Omaha daily bee., 1895-10-13

point two feet above the ground. Half a milo
away is a fine vineyard, irrigated by means
of windmill that lifts into tanks the sur
face water found throughout this region at
an average depth of twenty feet. Alfalfa,
the great forage crop of the coast, grows
here with rank luXuriance wherever water
can reach it, while all frnits and vegetables
can be ripened at least one month earlier
than on the western slope of the mountains.
While Indio thus present a striking ex-
ample OF what may be accomplished through
artesian irrigation of the prolific desert
sands, another phase Of water magic, and
on far grander scale, may be studied on the.
same Californian journey at the southern end
Of the great San Joaquin valley in and about
the hourishing city Of Bakersfield. The ex-
plorers of thirty years ago found this section
of country, the Kern Delta" as 1t is called
almost as desertlke as that bordering the,
Colorado. Its midsummer aspect was that
Of vast plain parched and glimmering with
heat, Its scant vegetation burned to a crisp
and Its wastes OF sand and sage all the more
dreary by comparison with the recently
traversed oak groves Of Tehichipa. Through
It, to be sure, flowed the Kern river, clear
cool and nexhaustible, with its source in
the everlasting SHOWS Of Mount Whitney but,
beyond a narrow fringe of verdure, its in
fuence was unfelt
BY an intelligent system of conservation
and distribution this same river today is
made to irrigate and give redundant life to
over 100000 acres of adjacent lands, and SO
to transform the seeming desert into one OF
the most fertile and prosperous sections OF
the state. This greatest irrgating PROPOSE
tion OF the country has been accomplished by
the digging of twenty-seven main canals
having an aggregate length Of 300 miles,
and LOO miles OF large laterals the whole
system having been constructed at a cost Of
100000
The largest and most important of all these
canals is the Galloway, which is by itself a
river l2O feet wide and six feet deep. Through
sixty-flve large distributaries and network
OF smaller bitches the water of this one canal
is spread over 100000 acres OF thirsty land.
1t is not only the largest. but is also the
Oldest canal of the system, and with its
shining reaches, sweeping curves the tum-
bling falls at its many diversion weirs, it's
cool stretches OF densey wooded banks its
bordering miles Of rich pasture lands tenanted
by thousands OF sleek cattle, and its count
less orchards and vineyards, all in vigorous
fruitage, 1t presents a marvellous and fas-
cinating object lesson In the possibilities and
results Of irrigation.
The Kern river drains over 5000 square
miles OF mountain watershed, from which 1t
is bountilully supplied the year round.
Throughout the section OF country to which
It's eVerhowing waters are diverted drouth
is eliminated from the farmers calculations.
lie may count with certainty upon water
enough to raise his crops and coudless skies
beneath which to harvest them. On his ir-
rlgated and once desert lands he may cut FIVE
crops OF allalla In single season, with a
total yield of from eight to twelve tons per
acre, and selling readily for Sc per ton in the
stack. These stacks are in themselves won-
derful sights to an eastern farmer containing
they do from 400 to 600 tons OF hay each.
and built up by means Of great derrick Pitch
forks operated by horse power.
Although some 10000 acres OF irrigated
lands are given over to alfalfa, ard other i'm
mense areas are sOwn in wheat, which is
harvested by huge reaper and thresher combi-
nation machines drawn by thirty or more
horses, the leading industry OF the entire Sec
ton Is horticulture. Peaches pears, prunes,
aprlcots, raisln grapes, and figs flourish in
crediby In its warm, light and well l-watered
soil. The frst-named produce an average
yield OF 1000 boxes per acre. These sell
readily In eastern markets for 81 per box,
on which the freight charge is So cents.
Prunes average 800 pounds to the 5-year-old
tree, and these are worth from ~ 10 20 cents
per pound In the orchard Already The rais-
ins Of this locality are fayorably known and
consumed throughout the length and breadth
OF the United states, and with the increased
transportation facilities recently promised to.
this favored section, its future prosperity 10
assured. -