The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-14
CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION.

NAR ELWOOD MEAD, in charge OF the lrri
| II CATION Bureau OF the Agricultural Depart
ment. who will attend the water storage con-
vention in this city in interview Tor he Call has
stated the irrigation situation in this State very
clearly and has given the reason for CALIFORNIA; great
interest in the subject He said: There is ques-
ton as to the fact that is worth in Cali
forna than in any other State in the Union"
The value of water for irrigation is fixed by the
value OF what it will produce Where the climate is IA
vorabe to very great variety OF products OF the soil,
and to an almost constant succession OF crops agri-
culture in all its branches is the most profitable and
its products the most valuable.
We have these conditions The long arid and hot
season. which is peculiar the whole interior OF the
State, from its north line to its southern border, pre-
sents conditions favorable to the best OF rriga-
ton When the supply and distribution OF water are
adequate we will have even more constant use OF the
land than now for the early grain harvest will per
NIT the use OF the land for another crop of roots,
fodder plants or other useful and valuable products.
Where land is now in alfalfa under our al-compelling
sunshine FIVE or six crops may be cut in a season.
Where sugar beet are raised their harvest may be fol-
lowed Immediately by something else, and the land
may be kept in continual action.
These favorable conditions, dependent climate,
are not present the arid States whose lands lie ar
such an altitude as to make short season. and where
the production of more than one crop is impossible.
All of this runs back to the cost of storage and
distribution Where only one crop be raised,
and the climate is not friendly to great variety Of
agricultural products the cost OF securing water
supply is regulated by those conditions The value OF
the water per annum is the value OF the one or at
best two crops it will produce in year. Here its
value is that OF the many and the great variety OF
crops permitted by our climate. This is dominating
principle that should not be lost sight OF by the con
vention IF water in California produces an orange
crop worth thousand dollars acre, it is that much
more valuable than water in Nevada, Wyoming or
Idaho used at an average elevation of 1000 feet where
the short season permits only one field crop worth
SIS or $50 II used here on alfalfa producing
six crops in year, it is six times as valuable as
where only one crop can be grown.
These considerations may not have generally been
understood by our own people They go to the
value OF water, to the cost that may be incurred in
obtaining it. ard are the measure OF the annual loss
to the State by the waste OF its flood waters.
But there is another factor peculiar to this State
Our output OF gold depends also upon constant
supply OF water for Use in mining 1t is needed not
only for flowing the crushed quartz but for power
in running mills trans lifts and for electric lighting
If for lack OF water our mines idle half the year
and produce on half time 100000, on full time
they will produce $4,000 600 1t is true that in small
areas in other mineral States water has the same rela
ton to mining but nowhere else is that relation as
great and important as here. Therefore for mining
purposes water is more valuable in California than in
any other State in the Union and this value must be
added to that produced by its in irrigation.