The herald., 1895-02-16
PROSPECTS FOR THE SEASON


fornia to assure good crops is sufficien
rainfall during the winter There is an oc
casional liability to frost in localities, bu
it is so remote as not to be taken into &c
count in making calculations as to crol
prospects. Last year there was not suffi
cheney of rain, and hence crops excep
those that were irrigated were indiffer
ent. 1t may be said to have been veal
of short crops. The fact also was that the
stored water in the mountains was sc
much drawn out for domestic and irriga.
ton purposes that there was fear that
the supply would be exhausted. The fact
becomes more forcibly apparent than ever
BEFORE that increase of population makes
serious demand upon the water supply
for domestic use.
One of the most serious problems to be
solved is that of water supply, when, five
years hence, the population of Southern
California will be double what it now is.
OF course water development is in its in
fancy, and a large amount is constantly
running into the sea through subter-
ranean channels which will be inter
cepted and bro ught to the surface, but
through this means the stored supply will
the sooner be exhausted. The increased
demand for irrigation will not be equal to
that for domestic use. Necessity is said
to be the mother of invention. Thus far
there has not been a great necessity to
economic in the use of water, either for
irrigation or domestic consumption. The
time has now come when the supply ma
ture affords should be utilized to the best
aflxyar ,taera ,,,1,, tto4
should be no waste. How much the peo-
pie of this section will soon need no one
now can approximately estimate. The
area of cropping which requires irriga-
ton is constantly expanding, and the
best interests of the country demand that
it shall be extended to the utmost, and
the growing population cannot be unnec-
essarily limited in their consumption of
water without discouraging immigration.
A large amount of water runs
to waste every year over the
surface, which it will be found
profitable to intercept and retain by the
construction of reservoirs. Water thus
stored will certainly be good for irriga-
ton and to the extent of its volume it
will take the place OF that which flows
from the channels of living supply. The
latter can be more largely directed to do
mestic uses. 1t is probable that as much
water hereafter will not be necessary for
irrigating the same area as has hereto
fore been used, because in the past it has
not been as intelligently and economic
ally applied as will be practicable in fu-
ture. 1t is according to natural law also
that the more extended the irrigation and
the use of water for other purposes the
atmosphere will become more laden
with moisture and consequently evapora-
ton will be less. No doubt the water sup
ply will be ample for the densest popula-
lation and for the largest use in California
if proper utilization and economy are
practiced 1t is time now for our people
to commence to make provision for the
future.
The present winter thus far has been all
that could be desired. The rain has
fallen plentifully and so slowly that it has !
all been taken up by the earth, which is
wet down to great depth. The intervals
between the ranfalls have enabled the
people to SOW large area to grain, and
the temperature has been so moderate that
whatever has been sowed or planted is
growing satisfactorily. Crops of all kinds
promise to be good SO far as grain, the
grasses and vegetables are concerned. It
is too early to say how well the fruit trees
will blossom and bear, but the fruit crop
is never a failure, therefore it may be
safely calculated that the yield of every
thing will be fully up to the average and
probably considerably above it. The only
remaining question is one of prices.
Should times remain as they are and bust
ness depression continue, prices will not
be high, yet they will be compensatory
and keep the country reasonably supplied
with money. 1t happens that many of
our productions have no competition from
those in other parts OF the nation.