The San Francisco call., 1903-09-17
BASE OF CIVILIZATION.

BASE OF CIVILIZATION.
With the factor of moisture under the con-
trol OF man his control over the creation of
wealth is vastly enhanced. Civilization is
based upon the existence Of wealth since en-
plres are based upon population. With one
OF the three factors Of production under his
control man can by his will create states
and in the exercise of this power he does
most truly resemble the gods In the ancient
world the greatest density of population was
found in regions originally desert because in
such regions fertility can be evoked only nv
resort to irrigation and wherever irrigation
Is resorted to the density of population the
found
-, The valley Of the Po furnished informatory
Illustration OF this In the three provinces of
-Lombardy Piedmont and Venice comprising
the valley Of the Po and it's continents, there
are 1900 600 Of acres Of land under irriga-
ton The population of the region based
upon the productive capacity of the soil whose
natural production is re-endorved by the con-
troll Of this single factor is over s. O0O 600 in
habitants. The climatic conditions of the Pc
are not favorable 70 a wide diversity of OBJ
Jects OF cultivation Only In especially ia
Eored regions of very limited area is the
production OF semi-tropical plants possible
Throughout the major portion Of this irrigated
area the thermometer descends to 10 degrees
maintaining that temperature a sufficient
length OF time 70 control the character of the
nora; and yet s, 000 600 inhabitants find abund-
ant subsistence in this favored region solely
because one OF the paramount factors of pro-
ouction is under the control of man
. Let US contrast this with the conditions in
the great Sacramento Valley in our State Of
california The Sacramento Valley has a fer
tile area equal to 6.5O0. 600 acres. It possesses
soil OF unsurpassed fertility and it lies under
d climate conferring the widest range Of agri-
culture ana horticulture possibilities. The
temperature Of that great valley seldom de-
scends to % degrees Fahrenheit, and in flfty
years observation has not fallen below 20 de-
grees. Like the valley of the Pc local con
nguration confers variety of conditions which
must be intelligently mastered il errors of
cultivation would be avoided But when the
TWO regions are contrasted with reference to
area fertility and climatic possibilities the
valley of the Sacramento under equally inten-
siVe cultivation to that of the Po would sun
port in affuence and comfort with an assured
abundance 10, ,OOO. 600 people IN
Fresno. in the heart Of the great San Joa-
gum Nailey, furnishes a striking illustration
OF the extent to which irrigation may energize
all the attributes Of civilization In that To-
cality commonwealth OF % 600 prosnsrons
people is based upon &C. 900 acres of frrirated
lano and the Significance of these figures Is
vastly enhanced by the authentic Statement
that the banking exchange generated bv the
export and import commerce of the r,eori. -
France is greater in proportion to that num-
other known community - '
RIVERSIDE COLONY.
The Riverside Colony Of California h..
irrigated area Of 1900 acres These scrss
constitute the basis of community life Ia The
extent Of 10000 inhabitants. or one inhabitant
for every one and one-third acre At Biver
side abundance is supplemented by the hipbeSt
embellishments Of civilized life. The prImitfve
problem OF existence having long since heen
passed, the higher attainments OF human asniraN
tion have been reached, and Riverside wouId
suffer nothing by contrast with any other por-
sideration. Gull
The recent rapid growth Of California, as a
whole is the most remarkable instance OF ra-
pidity Of growth, associated with maturity OF
civilized conditions, TO be found anywhere in
modern instances. Southern California had no