The record-union., 1899-03-19
THE COLUSA RIVER SECTION.
ONE OF THE FINEST AGRICULT-
URAL DISTRICTS.
Both Grain and Fruit Crops Are
Now in the Most Promis-
ing Condition.
(Correspondence Record-union.o }

Colusa is a beautiful town of about
2,0O0 inha bitants, situated on the right
bank of the Sacramento River. When
1t was first located in 1850 it was con-
sidered the head of navigation, but soon
boats went on up to Red Bluff, but the
character of the river changes very ma
terially at this point. Above here the
fall is fifteen inches or more to the
mile, while below it is only six inches
and as a consequence the upper river
is rapid and shallow, and below has
an even current, and is deep.
| BaFges- carry from Cofusa as much
as LOCO tons of wheat in tow of small
steamers, and above Colusa 300 tons
is considered a good load The land
around Colusa is the same as the Sac
ramento bottoms all along the river
1t is as good for fruit, the grasses and
small truck as the river lands below
Sacramento, but the farmers seem to
dread giving up the wheat crop There
| is a considerable acreage, however, in
the vicinity planted to fruit, and much
more to alfalfa.
| The matter of irrigation is receiving
much more attention, and a number OF
pumps are being put in. Messrs P F.
Do.an and George J. Beatty, farmers
residing few miles below Colusa, are
building barge on which they will
place two fifteen-inch pumps to be
driven by an engine with 125 horse
power capacity. The barge will be IS
feet long and q feet beam, and will
have a stern wheel to propel it up and
down the river.
Besides this there are a number of
stationary pumps along the banks of
the river. The average hoist is about
1S feet. Quite number of the orchard
men, not Immediately on the bank of
the river, have bored wells from which
they get an abundant supply of water.
They claim that in case of a threatened
frost they can prevent damage by run
ming water in burrows between the
trees, as the water is much warmer
than frost
Colusa prides itself on its cheap trans
portation, claiming an advantage over
any other town of like distance from
the ship, and it stands in'' for every
thing that is of advantage to the nav
! liability of the river and against ev-
erything that is calculated to injure it.
There is rich land enough along the
margin of the river to feed the present
population of California. The farmers
do not plant small truck" as the
proper boats are not put on because
there is no business for them. If a
boat left Colusa every afternoon at
about 4 O'Clock she could stop at all
points along the river and arrive at
Sacramento at about o'clock in the
morning with fruit and vegetables. but
ter, eggs, poultry and the like, all fresh.
This will all come about in the near
future.
The pumps now going in will very
soon change the whole scope of farm
ing along the river. 1t is to the inter-
est of Sacramento to encourage every
thing that will develop so rich a farm
! ing territory, the product of which can
be thrown into her lap with so little
force. There is no richer country in
the world, and none in California more
easily irrigated, and thus made certain
of production. The wheat barges pass
on by Sacramento, bringing no benefit
to her, but if this magnificent land
could all be brought into that better
system of farming of which it is ca
pable. most of the product would come
to Sacramento for distribution else
where, and her business men would
handle it. Thus all this country could
be brought into full sympathy with
Sacramento vastly to- her advantage.
The crop prospects of the county were
never brighter The grain crop was
not suffering before the last rainstorm.
and if there is a continuance of good
weather Colusa may have the largest
crop in her history. OF course it may
be possible that there will be short
crops, but it does not now seem likely.
The fruit crop at this date is in fine.
condition. The principal fruit crop is
prunes, the fruiting of which is ex-
cellent, so there will probably be very
full crop.
McMcrry sells groceries Agent for
Coronado water and Stockton sarsa-
parilla and iron 631 NJ street.