The record-union., 1899-05-05

future. Much of this kind of work
ought to be done in California. There
are depressions, and many gulches IN
mountains, that might be used as the
basins for artificial lakes and prevent
the loss to farmers occasioned by dry
seasons. We are considerably behind
the old Egyptians in the matter OF
storing water; yet we have pretty
good opinion of ourselves. Forest de-
struction is already showing it's work
and it would be wise to look after
these matters to greater extent than
has been practiced in the past.
VENTURA COUNTY.
Los Angeles Times: Ventura County
is, undoubtedly, in some respects, the
most picturesque, attractive and in
teresting of the seven southern coun-
ties That it has not so far shared
in the growth and prosperity Of South
ern California to the same extent as
several of the other counties is by no
means owing to lack of resources On
the contrary, the wealth of Ventura
County is as great and varied as that
of any county in the State. in proper
ton to it's size. Its resources include
not only agricultural products of great
variety and Importance, from beans
and sugar beets to apricots and lem
ons, but also great mineral wealth,
especially in petroleum, of which val
liable product Ventura County has
been for many years the leading ship
per in the State. What Ventura Coun-
ty is capable of doing in the line Of
agricultural products was strikingly
shown at San Francisco, in 1885, when
he mi roi,
ceived the first prize-a gold medal
and S500-for the best and most ex
tensive exhibit Of products from any
county in the State; also silver medals
for the best displays of corn, wheat,
dried fruit and petroleum. Since then
the agricultural products of the county
have been greatly extended. Of beans
alone, 500 carloads have been shipped
in one season. The new beet-sugar
factory at Oxnard is one of the largest
in the world, and is distributing
large amount of money among the
farmers and business men of that sec
ton.
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES
Gridley Herald The annual report
of the California State Board of Trade
upon the Industrial resources of the
State for 1898 by General N. P. Chip
man is at hand. 1t is a bulky panph
let and shows among other things that
California's fruit industry is outstrip
ping that OF any other single enter
prise. A comparative table of fruits
shipped in 1897 and in 1898 exhibits
gain in citrus fruit shipments of
S,211 cars for 1898. From Northern
California 3S9 cars were sent east, and
as the citrus fruit of this section is
earlier than that of the south a large
quantity was consumed at home of
which no account is made Dried fruits
show a gain of 100 carloads; raisins
Sl3 carloads; wines and brandies =, 116
carloads. There was a decrease in
green fruit shipments amounting to
26l carloads, while canned fruits fell
off 2,114 carloads. The mineral and
lumber output of the State for 1898
held up to that of 1897. The total
amount of citrus fruits shipped from
California during 1893 was 1S0,65S
tons: green fruits, 69,732 tons; dried
fruits, 1862 tons; raisins. At 1876 tons;
nuts, 5,S1o tons; canned fruits. 81, 10
tons.
BANNING ALMONDS.
Riverside Enterprise: AS an expert
ment, the planting of an almond or
chard in Banning is most interesting
and instructive. 1t partakes of the
nature of gambling or speculation, and
one is undecided whether to expect a
surplus or deficit in his treasury. You
may hgure on what you Will do with