Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-10-18
TO RECLAIM EMPIRE
Irrigation Project In California
Is the Worlds Largest.
A TASK OF THIRTY YEARS.
United States Government About to Be-
gin In Sacramento and San Joaquin
Valleys Work Involving Outlay Of
$4,000 ,000-Much Can Be Raised.

gin In Sacramento and San Joaquin
Valleys Work Involving Outlay of
$4,000, 0,000-Much Can Be Raised.
The largest of the worlds irrigation
projects. an undertaking SO vast that
thirty years and upward of S50,0O0,O00
will be required to carry 1t out, is
about to be begun by the federal GOV
ernment in the Sacramento and San
Joaquin valleys of California, says the
Chicago Post.
In this region, where it is said the
range of climate and the natural fer
tility of the soil favor the growth of
! every known species of plant life, the
government engineers purpose to dis
tribute the annual rainfall and the
flow from the snow beds in the Cas-
cade over vast territory.
In the Sacramento valley alone it is
the ultimate plan to irrigate 100000
| acres, and, while the area To be re-
claimed in the San joaquin valley has
not been measured accurately, it is es-
timated roughly that it will be one
| and one-half times that area.
"None of us realizes the agricultural
possibilities of these valleys said
Chief Hydrographer NJ. O. Leighton of
the United States geological survey IN
outlining the government plans for
| this region. while the development
| of this area has been miyvelous in the
last few years, its possibilities have
not as yet been touched upon.
$50 great is the undertaking that the
| government is unable to take it up as
a whole. but must take it up in sect
| tiOns of sizes that can be completed
with the money available. The first
/ OF these will be the Orland subprOject,
| comprising 10000 acres. The prelim-
mary work has been under way for
some time The work of construction
will be begun within a few months.
Mr.. leighton passed through Chica-
go recently on his return to Washing
ton, where he will make a report to
the secretary of the interior of the re-
/ suits of extended observations In this
locality, which demonstrate the prof.
ect to be entirely feasible.
1.-THE preliminary work was begun
! five years ago" continued the hydroG-
| raDher, "1he survey of the Orland
project was commenced five years ago.
This work has demonstrated that the
undertaking. aside from its huge size,
will offer fewer engineering difficulties
than many other projects now being
carried out by the government. While
the average cost of this reclamation
work averages SO an acre. this Will be
much lower in this case on account OF
| the accessibility of the water supply.
The outlay will probably not be much
over $40 an acre.
"Our measurements show ample wa
ter supplies both in the Sierra and the
Cascade ranges. The largest reservoirs
will be located at Clear lake, Big val
I lev, Iron canyon and Warm Springs
| valley.
"A conservative estimate of the sup
porting capacity Of these valleys IS
25.O0O,OOO people. There is not prod
, uct of the soil that cannot be raised
there. tropical or other. Oranges
grapes, dates. figs almonds, as well as
flax. tobacco, grains and the crops Ia
| miliar in this part of the country (llIi-
nois), all flourish there. Experiments
in growing strange fruits and vegeta-
bles have demonstrated wonderful pos
sibilities.
1--WE were especially interested in the
tobacco growing that is now being ac-
complished there both experimentally
and commercially. The smokers IN
our party were agreed that the cured
product far surpassed in favor ana
tone any other grown in this country
that we had ever tried
For the completion of this big proJ-
ect at least thirty years VIII DE re-
ouired under the present state OF avail
able funds. The work of the govern
ment is limited to the money receiVeu
from the sale Of Indian lands, Oh
! which to the present time about S4o'-