RECLAMATION OF SWAMP LANDS IN CALIFORNIA. 183 



8235,434, leaviiiA" a balauce of $1,242,495.92, besides 4,400 acres unsold. 

 The legislature bad enacted that from tbis fund a perpetual annuity of 

 $50,000 sbould be added to tbe endowment of the State University, a 

 draft T.-bich it was amply competent to meet. 



Tbe duty of tbis commission embraced only tbe survey and sale of 

 tbe lands.' Tbe actual work of reclamation was left to tbe individual 

 proprietors. Tbe cost of a connected series of works around San Fran- 

 cisco Cay, executed upon scientific principles, was estimated by Messrs. 

 Hoffman and Poett, bydrograpbic engineers of San Francisco, at 

 $409,322. Tbe plan proposed embraced an embankment 15 feet wide at 

 tbe top and 5 feet above tbe level of tbe salt-marsb. Flowing streams 

 were to be leveed, and intermediate slougbs were to be dammiKl by 

 means of sbeet-piling and embankment. Tbis estimate embraced 

 48,150 acres of swamp-land, most of wbicb bad passed into private 

 bands, tbougb a portion still remained at tbe disposal of tbe State au- 

 tborities. The average cost of i)urcbase, prior to reclamation, was 

 estimated at $15 to $20 per acre ; their value subsequently could not be 

 less than $100 per acre. Tbe total outlay necessary to be made by an 

 association of capitalists undertaking to reclaim and dispose of these 

 lands would not exceed $1,131,572, while their income from the sale of 

 reclaimed lauds would amount to $4,815,000, leaving an enormous profit 

 of $3,683,428. The work now gohig forward for tbe reclamation of 

 these lands appears to be less expensive and thorough than that pro- 

 vided for in tbe above estimate. How far it will meet tbe demands 

 that will be made upon it remains to be seen. 



General Alexander, of the United States engineers, speaking of tbe 

 Beard and Coryell tracts, included in the above estimate, says that 

 their complete reclamation is entirely practicable at a small outlay. 

 The tide rises but a foot above them ordinarily, and but 2 feet during 

 tbe highest storm-tides. Tbe river-floods have but a slight influence 

 upon the general level of tbe bay. A dike of 4 feet is ample to pro- 

 tect them against the greatest emergencies. When this land is relieved 

 of salt water it maybe freshened in a single season, at least sufliciently 

 for grasses, by being flooded with fresh water from Alameda and Coyote 

 Creeks, or from artesian wells. Two or three floodiugs during tbe 

 rainy seasons will be sufficient to leach out all tbe salts with which tbe 

 land is impregnated. The soil is alluvial, and promises excellent re- 

 sults when cultivated in gardens and meadows. It is susceptible of 

 easy irrigation, and, for dairy purposes alone, will speedily command a 

 high market value. The facilities for transportation, by water and 

 rail, bring the products of these lands within a fevr hours' carriage of 

 San Francisco. The same advantages are reported in regard to differ- 

 ent portions of the salt-marsh tracts located upon San Pablo and Sui- 

 sun Bays. 



FRESH-WATER TIDE-LANDS. 



The fresh-water tide-lands are about equal in area to the salt-marshes 

 just described, or about 200,000 acres. They are located upop. the Sacra- 

 mento and San Joaquin Eivers, below tbe line before mentioned, which 

 passes from Stockton to a i^oiut six miles above tbe head of Steamboat 

 Slough, which line represents tbe limit of tidal influence. The valleys 

 of these rivers present some very noticeable features. According to 

 current geographical theory the channels originally occupied tbe lowest 

 points in the valleys. The annual overflows, by the deposit of sediment, 

 gradually raised the immediate banks of the streams from 10 to 20 feat 

 above the areas in their rear. Into these depressed areas tbe streams 

 from tbe foot-bills discharge their waters till the dry season arrests their 



