigation Practicable in This County
on Very Simple and mex
pensiye Plans.

ls SlUply unlimited ana 1neX1auStlDl6.
The first and most important source of
this supply is the Sacramento River,
which forms the western boundary of
the county, with frontage upon the river
of seventy-five miles. The Sacramento,
as is well known, is the largest as well as
the longest river in the State. and is navi-
gable for distance of about $50 miles, or
$50 miles above its upper contact with
Sacramento County. Thus there is af-
forded ample water supply along the en-
tire western boundary of the county,
which is availed of for farming and do
mestic purposes both by flow and sipage,
and which is not only inexhaustible for
these purposes, but also affords cheap
transportation at all times from any point
bordering upon it.
The next supply in order of import
ance is the American River, which, ris-
ing in the upper Sierra, enters the county
at the northeast corner, among the foot
hills, and flowing in southwest direc-
ton, trayerses the width of the county,
distance in its course OF about thirty
five miles, and empties into the Sacra-
mento River at the north side of the Cap
| ital City. This river affords an unlim-
| tied supply of water at all seasons of the
year, and enough constantly flows
| through the county and out TO the sea to
| irrigate, if it could De applied TO them, all
| the uplands in the county in the season
desired for summer cultivation, and also
furnish an inexhaustible supply of power
| for manufacturing purposes. The river
has been nayigated as far up as Folsom
distance of twenty miles from Sacra-
mento. Numerous schemes for establish
ing manufactures along it's upper course
have been under contemplation, and will
at some future day be proftably put into
| operation, and also its water will event.
ually be applied to extensive irrigating
purposes.
AS already stated, the American River
enters the county at its northeast corner.
The eastern line of the county extends
from there southeasterly a distance of
thirty miles to Dry Creek, it's southerly
| boundary. Midway between the Ameri-
can River and Dry Creek, on the east line
of the county, or sixteen miles south of
the American, the Costumes River flows
down into the eastern foothills of Sacra-
mento County. and runs through the
county southwesterly and about parallel
with the American, dividing the portion
Of the county lying south of the Ameri-
can River into two nearly equal sections.
The Cosumnes carries a large body of
water in the rainy season, and also main
tains a good supply in summer. which
will furnish ample for irrigation pur-
poses, however extensive.
! The section of the county lying between
the Costumes and the south boundary is
again divided in about the center by q
water course known as the Laguna, run
ming nearly parallel with the Costumes.
This stream has large flow of water in
the wet season, and during the greater
portion of the year is quite stream, but
| in the latter part of the dry season is gen.
orally dry.
| Dry Creek, which forms the southern
boundary of the county for distance of
about twenty-five miles, or one-half of
| the southern line, is also quite a promi-
nent stream. In the winter season it
flows a strong volume, and in the driest
portion of the year affords ample supply
for the purposes of the ranchers having
| lands along its course. and much that
might be utilized for irrigation.
In addition to the numerous rivers and
streams which traverse and water Sacra-
mento County, an inexhaustible supply
of pure and excellent water for domestic
and all other purposes underlies the en-
! tire area of the county, and throughout
the greater portion may be easily appro-
priated by: use of slight lifting power.
South OF the American River the entire
western half of the county has this sup
| ply within eight to ten feet of the surface,