The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-29
California Netherlands.

In the lower portions or the Valleys
OF the Sacramento and san Joaquin
rivers. in California, there arc large
areas of marsh land which arc below
the level of the rivers and in part
below sea level. This region has re-
ceived the name of the Netherlands
of California, not only on account OF
it's Low level, but also because 1t l5
being drained and improved after the
fashion of Holland.
The geographers passed through 1T on
their way 10 San Francisco, and one
of their number, Prof. NieImeycr,
stopped there TO investigate the dis
trict more closely. in order TO see if
he could discover some engineering and
agricultural methods of special value
TO his country, the old Netherlands.
He found that dikes, or levees, had
been built about the land which was
drained in winter and irrigated in sum.
mer At first, windmills had been used
for raising the water, rs Is still the
are also employed III the old country,
but they have the disadvantage of be-
ing expensive to operate in small units,
and so in California electric pumps
have been extensively introduced,
which are supplied with current from
some Of the great electric transmission
systems of the state.
Marsh Land Crops.
Fine crops are raised on this land,
especially fruit, asparagus, and alfalfa.
five or six crops of the latter being
produced every year. On the lands
near the sea, where the water is
brackish, fruit can not be grown, but
there is excellent pasture for cattle
and the dairying business is flourish
ing. Big 6ocks of goats were also
observed there. Professor Niermeyer
found some native Hollanders in the
California Netherlands, but men of
other nations also lived and prospered
there.
In San Francisco, although there
were still some traces of the great
earthquake and fire Of 1906, he was1
astonished at the phenomenal recovery
since then. The city has been rebuilt
10 magnificent manner, and is a
much finer place than before the fire,
He contrasted this fourishing condi-
tion with that of Messina. where but
little Improvement has been made since
the earthquake there. and where some
OF the emergency buildings erected by
the Italian government are still in
use.
San Francisco Progress.
In reply to the question whether
San Francisco or Oakland had the more
promising future, Professor Niermeyer
said that he thought that as San
francisco had been rebuilt SO thorough
" and as tho centers of business were
so firmly established there, it would
continue to maintain its supremacy
until 1t bad outgTown the peninsula
on which 1T is situated. Before that
tine, however, San Francisco and all
the cltes on the eastern side Of the
bay Will probably have consolidated
as the matter is beiug agitated now.
and the natural course Of events is in
that direction. ....
Prof. Carl UhIig was also one of
Snose VINO pra'sed the way in which
San Franciscans bad rebuilt their city,
although he found larger spaces still
unoeenpied than he had been led to ex.
pect from what he had read aud heard.
lie wondered al the courage of the n,en
who were building skyscrapers there,
and thought it bordercd upon reckless.
ness. If be were constructing resi-.
dencc for himself in the vicinity of San
Francisco. nc would build it of one
story. and would bo inclined to use
wood. From an aesthetic point of view,
also, he prefers comparatively low
buildings, of which there are some fine
examples in some of the San Francisco
banks Skyscrapers look well at dis.
tance, rs seen. for instance, from the
Brooklyn bridge, or from New York
bay. but close nj hand, they are not
pleasing. especially when placed side b..
side with lower buildings. and when out
Of proportion TO the width Of the
street. Market street, however is wide
enough 70 stand some pretty tall build
lngs, and 1t makes an excellent impress
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