The San Francisco call., 1910-05-28
GROWING DEMAND
FOR FARM LANDS
Thousands of Settlers to Take
Advantage of CaIifOrnia's
Opportunities
By DAVID H. WALKER


From one end of the state to the
other the prominence that California
farm lands are assuming as produc-
tive assets and as lures to draw in
population is striking. Agencies for farm
lands that were not established long
ago are now in evidence in several To-
calities IN San Francisco. On every
hand statistical information and de-
scriptive pamphlets in which the
products Of counties, their values and
the ease with which they can be
grown, is made known.
The country real estate has become
so important in land transaction in the
cities Of California that brokers talk
OF IL enthusiastically. Building up the
country and increasing the commercial
Importance Of San Francisco are taken
TO be synonymous, for on the country
rests the prosperity Of this and all
other California cities, very largely.
There is a unity Of interest in that re-
gard that is generally understood and
admitted.
There are about a hundred millions
OF acres in California. OF this vast area
something like 1000, ZOO acres are sup
posed TO be under irrigation. 1t has
been estimated by good authorities that
nearly one-seventh of the total area is
valley agricultural land, in other words
14,000. 900 acres, exclusive of the up
per mesas that are tillable and noun
tain valleys, which also can be irri-
gated. The highest priced irrigated
land in the United States. so reports
Professor Fortier OF the University of
California, is found in California, and
IN no other state" so writes Fortier,
has water for irrigation reached so
high e value or been as carefully and
as economically used. And in no other
state is there so great an area of fer
tile farming land for which the avail
able supply of water is so large"
Special editions Of The Call have re-
Gently called attention to the pros
perity brought to the San Joaquin val
ley by irrigation, coupled with fertile
lands and q climate favorable to the
promotion Of growths characteristic
Of the semitrepics and the temperate
zone alike The facts that have been
made public have been weighed and
have had an effect that has been
marked in determining investments of
California capital and also capital from
abroad in properties that will pay in
comes from alfalfa, fruit, etc.
Irrigation, il is said, has followed
the lines of most evident financial re-
turns. At the same time irrigation has
turns. Lands that were of small value
have become highly valuable in many
counties. The question is likely to be
asked by the outsider as 70 the extent
that lands may be irrigated. Accord
ing to Professor Fortier. who is an
acknowledged authority on all topics
connected with irrigation IN California,
the water supply in California that has
been gauged in the larger rivers and
streams, apart from the creeks and
smaller rivers, amounts TO 45,IeO, 00C
acre feet This is sufficient to cover
100000 acres of agricultural land to
a depth Of more than 3s inches. which
is suficient for the growth Of all crops
The unprecedentedly large demand
for California farming lands of the
present has brought into view many
facts that were known by Californians
who studied the farm subject years
ago, but the whole theme has practi-
cslly become of new Importance with
the great colonization enterprises that
have been initiated, especially north
Of Tehachapi, in the last few years. In
1902 there was an irrigation census
which showed that in California 1908
40 acres were irrigated. which was ar
increase of 1872 per cent above the area
irrigated in 1893 To quote Fortier
again: From 1902 to 1908 the increase
was more rapid, SO that 1t is safe tc
say that more than 100000 acres are
being watered at this time. Using the
figures that were true up to 1902 as
basis, the total cost OF irrigation sys-
TENS in California has been over $27,-
600, 900, or over $3.50 per acre. The
significance OF this is apparent wher
It is remembered that the total il
nearly half the total value OF lands
and buildings invested in manufac.
lures in California In 1900.
From the returns made by assessors
and the shipments of products out o.
the state, it is possible TO form an 'ap
proXimate estimate of the value Of
part of the irrigated product. OF tn,
500 900 acres in vines and an equal ares
IN orchards. the annual total gross re
turns to the grower would not var,
far from $3.50 per acre, or $50, 900 ,Ooi
in all. Then. in addition, there is al
falfa, vegetables, small crops an,
other crops, the greater part of whicl
are irrigated. The gross returns from
these would in return increase tn,
annual value TO the extent of $l5,
100000"