The gold leaf., 1909-10-14

biIities of Agriculture In Southern
California by Means of Irrigation
No Place for the Man Without
Means Whose Only Capitals Muscle.
Los Angeles, Cal, Oct. l, 1909.
To The GOLD LEAF:
Since nv arrival in this State / nave
made many notes OF things and condl-
tions as they actually exist from STAND,
noint | have viewed them, unbiased and
nnnreiudiced in any sense OF the term.
Having Travelled California from the
nortben boundary to the southern boun-
dary. have collected some facts winch
Thought would interest the people East,
who might contemplate coming here to
live. or. those who may have other IN
terests in this State. ! therefore sub
mit this communication for the columns
of the GOLD LEAF, thinking that the
Deonle OF North Carolina (my native
State might be interested In such a
narrative. ..,
California may be divided, climatically,
into three difierentsectiOns,N Northern, zen.
trail and Southern California. fach OF
these sections is undoubtedly affected by
the Japanese Current, but no two OF
them are affected by it alike. This mid
Japanese Current seems to strike first,
and snend most OF its force upon South
ern California, then in their turn, Central
and Northern California, and as it moves
nortbward over the State, its moderat-
ing effect diminishes considerably, to the
end. that Northen California Is much
colder in winter than Southern Califor-
MIA.
There is scarcely any frost in any part
OF the State, except in some winters there
is some in the extreme northern portion.
Taking into consideration the enormous
area OF the State, there is a very small
area of agricultural lands, which only
exist west OF the Rockies. In Central and
Southern California there are millions OF
acres of barren lands, in the Rocky
Mountain belt, on which is not tree or
any living thing, absolutely useless to
mankind, unless, perhaps, it be for the
precious metals and building stones
found in it,
In that portion Of the State north OF
San Francisco, throughout its whole
width, there is a fair rainfall throughout
the wear to the extent that irrigation is
but little needed but in the two south
ern sections OF the State the rainfall is
limited to January, February March, and
some in April, and the remaining months
OF the year scarcely n drop. And. al
though the land is wonderfully rich in
this section, the very time that crops
need water the most there is not drop
of rain. Nature persistently refuses to
lend q helping hand SO irrigation is the
only possible recourse, il fruits or crops
of any kind are raised. TO give you an
inc OF thiu tinn ShnnfI n m
inc the unirrigated soil here, it appears
30 dry that you could not tell whether
or not it had rained in n thousand
years.
In the southern portion OF the State,
there are no flowing streams to speak Of,
a little water from melted snow depos-
tied in winter months on the apex OF the
great mountain peaks, that is all. SO
that irrigation water might he had
canals are dug leading into the northern
part OF the State, tapping the rivers and
lakes which abound there only.
1t will be observed, that to do this,
enormous capital is required, to con-
struct canal through such mountain
GUS and broken country. So irrigating
companies are organized, capitalized by
Eastern capitalists, the canal is built,
and water rights are sold to farmers
who own the land in close proximity, at
a price over which the farmer has no
control, therefore at the mercy of the
irrigating company
When there is sufiiciency of irrigat-
ing water land that is hard to get) the
cultivated lands respond with wonder
full vigor and in this way only, there are
enormous crops of fruits and vegetables
grown in this part of the State, perhaps
not equaled in any other part of the
world.
There is no such thing as fail in raising
crops here. but when the farmer brings
his abundant crop to market, he, very
much to his discomfort, finds that the
railroad companies absolutely control
the market price, to the extent that he
cannot realize as much from wagon
load OF lucious fruits as he would from a
few basketfuls in North Carolina.
As to the cities of Central and Southern
California, the population is made uI
chiefly of people who have made their
fortunes in the East, or other parts Of
the world, and have come here to enjoy
a most delightful climate, which | think
is one of the best in the world. These
people have come amply provided with
money and they spend it freely in provid
ing themselves beautiful homes and such
other luxuries which money will buy
Los Angeles has a population of 315,
900 souls, and from the description o
the wealthy class which | have giver
you, you can we'll imagine how the resi-
dence districts in which they live appear
The city has provided beautiful streets
OF course, but with these people there i.
extreme rivalry in the home, the lawn
in flowers and vines and as water anC
labor make the grass, the flowers ant
vines grow most luxuriously every day
in the year, you can form some idea o
the beauty of nature, and the picturesque
ness of the scenery at every hand.
In North Carolina geranium is {
small Towering plant, but here it as
sumes the stately dignity of a vine. L
will either gracefully entwine itsel
around the great trunk of the palm
reaching up ten or twelve feet, or it will
climb around the columns OF the from
veranda to its very roof, and put forth {
beautiful bright bloom for every few
inches OF its length. There are othel
vines, too, of endless varieties, which
will climb from the ground and abso
lutely cover the apex of the roof OF tn,
home. These vines are filled with beau
tiful flowers, and. taken upon the whole
the home appears as giant bouquet.
On these resident streets there are wild,
parks, some as wide as 20 feet. Along
them are many stately palms AZ feet il
diameter, 20 or 30 feet high, which shad
the sidewalk. These parks are beauti
fully turfed with rich green grass, il
which are many flower beds OF unique de
sign, with beautiful flowers of almos
every known species. In walking alon.
these streets you will find yourself mus
ing. You will ask yourself the question
"ls it not possible for me, too, to liv
amid such luxury and beauty" b,
placing your hand in your pocket vol
can readily answer the question. II tn
pocket-book is overly large, yes; If dimin
utive, no! no! Then you must go bacI
to the East, expand the pocket-hook s,
as to actually possess and live IN one O
these beautiful homes surrounded wit
every luxury which the Supreme Bein
has ever seen fit to hand down to hi
children.
To sum up the entire situation. view
ing it from an unbiased standpoint. thi
is a rich mans country, and he who
poor and has the hardihood to come t.