The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-02-09
BY W. c. SPEER

Southern California is a reclaimed
desert The ingenuity and skill OF mar
is constantly pitted against the forces OF
nature in opposing objects Eternal
vigilance is the price these people pay
for California Beautiful" otherwise II
would go back 10 desert in single
year.
Obviously everything is irrigated
the fields. the groves. lawns, gardens.
There is a network Of great bitches
covering the country which furnish a
bOuntlful supply Of water. Some of
this IS diverted from various rivers. but
the most part comes from mountain
reservoirs. 1t is stored during the win
ter and rainy season in great dams and
lakes No small per cent Of il comes
from the higher. snow covered peaks
whose melting SHOWS IN summer are
generally converted into artificial rain.
am not familiar with what ought 10
be- n rea sOnable price for water for irri-
cation purposes. but am told the rate Is
very satisfactory. At least water rates
for private use are very reasonable. be
ing only - a month for each residence
and as much water may be used as IS
wanted for the house. watering the
garden and lawn.
The irrigation dams also do "a double
duty. Before the water reaches the
valley il has been used az the hydro
electric plants in generating electricity.
As a result electric lights and power
are cheap Monthly minimum Joc, on
a basis of from 4c 10 ~.
Where there is no irrigation Tin sum
merl there is no vegetation just
brown. barren. cherries desert This
/ is especially true of some of the noun
taius. which become green only in win
/ ter. When this vegetation does start
/ IL il very pleasing To the eye-inde-
scribable. but resembling sort of EN-
erald mist in the distance.
/ Those 10 whom California Is new art
/ forcibIy impressed by the imposing
/ bridges that span dry water courses
They show up on the map with every
Indication of large streams-and W.
/ find them absolutely dry-just like ths
IarrOyas Of Arizona and New Mexico
I There's "a reason. The streams are dry
about ten months out of the year, be
cause the water is diverted 20 irrigation
bitches The bridges are there becaus'
they are needed the other two months
when the streams run unmOlested ant
/ are augmented 10y the rains of the rain.
season.
Another result of the lack Of rainfall
I in summer il that we find for the mos
/ part a conformity Of tree grown 10 TIA
prevailing conditions trees that hes
Withstand lack of moisture, especial
as regards those for ornamental purpos
/ IS. Chief among these are the peppe
I tree. several varieties of palms. euca
/ lyptus, magnolia. umbrella, cork, ollv'
live oak, etc. The peppers and palm
are the two trees that give Caiiforni
its semi-tropical appearance The ioi
mer. which is especially plentiful ana
favorite has long. dropping leaves
which are very small and resemble IN
irons of Boston ferns. They are ever
green and are always filed with crap
like clusters of red berries, making a
effect very pleasing to the eye. The el
IcaIyptus is grown for its wood rathe
than ornamental purposes
Vacant lots and waste land IN sun
Imer are merely minia ture deserts, Dol
i'm looks and soil formation The sol
seem to be "A sort of mixture OF clay an
pulverized granite. requiring quite
lot of fertilizer TO make productive
We have occasionally in fall ana WI
ter what they call "Northers." The
are simply strong. parching winds I'M
} sweep in from the Arizona desert
, They usually last about three day
bringing heat and dust with them
September and October and cold we
, Their in the winter morths.