The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-30
sfIJPEND0US IRRIGATION PLAN
EMBRACES HALF or CALIFORNIA
BY MAX STERN
N. e. A.. star Correspondent


I sect to reclaim a garden empire of
100000 acres in the heart Of Cal.
ifoFnia's fertile valley regions
through the most gigantic irrtga'
tIon plan ever conceived by practl'
cal ehEineers!
This 10 no idle dream. but work.
able, hard-hsaded project already
forming, backed by the members OF
the State Board Of Control, the
State Engineer, leading bankers,
politicians, and irrigationists and
growing organization known as the
California State Irrigation Assocta'
ton with busy offices in the osch-
ner building here.
The, plan, known as the Marsh
all Plan" takes It's name from Col
Robert Bradford Marshall, army
engineer for 80 years with the U.
8. Geological Survey and for IL
years Chief Geographer. He has
worked for 20 years in the noun
tains Of California to bring into
practical being this lifelong dream.
Should It be adopted 0y the peo.
pie Of California, as seems quite
probable, the Marshall Plan will
merk new epoch In Western re-
clamatlon annals. in brief the plan
involves:
Chain Of Grand Canals to EneIreIs
Valleys
Tho building OF huge chain Of
canals ehcircIing the five big val
legs OF the State, fed by the. Kla-
math and Sacramento Rivers and
reservoirs impounding the waters
OF the Sierras, which in turn would
irrigate the foot-hill regions, fur
nish additional electric power and
enrich the state.
The expenditure Of 100000
through" State bonds whose inter.
est and redemption would be paid,
for by the users OF water and buy
Iiers OF new power developed
=. The making OF 100000 more
homes in California and m increas.
ed valuation for California OF SO,
/, 000, 100000.
J The co-ordinating Of all present
irrigation districts now supported
by bonds OF the farmers proper
ties, and the utility OF practically
every water and power source now
dormant, on wasted.
Nelan to Care for Cities Water and
Power
The saving OF millions in food
control and millions more in crop
losses, while keeping the Sacra'
thento and San Joaquin Rivers for
+, havigable streams.
The supplying of San Francisco
and the bay cities with an ample
water supply for years to come, and
the lnsuring to Los Angeles Of fu-
ture supplies to take care of her
phenomenal growth In population
The building Of u lock-and-draw
! dam at the mouth Of the Sacrament
J to and San Joaquin Rivers to pre-
vent the intake OF saIt sea water
now threatening to ruin the great
delta farms. and the savings of the
California rice industry thereby.
Imposing Names Give Impetus to
Project
Heading the executive committee
and advisory board Of the ASCOT
alton b ex-Congressman c. A. Bar
low, chairman; cX-Lieut-Governor
Alden Anderson, treasurer; +. o,
Mccormick. Southern Pacific Bngi.
.neer; Senator L. L. bennett, Of
Modesto; Elwood Mead. irrigation
expert OF national reputation; State
Engineer w. F. Mcclure; City En-
gineer NJ. NJ. O'Shaunnessy, OF
San Francisco; WylIe Clifton, head
Of the Raisin Growers Association
and many more men whose reputa-
tions would give answer to those
who say it's too big job.
The immediate plan is to ask
Governor Stephens and the legisIa-
ture to appoint commission Of
ave to report back in three months
the practicability CT the venture so
that no time will be lost in pre-
pairing the legal way for its adop-
ton by the people
During the first half OF 1920,
100000 worth of pure-bred Am