The San Francisco call., 1899-07-12
INSPECTING SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY
Agricultural Commits
sion at Fresno.
SHOWN POINTS OF INTEREST
ONE IMPORTANT RESULT OF
THEIR VISIT.
Elwood Meade May Be Sent by the
Government to Investigate
California's Irriga-
ton System.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

FRESNO, July 11.-AS a result of the
visit of the Association of American
Agricultural Colleges and experiment
stations to this place there may be
brought about in California complete
revision of the present irrigation sys-
tenn. Elwood Meade of the experiment
station. United States Department of
Agriculture, now stationed at Chey-
enne, Wyo., is a Government expert on
irrigation. A committee of prominent
citizens of Fresno is considering the
feasibility of getting the Government
to detail Meade to make thorough in
vestigation of the State with view to
having him make recommendations as
to a systematic improvement in the
present irrigation system, and also as
to whether the irrigation should be
under private or State ownership. The
matter is being conservatively discuss
ed by the citizens committee, and 1t is
understood Meade will make his in
vestigation without any preconcelved
ideas and report to the Government the
result Mr.. Meade says:
In event of my being detailed to do
this work, l shall make an impartial
and disinterested investigation into the
conditions of the present irrigation SyS-
tenn with a view to making recon-
mendations for a conservation and eco
nomical distribution of the water sup
ply, which l understand is not had at
present"
The private train of seven Pullmans,
having on board the delegates arrived
here shortly after o'clock this morn
ing. The visitors were met by Presi-
dent Albert Lachman of the Califor-
MIA Winegrowers' Association and the
following committee of citizens: S. F.
Booth, Arthur r. Briggs, o. j. Wood
ward, j. NJ. Collier, H. c. B. Gill. ]. c.
Moore, Alexander Gordon and T. C.
White. The delegates were taken to
the Hotel Hughes for breakfast. after
which they were taken aboard another
special train to the San Joaquin ice
factory and creamery. A short stay
was next made at Las Palmas. after
which the visitors inspected the Malt
ermOTo COmpany'S ST George vine
yards, where they partook of light re-
freshments.
second special train conveyed the
delegates to the CalWa Winery, where
they We're rendered luncheon by the
California Wine Association. Presi-
dent ]. E. Stubbs of the Agricultural
Association presided. He introduced
Charles S. Murkland of New Hamp-
shire, who thanked the citizens of
Fresno for their hospitality and who
moved a vote of thanks, which was
unanimously adopted. William Han
ford of the California Wine Associa-
ton responded to the vote of thanks.
Arthur r. Briggs on the part of the
citizens committee also expressed the
pleasure it had given the people of
Fresno to entertain the association.
In the evening third excursion was
made TO the MinnewaWa Vineyard and
Kearney Ranch, which were inspected
with great interest by the visitors.
The members of the association have
been the guests of the Chamber of
Commerce. which is bearing the ex-
pense of their entertainment here. The
delegates are praising California hos
pitality in the highest terms. F. S.
Scribner, agrastologist of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, Washington,
D. c., says:
California from all l have seen, is
the empire State of the Union. 1t is a
principality that could flourish inde-
pendently OF the rest of the world
Here you have everything in the
world
The delegates remained at Fresno
until 10 o'clock tonight when they left
for Oroville, which they will reach
early tomorrow morning. Marysville
and Woodland also will be visited to-
morrow.
WOODLAND, July '11-Arrange-
ments are all complete for the recep-
tion of the Association of American
Agricultural Colleges, which will arrive
in this city tomorrow afternoon at
o'clock. A delegation of citizens will
meet the special train at Marysvile
yards and grain fields the party will