The San Francisco call., 1899-10-14
IF THE RAIN WERE STOREDl

Ill have IdllCH llIlSly anu ONSI LuNli VI
the ground in sufficient volume to enable the
blowing Of ground in preparation for seeding.
In the Eastern States where the land is locked by
deep frost, the farmer waits for winter to break and
the ground to thaw, and then seedtime is upon him.
Here the farmer waits for summer to break and the
ground to be moisened by the early rains and then
goes afed with his plow.
The summer has broken; the soil is mostened
and will soon be turned Ahead is the prospect OF
rainy season OF unusual length and fall The rain
the plains and foothills and the snow in the noun
tains will be abundant and many will forget the
time OF lack and the fallow fields and withered
orchards that it caused.
There are many, however, who remembering the
drought and knowing the certainty that such years
will come again. will persist in measures that will
avert their consequences and make every year fruit
ful
To these men the promise OF abundant rain in the
coming season is promise of drought averted in the
future the great fall OF food could be stored
for use when needed In the rains expected between
and next May there will be waste. The rivers
will leave their banks the evees around the garden
islands in the delta OF the Sacramento and San Joa
quin will in many cases break and prop
erty will be destroyed The waste waters vagrant
and mercess will wander at will and destroy
they 60. They will wash away the soil and carry it
into the rivers filing their channels to the destruc
ton OF navigation, and will infict injury upon pro-
duction and transportation the two first in the States
trinity OF wealth producing factors.
II the State were prepared now to hold the food
waters in the foothills in reservoirs at such alti
tude that the loose soil is not carried with them and
from which their distribution may reach every part OF
the valleys below, the rain now hailed with enthu-
siasm would have more than doubled significance.
Now it is received gratefully for what land it makes
fruitful and with misgivings for what its floods may
destroy Then it would be sauted as blessing un-
aloyed by loss It would mean permanent provision
against drought; unimpaired and permanent navi-
gability OF our meandered rivers; constant supply
for mining every day in the year and every year.
quadruplication of grain and fruit and forage
producing area; and such an assurance of the per-
manence of agriculture and horticulture as would
add immensely to our population OF that desirable
class of small and-hoders who are the true expires
sion OF the might and majesty OF the State With
such reservoir system, assuring the permanency OF
water and its use at reasonable charge family can
prosper here the product OF twenty forty acres
area within its capacity to cultivate There is
no other part of the Union, nor OF the world where
an acre Of land will produce much and in as great
variety as here, not excepting the valley OF the Po
provided the water supply is made permanent. This
is proved over and over again, in the San Joaquin
Valley in places where the normal flow of the streams
suffces for such permanent supply
The convention called in this city for the 18th OF
next month may come here under umbrellas and in
gumboots. 1t may meet in the rain and the windows
OF heaven may be open throughout its sessions but
nevertheless it must meet, and the ranchers miners
lumbermen, bankers, shippers and business men of
this State must realize its importance as to make
impressive The rain that falls while it deiberates
means fat year to come but still, ahead famine
snitten dry and fruitless turks and waits lean wear
to devour its substance. That convention can make
California entirely safe from loss by drought or food
The engineering problem is simple, the construction
cheaper than anywhere else in the world the line of
distribution shorter. The that has been re-
leased from one of these reservoirs under head
and pressure that make electric power to run manv
mines passes from the turbine or Peton wheel if
has actuated to make grain, grass and fruit grow
within a few miles OF the spot where it generated
power to dig and mill gold Why not harness all this
wasted power and fertility that such rainy season
as is coming will represent all gain and no loss?
EzzzzEzzzzzzzzzzzzzzznzznna