State Agricultural Society. 431 



canal system " for transportation and irrigation in tho San Joaquin 

 country. With the entire system as thus sketched, constructed, it would 

 be complete as well as comprehensive for the whole interior of Cali- 

 fornia. 



A PRACTICABLE SYSTEM. 



Works of the magnitude indicated could be constructed only by a 

 Government. Public opinion would widely refuse to allow any branch 

 of our existing government system to undertake the work. Those por- 

 tions of the works which are subsidiary to the great exterior works 

 may be constructed independently of these, and independently of each 

 other. Taken singly, they are not beyond the ability of private enter- 

 prise to manage, "in time the several parts may grow into a compre- 

 hensive whole. Meanwhile, each part may be as efficient to perform 

 its individual function, as it could be in the completed system. Take 

 first the case of what we have called the branch canals. These would 

 start from the main canal — some of them, perhaps, at the point of cross- 

 ing a river. Such a one can be constructed at present. Instead of 

 taking its water from the main canal, let it take water directly from the 

 river. This need not interfere with tho ultimate construction of the 

 main canal. Having taken the water, let the canal be constructed on 

 the proper line; that is to say, the most elevated level practicable 

 course, so as to serve the largest practicable area of ground. When 

 completed, this will be a canal for navigation and transportation. On 

 the east side of the San Joaquin it will intersect the railroad as a branch 

 road would do, bringing produce to it. This is the class of works 

 which are under actual construction at present. Prominent among 

 them are the Farmers' Canal, of Merced; the Fresno Canal (Fried- 

 lander's), at Borden Station, in the Alabama Settlement; Chapman's 

 Canal, east of Firebaugh's; the People's Canal, above Kingston, on 

 lower King's River; the Centerville and Fresno City Canals (San Joa- 

 quin Land Association's), on upper King's River. The San Joaquin 

 and King's River Company's Canal, the most extensive work of all, is a 

 part of the main central canal to run from Tulare Lake to tide water at 

 Antioch. These works, all of which are important, not only locally, 

 but as possible parts of the grand comprehensive system of the future, 

 merit particular description. The general public, outside of the parties 

 directly interested and residents of the localities affected, has not yet 

 begun to realize what is doing in these directions, both by self-helpful 

 local associations, and by the capitalists, who, as land holders, have 

 undertaken these works as a means to bringing their vast possessions 

 into market. 



CANALS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 



THE FRESNO CANAL. 



A very good idea of the general plan and method of irrigation works 

 can be obtained from the Fresno River Canal, now being constructed by 

 Mr. Isaac Friedlander, near Borden Station, on the railroad, in Fresno 

 county, to irrigate the lands of the Alabama Settlement, together with 

 other extensive tracts owned by that gentleman and others. In this 

 case the main canal commences at Fresno River, at a point about two 

 miles east of the railroad, and i^ constructed thence southwardly to 

 Cottonwood Creek, a distance of four miles, It is proposed to proceed 



