Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-11
GIGANTIC DEAL
IN TULARE LAND
INVOLVES 5000 ACRES AND
S5OO,OOO CAPITAL
COMPANY FORMS TO IRRIGATE
AND MARKET PROPERTY
viii Make Headquarters in Los An
geles---vast Tract Said to Emu.
late imperial Valley In
Richness

One of the largest land deals in the
history of California has just been
closed by which number of men,
through the agency of M. j. Nolan,
acquire title to 10000 acres In the San
Joaquin valley. involving a sum of
$500, 900. The deal Is In q measure an
amalgamation of various interests. Out
of this consolidation springs a gigantic
corporation, to be known as the Iowa
Land and Water company, which will
make its headquarters in Los Angeles
and place the land on the market
The 10000 acres, which are about to
be put under irrigation, lie twelve miles
south of Corcoran, In Tulare county,
and are bounded on the west by AL
paugh colony, on the east by the Santa
Fe railroad, and will have the Giant
wells as their source of water supply.
This corporation will cause to be de-
veloped between 1000 and 5000 inches of
water from the gigantic artesian wells
bored into an underground river, flow
ing 1000 feet beneath its own lands
These waters from the snow-capped
mountains will be turned out into maip
and lateral bitches covering the entire
tract.
These lands are said to be uniform
throughout, neither an elevation nor
depression of six inches on the entire
tract, with a pitch or slope just suffi-
cient for a good flow of water and
drainage.
Soil Is Deep AIluviaI
The soil is an alluvial deposit eighty
feet deep, entirely free from rocks. peb-
bles, sand or alkali. Some decomposed
shells are scattered over the surface.
and at various depths below. There are
no sagebrush to grub, holes or swales
to fill nor mounds to level. The soil is
said to be rich in every particular.
Water turned loose along the lines of
bitches will cover every acre OF the
tract IL left to the action of gravity.
When these lands are subdivided and
in the hands of actual settlers it will
materially add to the agricultural re-
sources Of Los Angeles and make homes
and profitable employment for a popu-
lation of 10000 people. Already negoti-
atoms are under way for the location
of about fifty families upon the lands,
and others will follcw rapidly. Pure
artesian water, with the flow Of natural
gas, can be had for domestic purposes
at moderate cost.
The beet sugar factory at Corcoran.
with a freight rate from these lands of
80 cents ton, makes the beet industry
an accomplished fact. The beet crop
last year averaged 22.S per cent saccha-
rine matter, the highest ever shown in
the United States. The land will grow
successfully all crops adapted to Cali
fornia climate, except citrus fruits.
Lands Double In Value
The lands in this locality susceptible
of cultivation and irrigation have
doubled In value within the past few
months, and there is every indication
that the improvements now assured
and the marked tide of investment now
running n that direction they will more
than double again within few months.
The trend of investments for some
time past has been towards agricultural
lands, as shown by the uplift in the
Imperial valley, where values have re-
Gently multiplied fourfold., Vast wealth
and population have converted that
vast desert into one Of the beauty spots
of the vest. What has so recently
been done there will, 1t is declared, be
more than duplicated in the upper San
Joaquin valley. When 1t is considered
that the climate in the San Joaquin
valley is much more equable, that
there is wholesome artesian water for
domestic use, no clearing or grading to
be done upon the lands, no alkaH or
possible floods to contend with, no ex-
pensive bitches to maintain, nor water
rentals to be paid, and lying midway
upon the great transportation lines be-
tween the markets of Los Angeles and
San Francisco it is easy to predict
that the uplift of these lands will be
marvellous.
A townsite on the Santa Fe at Solita
will be plated at once and put on the
market A substantial concrete station
building and a commodious hotel are
likewise improvements to be made
without delay.
Irrigation Next Fall
The irrigation system will be COM
pleted and water spread upon the lands
ready for use not later than october.
Offices of the Iowa Land and Water
company will be located at 22S West
Second street. The officers are capital
lists said to be in the fore as promoters
of first-clas enterprises, and by estab-
fishing headquarters in this city give
evidence of the superior location of Los
Angeles for legitimate and valuable in
situations. Charles II. Kegley. formerly
a Washington banker, has been made
president. M. ]. Nolan. a real estate
operator of 22S West Second street, is
the secretary. The other officers are:
w. A. Sage. a prominent business man
of Hanford, CAL, vice president and
the following are directors: John Met
calf. an Iowa banker; Joseph II. Har-
ker. a South Dakota banker; W.. III.
OBryan, an extensive land operator of
Los Angeles, and w. G. Uridge, a Fres-