The record-union., 1898-04-07

DC required.
The upper half of Capay Volley is
narrow, widening as one goes south
ward. For several miles from Rumsey,
the head of the valley, the average width
is about one mile, with gentle slope
from the hills on the west side TO those
on the east. at the base of which runs
Cache Greek. With the exception OF
narrow strip of table land for a short
distance along the west side of the val
ley, the latter is very level, becoming
more SO toward the south.
If IT should be desired to irrigate or
chards on the west side of the valley, a
mile distant from the creek, large tank
could be cons ructed to receive the water
pumped from the creek, and then, by the
aid Of a relay pump, deliver it at The
western limit of the valley. The greater
portion of the land can, however, be
irrigated by raising the water seventy
feet, which is almost within the ca
pacity of the pump as the latter Will
raise stream to the hight of forty
five feet, after drawing it up twenty
five feet from the bed of the creek.
When the Capay Land Company a
few years ago purchased many thous-
ands of acres of land from the slow-so-
ing owners who did not seem to appce-
ciate the fact that they We're living in
the midst of an earthly paradise. there
were few improvements on the land.
1t was then mostly devoted to grain
growing and pasturing. But now al
is changed. AS if by the stroke of some
enchanter's wand the lovely valley
for which God and Nature had done so
much, and the first settlers so little
has in few short years been transform
ed into a land of homes, while to the
beauties with which Nature had adorn-
ed it have been added those which only
people of industry and refined tastes
can add to a locality blessed with a
genial climate and fertile soil.
On the lands purchased and resOld
by the Capay Land Company there are
now no less than 10000 fruit trees, and
within distance of thirty miles or less
there are five thriving villages, whence
the farmers and fruit growers ship
their produce by railroad and receive
their supplies.
The enhancing beauty of Capay Val
ley has been so often set forth that it
is not necessary here to enter into a
description of the valley or the lovely
hills that shelter it on all sides. In
whatever direction ones eyes may turn
they are greeted by the loveliest scenes
that nature can depict-wooded noun
tains, sparkling streams and groves of
oak and pine distributed as the hand
of no human landscape gardener ever
dreamed Of
These natural beauties have not been
in he
ments that have been made in the last
few years, but, if anything, enhanced
thereby. For miles and miles along
the railway that runs through the
center of the valley to where the noun
tains come together on the north. are
now clean looking well cultivated and
blooming orchards, whence in the fu-
ture will come the bulk of the early
fruit to be sent from California to tickle
the palates Of people on the eastern
verge of the continent. Capay is al
ready noted for the earlineSS of its
fruits
The drought and heavy frosts of Feb
ruary and March, which destroyed all
but the latest varieties of fruit in most
parts of the State, have also been felt
in Capay but not to the extent noted
in other parts. In some portions of the
valley, notably the northern portion. in
the vicinity of Rumsey. there are or
chards that will yield nearly full crops
even Of apricots A man who has forty
acres of orchard there stated that tbs
worst the frost did was to save him
the labor of thinning out the fruit or
his trees, and that the latter have now
on them all the fruit they should be
allowed to carry. He has apricOtS as
large as quails' eggs, and expects tc
get handsome income from his fruit
In some other places in the valley the
apricots and early peaches have suf-
fered badly, but there will be gooC
crops of other and later fruits, eSpeci-
ally prunes, which are reported totally
destroyed in Santa Clara Valley, a not
ed prune growing section.
Nor are the grain crops in Capay
suffering this season as in other parts
Without any more rain many of the
| crops will turn out fairly we'll Any
| section that can come out of this eX.
ceptionally trying and disastrous sea
son with fair crops of either fruit OF
grain must certainly demonstrate its
| superior advantages. Such is the peer
! less Capay Valley.
1t is to guard against these excep-
| tional seasons Of lack of rain that the
| Capay Land Company has engaged in
the irrigation enterprise above describ-
ed. The company has already applica-
tons from the owners of many hun
dreds of acres for water as soon as il
can be supplied. While the soil there
is still fresh and moist. orchardists ap-
int +ln 80
its advantages. Trees that are we'll ir.
rlgated produce larger and finer fruit
for shipment and more abundant crops
And then, with irrigation so available
and cheap-water that can be carried
about on wheels. SO to speak, by the
millions of gallons and deposited just
where and when desired-there will
never be crop failures because of the
! lack of rain.
a visit to Capay Valley at the pres
ent time cannot fail to impress any
one with its rare advantages. The
tourist travelling over almost any line
OF railroad in the State may close his
| eyes to the disheartening sight of Bills
tered and blighted fields of grain on al
sides, but on entering Capay Valley he
need not fear to reopen them. for his
vision Will rest on Verdure-cl fields
and hillsides and healthy, thriving or
| chards-not what they would be in any
ordinary season, to be sure. but still
much better than can ge found in most
! other sections.
| Funeral Of William Trainer.
| The funeral of the late William
! Trainer took place yesterday afternoon