The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 14, 1903, Page 7

T11E SAN FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY DECEMBER 14, 1903. -1 CLIMATE. WATER AND FERTILE SOIL GIVE CALIFORNIA PRE-E PRI S, Streamsin Variety Cross Level Counties. Flow From Sierra to Spreading Valleys. - BY C. M. WOOSTER. mind on the subject of ir- P glance at the map of Cali- ularly interesting. Na- endowed California and bountifully for purposes of irriga- is this true of the ate known as the and rennial moun- source of the the summit of he Southern base of crystal the mountain largest and itself r y eans nature are much lle we cross ng from the né¢ Plumas, an- n nature's way irrigate and At Marysville s a d Lakes Van Norden mountain and reser- r, from the great shed of Ne- Dorado counties, at Sacra- ABUNDANCE OF iles th of Stock a few ss the the Hushesn crags from Joaquin Valley Herndon th he val pd a th- rway of At Reedly ws from Kings - Valley. . us forks in the east- Fresno County. The s and the Tule fe h of Tulare Bakersfield ake. “Ther r streams flowing from s on t eastern basin and a num- ses of rmportant pro- the Sacramento s from the west eastern watershed sufficiently at least rrigable land of the f skillfully IDEAL FOR IRRIGATORS. Aessed with its moun- miles tic conditions ting the = fertile and al- superb de- es and veg- six hundre pped mou ugh every water, g and can- gathering this and spreading it out " below, crossing the nvenient points just a suf- ce apart to accommodate the most advantageous s an ideal condition for vet little appreciated the ate's development. each year the power ig felt, and when Cali- loped, canals will spread r from every stream ov. & within their duty, conveying fertilizing elements of the hill- nd supplying both food and ny thousands of acres even uncuitivated. Then the e«d many fold. ans have been slow to take Where the live oak grows rrigation is not essential to the growth of cereals, and most fruits and the live oaks grow in all the val- leys of Northern and Central Califor- nia DAYS OF OPULENCE. The State’s history is but a few years, vet full of interesting things. Mining, perhaps the most fascinating occupa- t#6n, attracted a gallant class of pio- neers. They found California a big country—big In everything. They broadened into men of liberal tastes, became accustomed to big things; the ve vak groves of the valleys, the er redwood wilderness, majestic mountains and the glant sequoia. Gold came’ easily and went by the teaspoonfuls. There was a most wholesome freedom of range and air. z things were common. The Mexicans, who always placed a nominal value on land, had been lb- er in bestowing upon themselves ranches of 10,000 to 20,000 acres each. The gold bag of the American miner became filled, and with his char- acteristic foresight he acquired these vast estates, and thus began the wheat era of California. The soil responded freely and very soon California took aquin valleys. | California water | sufficient | veritable empire, | summit | Fordyce, | lessed with its val- | brought to a much higher | tion and its revenue ca- | | | | | - Sl 2 X{@ ' e -~ CENTRHL, LIRIGALION LESTHICT v ANl DERR SETOHN ~~ N MINENCE AMONG FAVORED SPOTS OF THE% SCENES IN IRRIGATION DISTRICTS OF SOME OF THE COUNTIES IN NORTHERN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA [ i +| Wonderful Natural Assets of State Beside Tempered Pacific Make It Most Desirable Plac for Residence on Globe and Goal of Seekers for Homes and Health. The climate of California is most valuable asset. Take it away and substitute for it the climate of the Eastern, Middle or Western States, with their extremes of heat and cold— 100 above to 20 below zero — their violent storms, their limitations in the products of the sofl, nothing would re- main more attractive than may be found in many of the States referred to. Perhaps that is not quite true. We would still have our vast deposits of mineral wealth and our unexampled forests of commer: al woods, and we would have our commanding position on the Pacific Ocean. But, apart from these, we would be in much the same condition as would Italy and the countries round the Mediterranian Basin; as Spain and other south of Europe countries, if | the climate of the Baltic were to be substituted and established there. The gifts of nature are seldom taken at any particular value. We accept them and go about creating things not given, little heeding the true meaning of what we find ready made. In truth, however, the gift of the unique .and matchless climate be- stowed upon California is an asset of | greater money value to the State than the combined wealth of all its pres- ent inhabitants. It ig beyond computa- tion, for it reaches out into the illim- able future and is imperighable. If every industry ate were de- abitants were to here without capital, the | | State would, through the possibilities | of its climate, be richer in half a cen- tury than it is to-day. What would ifornia take in exchange for her; | | ? | MANY ADVANTAGES. | What are the distinguishing fea- | tures and peculiarities of California’s | | climate, for which we claim its unigue | | and unparalleled character? H | In the first place, it is unchanging. | As far back as we have any recorded | history and, behind this, embracing | traditions coming through the early mission fathers, we learn of the same equability of temperature, the same balmy atmosphere, the same Jux- | urlance of vegetation. Our soil may | | require renewing by fertilization, but | our climate is as constant as the sun. [ R e | farmers made money from their ranches and money from their mines and commenced the building of the beautiful California cities, San Fran- cisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento and Stockton. These men conteived the plan of con- structing a transcontinental railroad and it was done, and & new condition of things soon dawned on California. The wav was made easier for people to reach this land of promise and they came. The farmer from the agricul- tural districts of the East sought the congeniality of California life. _second place among the States in wheat production. The California wheat farmer was a prince and he lived the part. A 10,000- @acre wheat farm was the common thing. The need of irrigation was not recognized. The indulgent California gky amply supplied every essential gift unbestowed by the soil ‘and the A STORY OF FRUITAGE. Captain A. P. Clough, who crossed the plains “in '49,” brought with him BY N. the result are themselyes unchanging, and so must be the result. ! California is a universal sanitarium. The climate of the coast is invigor- ating, stimulating and delightful, neither hot nor cold. The laborer knows no fatigue, except from physi- cal exhaustion, resulting from over- | taxed muscles. The brainworker | vields only to failure of mental pow- | ers. In the interior valleys in midsummer the temperature is higher and there is discomfort at times while in the harvest fields and at the desk behind the counter. The dryness of the air robs the thermometer of much of its terror. ture, i. e, the temperature we in fact experience or feel, in the valleys is less irksome at 100 degrees cr 110 de- grees midity of ths atmosphere where the reading is 85 to 90 degrees. It is the common experience of per- | sons coming into almost any part of the State that they increase in weight and strength, are less troubled with nervous affections, sleep and eat well and improve in health if ailing from any cause. { LIFE IN THE The variety of temperature and cli- matie conditions exising in the moun- tains, valleys and on the coast and the | celerity and ease with which cur inhab- itants may change their immediate surroundings constitute one of the great charms of California life. Thousands of families residing in the valleys find their way into the moun- tains or to the sea coast and have most delightful camping oui cxperiences. This they may do in a few hours or in a day or two at the most, with their own conveyances. Our valleys and OPEN. | mountains lie so related to each other that no spot can be found devoid of scenic beauty. There is no dull mo- notony in the farmer's life as there is from necessity in the lives of those who reside on the great plain regions of the West. Degrees of latitude cut but little fig- ure in determining the readings of the | thermometer. In the State Board of Trade report for 1902 will be found a table which tells the story from official sources. It covers the whoie country from San Diego, near the south line of the State, to Redding, at the extreme north end of the Sacramento valley— sewed in small bags, just to see if they would grow in California. Mrs. Clough planted these seeds near Pine Grove, Amador County, and from that seed- ling nursery sprang the original fruit trees in the door yards of the miners’ homes in Amador, Placer, Calaveras, Bl Dorado and Sacramento countles. George Briggs planted a fruit orchard at Marysville and produced fruit “‘for four bits a pound.” Then the fruit era of California began. Briggs moved to Woodland, started a raisin vineyard; it was successful. In 1874 he advised me to go to Fresno and plant a vine- yard and raise raisins. The raisin industry started there and on the plains of the San Joaquin a most a selection ,of fruit and berry seeds. Before leaving Buffalo the neighbors gathered at the house and held a “seed bee.” The seeds of the common va- rieties of apple, pear, peach. plum, cherries were taken front the fruit and beautiful and prosperous city has grown, supported by many thousdnd acres of highly productive vineyards. Increase in population and the demon- stration of the wonderful productive- ness of the soil has naturally devel- oped the practicability of the small working | The sensible tempera- | than in regions of greater hu- | its | The conditions which have produced | eight degrees of latitude apart—-and in- | cludes the number of cloudy and clear | days and rainfall of the year. It is a table to keep in one's pocket with which to refute errorsand enlighten the ig- P. CHIPMAN, I'RES")EN’T OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF TRADE. ditions the growth of irrigated crops. There is no time when all naturg is at rest or plant life is sleeping. In"the field, orchard, garden, factory and in for norant. Here it is: the mines; on the stock farm and in = | > = T 2| % .2 - B 2= 2 5| & 2 g | | ¢ 23 CITIES. 5 z . 5 - ] E A g e = Redding .. | 609 | 111 28 Auburn | 620 105 | 30 | Sacramento | 56.1 | 308 | 27 | Stockton | &0 | 108 | 25 | Berkeley : 320 | 55.9 | 83 | 83 San Francisco | 155|354 | 8 | 38 Fresno .. { 203 | 622| 110 | 24 | Porterviile .10. 11623 111 | 28 Riverside ......... 851 | €0.7 | 105 | 26 Santa Barbara.. | 130 | 89.4 ] 90 | 35 San Bernardino | 1054 | 61.6 | 112 | 24 Los Angeles | 208 [612]| 04 °| 33 San Diego.... | 93 | 60.1 ™ | 38 The fact that latitude has little to do [ the dairy every day is a day of pro- with our climate is a remarkable fea- ture. It is not true of Italy, for there |is a great variation there between the temperdture north and south. It is not | | true in France or along the west coast | of Europe.® I believe this to be a pe- | culiarity unique and found only on this coast. This peculiarity is further at- tested by the fact that in all this vast region the same fruits are grown.! Within a radius of fifty miles around | Oroville, waich is 150 miles north of | San Francisco, and 650 miles porth of | Los Angeles, thére were more than 1000 carloads of oranges raised last year, | and they ripen much earlier than in the south—a notable fact. Elevafion has much more to do with the temperature in California than lat- itude. In high altitudes we find snow. Rainfall decreages as we -go south '"f the State. Our mountain summer cli- mate Is extremely delightful and is des- tined to draw many Eastern people to the numerous sharming retreats in the Sierras and the Coast Range. Climate is our greatest resource, be- cause of its high economic value. It is a urce because by its in- fluence w¥ are enabled to so marvel- ously diversify and increase the num- ber of vur egricultural products; and often, too, all these products are grown on the same body of land. It is a re- source, because man's labor here can be profitably employed every day in the year; because there is no month when vegetation in some form is not grow- ing and because it furnishes ideal con- farm well tilled, the most important of all ‘considerations. THE NEWER SYSTEM. It is a simple problem, a hill of po- tatoes grows bigger often hoed, but .if often hoed and watered as well its growth is many fold more. With a windmill and three acres of inferior land a gardeper on the Mission Road produced $6000 worth of vegetables last year. It was not the soil alone, nor the water. The soil, the water and the hoe intelligently applied gave to that three- acre farmer an income as large as the salary of the Governor of California. The people of Santa Clara Valley learned that the small orchard is more profitable comparatively than the large one and most of the handsome homes of that peerless fruit valley consists of The people of Fresno soon learned the value of irrigation and numerous canals were constructed. The streams ductive labor, We commerce shipping fresh decid- uous fruits in May and there is no cessation until December. In Novem- ber we begin to ship citrus fruits and they overlap the deciduous fruits and continue in fact the year through. Nor must we ignore or overlook cur tourist travel as a résource and as con- tributing to the ecanomic value of our climate. Tt is estimated that 200,000 tourists visit Florida every season— there is but one short season there—and leave in the State not less than $10,000,- 000. The tourist travel in California is growing rapidly and is already a source of great wealth to the State and profit to rallroad companles. SAN FRANCISCO MOVES. 1t is but now being found out that we have in and around San Ftancisco most delightful summer resorts as well as winter attractions. The two mag- nificent hotels now under construction, and other great hostelries in San Fran- cisco shobrtly to open, and the crowded condition of our established hotels, at- test the fact that this city is soon to share in a still greater degree than now fhis profitableé business. And why not? In all months in the year the visitor may enjoy just such temperature as his inclination may desire, or his con- dition of health demand, within a ride of an hour or two, or three at the most, from- San Franciéco or in the city itself. San Francisco is rapidly becoming D e e B e e B B e R i e e 2 2 ) of Tulare were diverted and within the range of their flow the plain that was is a veritable garden of orange groves, vineyards, deciduous orchards and al- falfa fields vastly enrichiyg the own- ers and augmenting the vast resources of that portion of the State. AN ERA OF CANALS. " Recently the Turlock irrigation sys- tem, for a dozen years unfortunately held back by litigation, was put in op- eration, and the ~once forbidding sandy land of Stanislaus has been con- verted into thrifty and highly profit- able alfaifa fields, providing profitable homes for a thousand new families from other countles and other States. Modesto is destined to be a second Fresno in beauty and commercial wealth. Two new irrigation systems have been recently put in operation in San Joaquin County, and the presence of water is manifesting itself In renewed " one of the most beautiful cities in’ the world as it is the most healthful and picturesque. It will soen be within two and a half days from Chicago. When the citizens of San Franeisco | awake to the importance of the tourist | travel and realize what it may be made | to mean to all our productive indus- tries, and business houses as well, there will be a united effort ta surround the magnificent bay of San Francisco with | places of resort as charming and at- | tractive as are to be found anywhere in this or any other country. It is our climate alone that makes | possible the growing of the distinctive varieties of fruits that are giving Cali- fornia its world-wide reputation. For | example, the olive, orange, lemon, po- melo, fig, raisin and other foreign va- rietles of the grape, French prune, al- mond, walnut, apricot and others I| might mention. “Climate alone,” says Professor Wickson, “has brought into Southern California 100,000 people who would not otherwise have come, and have added $100,000,000 to the capital of that region. The same influence has added largely to the wealth and population of Cen- tral and Northern California. This eco- nomic value of which I speak is not confined to the growing of fruits, but to many other forms of agricuiture. I am now (December 5) digging the sec- ond crop of potatoes on my farm in Tehama County, on about the parallel of Chicago and New York City, where the thermometer has been hovering around zero, and the market garden on my farm is supplying vegetables daily to the people of Red Bluff, even tomatoes growing in the open. Farm stock of all kinds are living well on the new grass and will con- tinue to feed without further care through the winter. We took off a crop of alfaifa (the fifth) in November. Or- chard pruning and cultivation are pro- gressing, and the autumn sown grain is six Inches high in some fields. In- fleed, the economic adaptation of our climate is possible in-almost every ave- nue of California’s activities. The an- nual reports of the California State Board of Trade for 1902 and previous years, which have been sent broad- cast throughout the East and West, and in Europe, contain unanswerable evidence of the points I have here en- deavored to set forth, and have had wide influence in disseminating the truth concerning this marvelous State. activity and the higher use of the lands within the district of these canals. The dawn of the modern light is be- ginning to spread over the Sacra- mento Valley. That land by the heav- en’s better favor has so well main- tained its standard of product that the real beneficial effect of irri; has not yet been-felt, but people know its value. The great central canal is nearing completion. The waters of the broad Bacramento will be turned over the vast grain flelds of Glenn and Colusa counties within the year. The body of uniformly rich land in Cali- fornia will then claim its natural her- itage. Three hundred thousand acres ‘of the land that made Colusa County the greatest wheat producing county in the world, yielding 10,000,000 bush- els of wheat and 5,000,000 bushels of The producing capacity of that land nard to Hw WORLD Facts and Figures Show State’s Position. Interior Keeping Pace With the Advance. — oL Many figures' that are of real value have been supplied by competent au- thorities during the last week The ' California fruit distributors, through Alden Anderson, report that 7688 ecar- loads of fresh fruit have been shipped out of the ate during the year 1903. Mr. Anderson hopes the annual average of shipments may be brought up to 12,000 carloads. The Davisville Alr Growe: sciation, meeting at D ville, reported that it had sent out of California during the season car- loads of almonds. The value was $48,469. The Le¢s Angeles Chamber of Com- merce figures out the population of Southern California coun to be 416.- 500. In 1900 the total was 305,110. The 1(‘rvunlies are now rated by the Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles s follows: 251,000, Orange 000, Riverside 20,000, San Diego 42,000, Ventura 18,000, Santa | Barbara 22,000 During >mber 649 permits to erect | buildings in Les Angeles were issued, | says the Herald. The expenditure in- volved in making these was $1,183.814, A cement plat t brobably be improvements cost $1,000,000 will locat in Santa Cruz County as the result of the report of a committee sert to investigate a plant at Napa Junction. Constructicn work on the Bakersfleld- Ventura electric railway has been be- gun at Oxrard. The first section of track to be laid will extend from Ox- eme. A new steambos t company has been formed at Stockton with a capital stock of $100,000, so says the Stockton Independent, to put in operation ves- sels for handling freights on the San Joaquin River next season. The Tulare Register reports that Tulare will have another butter fac- tory. The dairying industry in Tulare County is growing. The San Diego Union reports that the Silver Gate flouring mills in San Diego may be reopened. The San Bernardino Times-Index says that a line of automobile cars will be constructed to run into Death Valley and bring out borax, taking the place of the present mule trains and making an annual saving of $100,000. The Colfax Sentinel reports that the lime works on the Bear River, three miles from Colfax, are appreaching completion: The capacity of the kilns will be from 100 barrels to 125 barrels per diem. The Napa Valley Packing Company is reported to be about to put up a new cannery and cottages for working peo- ple employed. ‘Within sixty-nine days the deposits in the national banks in Los Angeles increased $1 60. This showing ex- cludes the State and savings banks. The Neweastle News says that New- castle has become an all-the-year- around shipping point. Berries and cherries begin to move in April. From that time to the date for beginning the shipments of oranges there is no break in shipping. The oranges, clive pro- ducts and dried and canned fruits will keep the shippers busy until berries again ripen. The Berkeley Gazette says that the Judson Iron Works at Emeryville will supplant steam power with electricity. @ i e O will then be increased threefold. More orange groves will be planted and orchards will multiply. Alfalfa and dairy farms will be established and thousands . of acres now owned and farmed by a single owner will pa into the hands of many hundreds people whose diligent husbandry, as- sisted by abundant water at the proper time, will thus form that portion of the great Sacramento Valley into “a picture no artist can paint.” There is practically no dormant sea- son in California. Plant life grows throughout the year. With irrigation seeds can be sown and products har- vested in most every month of the year. Six to eight crops of alfalfa are gathered from the same fleld annually where irrigation is properly applied and the soil and climatic conditions are suitable. STRIKING COMPARISONS. Three hundred to five hundred pounds of water Is required by nature to pro- duce one pound of dry matter. A prac- tical demonstration of the power of wa- ter In agriculture is shown by the pro- ducts of California last year. Three million acres in wheat and barley, non- irrigated, produced commercially $22,- 000,000, while the product of 300,000 acres of irrigated land sold for $30,000,000, a very great contrast. A part of the southern desert is be- ing reclaimed by diverting the waters of the Cblorado, where the cost of land is $1 25 an acre and the water right alone costs $20 an acre. Her2 the wa- ter value exceeds the land value 1600 per cent. America is entering boldly into the ir- rigation age. As population Increases, personal liberty must be restricted and room must be provided for those who choose to abide among us. Their homes will be sought mainly in the fertile val- leys, the possession of the California rancher. Thus comes the disintegra- tion of the big ranch, the conversion of its broad acres into the homeé farn:, the noblest abode of man. It is true that any man, with the expenditure of less physical 'nd mental exertion than is necessary in the pur- suit of livelihood in the city or town can live better and make more money on ten acres of good land in California and free himself from the contamina- tion of a congested cosmepolitan poni- lation and feed himself and his family on pure food, raise his children in a more wholesome atmosphere and be himself endowed with the spirit of American liberty on an Armx:rican home, his own. ————————— California calendars and art souyeénirs for the million. Sanborm, 'lfl.“,zll Market street. of