The San Francisco call., 1904-02-29
Every Section Shows
Signs of Strong
Interest.
N. A. BEARD.


Secretary Of the Sacramento Valley Develop
ment Association.
Are conditions improving in the Sac
ramento Valley? Ask those who have
had occasion TO visit there. Almost
every town OF Importance shows evi-
dences Of growth Where a few years
ago TO let" signs were numerous.
houses are now hard TO find. New
homes are building. and they are Oc-
cUpied before the plaster is dry. In
The city of Sacramento a million dol
lsrs was expended in new buildings
curing 1903.
Chico, where the Diamond Match
Company is building a milliOn-dollsr
factory. bids fair 10 double her pOpula-
ION. in OroviIle homes have been
building rapidly for three or four years.
Marysyille is growing Red Bluff and
Redding are growing. Woodland, VIII
lows. Auburn, Suisun and many others
show signs Of healthy growth.
Property values are advancing and
there is a very general feeling that the
valley is taking on new life. Confidence
IS expressed by municipal improve
ments. Auburn is just proposing mile
of cement sidewalk; Woodland is lay
ing a cement walk; MarysVille is build
ing a boulevard and otherwise beauti-
fying the city; Redding is paving
streets.
The best evidence that a new era is
Al hand is the subdivision and sale Of
great grain farms. These vast tracts
have been the principal drawback to
the development Of the Sacramento
Valley, but the great rancho is pass
ing and small farms are taking its
place. A portion OF the BidweI ranch
l.
four years and is nearly all sold. The
e Glenn ranch. the BOggs ranch and the
Packer ranch are now on sale and are
reported going fast. The MoultOn
ranch has just been purchased and will
be subdivided.
SOLD IN SMALL TRACTS.
These lands are being sold in small
tracts to men who viii live on them
with their families. and the land which
heretofore has supported but a few
men and mules, the bulk Of it's revenue
gcing 10 enrich nonresident owners.
S. soon 20 support hundreds Of families.
Homes are being built, schools and
churches will follow. Under intensive
cultivation the land will produce many
fold more than under the old wasteful
ways and the change viii be beneficial
20 every interest Of the Sacramento
Valley and Of the State. The foothill
districts, which are devoted principally
10 grazing. >have been proved to be es-
peciaIlv adapted to fruit culture and
small farming, and the cultivated area
IS constantly being extended.
The growth Of small farms is ere
sting a new demand for water and a
number Of great irrigation systems
sre under construction. The great
central irrigation canal is being com
pleted- Woodland capitalists are con-
structing a new system in Yolo Coun-
ty The waters Of Feather River are
10 be diverted below Oroville for irri-
eating thousands OF acres in Butte and
Sutter counties.
The new growth Is not confined TO
the agricultural districts. The forests
and mineral deposits are receiving in
creased attention. Timber is becoming
daily more valuable and timber men
everywhere are turning attention Il
the sugar pine forests OF the Sierras
The old wasteful method Of cutting
timber is giving way 10 the economical
methods Of lumber men, who make use
OF practically the entire tree. The for
ests are going 10 be the scene Of vast
industries which will give employment
10 thousands OF workmen. The first OF
these is now building at Chico and al
Stirling, the new city the Diamond
Match Company is building in the
heart Of its 6O.O0O-acre forest.
The deposits Of many minerals in
Guiding iron. asbestos. copper mineral
paints. building stones, marbles. CLAWS
and others. are certain to develop
manufacturing industries Of vast i'm
portance-these are already begun. A
slate quarry in FL Dorado County. a
paint mine and lime quarry in Butte
building stone Quarries and quicksilver
mines in Colusa and Placer. clay III
Eustries in various counties, show that
these valuable resources are being
utilized.
GREAT POWER PLANTS.
A recent development Of vast impor-
lance is the building of great power
plants on the mountain streams and
electrical transmission Of power over
long distances. This district has led
the world in the development of power