The San Francisco call., 1906-07-03
A DEVELOPING EMPIRE.

The cutting up Of the large land holdings in the
Sacramento Valley into small farms simultane-
ousiy with the completion OF great systems OF
irrigation has brought on an OF development
in ;he northern part of the State, the importance
oi which IS scarcely realized yet outside the
Immediate vicinity of the undertakings. But the
Developments are big with Importance, not only
for the Sacramento Valley but for the entire State
and particularly for San Francisco, the metropolis
through which in a large way the business OF the
empire developing at doors will be carried on
The Sacramento Valley is the last important sec
ton OF California to be thrown open to the home
owning farmer, and is the richest The very rich
ness OF the country indeed, has retarded its best
Development Holders OF large tracts have found
il profitable to cultivate the land for wheat long
after wheat-groWing elsewhere in California on
the 2o,oOO-acre farm basis had become decidedly
losing investment As result, the large tracts in
other and less favored parts OF California have been
cut up into small farms and are now covered with
orchards and vineyards and dairies operated by
their owners. But in the Sacramento Valley the
large farms have continued TO yield returns, con
tnually decreasing returns, to be sure, but still
profits large enough to encourage the owners to
retain their holdings At the Glenn ranch for
example. 44,ooo acres were held in one tract. In
stead OF selling to resident farmers. owners of such
properties have gradually acquired the smaller
holdings. As q consequence, III the ten years end
ing in 1904. the population OF Glenn and Colusa
counties fell off 1000.
But within two years plans for cutting up such
tracts into small farms for actual settlers have been
perfected Two great irrigation systems have been
completed that OF the Central canal, under which
10000 acres Will be irrigated. and that OF the
Butte County canal, which will bring water to
10000 additional acres Other plans, which have
not yet been worked out. will bring under irriga-
ton fully 100000 acres more. The land thus be-
ing developed is the richest out OF doors: seldom
have better opportunities been offered settlers and
capital than are here presented.
And settlers and capital have not been slow to
respond. At. st Johns for example, beet sugar
factory Is being rushed to completion TO handle the
product OF 5000 acres OF beets already in the
ground. By the time the beets are ready for the
factory the factory will be ready for the beets.
An electric road has been completed from Chico
TO Oroville and IS rapidly being extended to
Marysville and Sacramento The Western Pacific
is known TO be behind branch roads running in all
directions out OF Sacramento City. and Boards Of
Supervisors OF all the Sacramento Valley counties
are besieged with applications for franchises from
various interests that have been quick to note what
II means TO turn such a country over to home
owners OF from five to fifty acres of irrigated land
The Sacramento Valley is essentially a poor
mans country; that is to say, the man with few
hundred dollars who wishes to establish home
from which he make decent living for himself
and family. A man with $1,000 can now go to the
Sacramento alley. secure a tract of land and earn
competency from the first wear This cannot be
said Of Southern California. The $1,000 that makes
man independent north OF the Straits OF Car
ouinez would not 60 far south OF Tehachapi
Southern California recognizes this and. curiously
enough. the projects that resulting in the de-
velopment OF the northern valley are backed
largely by Southern California capital But Los
Angeles capital always quick to see good
thing. Under the new order the population OF
Glenn and Colusa counties. which fell away 1000
in ten years. during the last year was increased
by 1900. This gives some indication OF the turn
OF the tide in favor OF the big valley 1t will not be
long before the small farms OF the Sacramento
will be adding enormously to the tax roll the re-
sources and the income OF the State