The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-26
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific
Assist Development.
COUNTRY is TROPICAL.
C. L. 6eagraVes Shows Repre-
sentatiVes About.
Will Bring Colony OF 1000
Families at One Time.

One of the most gigantic colonization
schemes in the history of the country
Is under way in the San Joaquin val
ley of California. The valley is $50
miles long and from 80 to 100 miles
wide 1t lies between the Sierre Ma
vada and the Coast ranges of noun
tains with the Techachipe range for the
southern boundary. The Santa Fe and
the Southern Pacific railroads traverse
the valley from north to south the en-
tire distance.
c. L. Seagraves, one of the travelling
passenger agents of the Santa F'e is de-
voting almost all his time to showing
the country to representatives of immi-
grafton companies and assisting in get
ting immigrants settled in colonies IN
the valley
Colonization is carried out on a broad
scale. Arrangements are being perfect
ed to bring several thousand families
TO settle in the valley. Most of the i'm
migrants which are moved in large
Some are from Germany, Sweden, Po-
land, Finland, Russia, Norway and Bo-
hernia.
The present population of the valley
is estimated to be in the neighborhood
of half a million persons. 1t is said
the valley will support population OF
ten million people.
Mr. Seagraves has Just returned from
a trip to California with representa-
tives of a New York city firm of immi-
grafton agents who are planning 10
move a big colony of foreigners to the
United States and who are looking Tor
a location for them. The San Joaquin
valley seems to suit and representative
members of the big colony or people
will come on to inspect the country
The average family takes 40 acres
of land" said Mr.. SeagraveS. Land In
that section of the country sells for
from $40 to $50 per acre And it pre-
sents wonderful opportunities for those
of limited means. The climate is what
may be called tropical and all forms or
vegetation thrive.
1.-THE country is well supplied with
water" continued Mr.. Seagraves, and
from the many rivers, spreading in all
directions and leading to the most re-
mote hooks are the irrigation dltches-
As fast as the country is developed the
irrigation bitches may be extended. the
San Joaquin river is navigable from the
ocean as far as Fresno, distance OF
about 200 miles.
Southern California is open to de-
velopment also" said the railway man.
Down around Barstow, Los Angeles,
RedIands San Bernardino and San
Diego the country is well developed
Land sells for from $3.50 to 5000 per
acre. and land upon which orange
groves are already planted brings a
proportiOnately larger amount. Bearing
orange groves bring as high as $l,5uO
per acre and sometimes even higher.
THE San Joaquin valley also pro-
duces oranges as we'll as practically all
other fruits The crop from that sec
ton is usually marketed about two
months sooner than the crop from the
section about Redlands and the other
cities of southern California
The disadvantage for the man OF
moderate means in southern California
is that he cannot wait until the fruit
natures six years after the first plant
ing of the orange trees. In the San
Joaquin valley the colonist may plant
his small crops and alfalfa and live
well and at the same time make UP de-
ferred payments on his land. He may
also plant a small portion of his land
to orange trees and wait for their de-
velopment-'
Mr.. Seagraves is very enthusiastic in
his praise of the valley and predicts
that it will soon develop into one of the
most densely populated and prosperous
portions of the whole country.