The San Francisco call., 1899-10-11
WATER STORAGE.

is impossible to cothe the coming water storage
convention with any artificial importance. That
which it derives from the circumstances that make
It necessary so great that its bare statement suhces
Within the water storage policy lies the future OF
California The utilizing of the normal, unwasted
water has about reached its maximum. But for the
water now available-to irrgate one there runs
to waste as harmful food, enough to irrigate one
hundred acres.
More than this when adequate reservoirs are pro-
vded the supply OF stored water becomes constant.
The rainfall for any decade is proved be practically
invariable The precipitation does not decrease in
any term OF years as compared with any other similar
term OF years But when dry years come the normal
flow OF water decreases and there is not enough left
for its expected service In years OF drought there
fore the current supply falls off, neghbor fights with
neighbor and community with community for the lit
tie that is left, fields go barren and orchards and
vineyards fail Such was the experience of ancient
Egypt the seat Of the earliest irrigation by using the
overflow OF the Nile. The inspiring story OF the
dream interpreted by Joseph is simply revelation OF
the necessities OF Egyptian agriculture dependent
upon water The seven fat ears and the fat kline
were the years OF plenty caused by abundant water.
The seven lean ears and the seven lean kline that
consumed the fat the want and necessity
that fell upon the land when the water failed in which
the wealth and substance laid by in the fruitful years
were consumed California undergoes the same ex-
perience in every series of dry years. The leanne5s
OF the land the consumption of all the accu-
mutations OF the good years
But in the good years the fat runs to waste in the
food waters that would prevent the constantly re
curing consumption OF these accumulations, and
they would go forward always, a steady aggregation
OF wealth If that waste prevented.
The convention of the 18th of November next is to
consider the ways and means by which this waste may
be prevented and all the years be fat.
Within this policy OF water storage lies the conser-
vaton OF the forests These being reaped now by
fire. The State is under pail OF smoke that rises
from burning forests.
When reservoirs are made it will be discovered that
the forests are necessary hold the soil upon the
mountain slopes, which unrestrained will slip and
wash into the reservoirs, filling and making them
useless,
Therefore all who want the forests preserved, who
the timber that is ripe and fit for commerce TO
be harvested as not to destroy the onconing crop
should take interest in this convention The tree
is mother OF the fountain" and that mother is being
burned to death to-day from end Of the State to
the other and in her death the cool fountains perish
The business OF every city in the State must
make this convention the first object Of their interest
and support Without the storage OF flood water and
the preservation OF forests the day will come when
there will be business in California as surely as it
came to the Promised Lrnd. which Moses saw as a
land OF milk and honey, filled with corn and wine
but which by decreasing is now bear desert as dry
as the ashes OF the mothers OF the fountain which
perished ages ago.