EECLAMATION OF SWAMP LANDS IN CALIFORNIA. 187 



and to the shape of the reclahned area. During 1873 enterprises of this 

 character will be prosecuted upon an enlarged scale and according to 

 improved methods. 



Among the districts stated to have been reclaimed by the close of 

 1873 were Sherman Island, at the mouth of the rivers ; Twitchell Island, 

 Eouldin Island, Mandeville Island, Grand Island, and a large portion of 

 the right bank of the San Joaquin. Brannan Island, Andros Island, 

 and a hirge tract along the left bank of the Sacramento Eiver vrere re- 

 ported as nearly completed. During the last six months of 1872, about 

 25,000 acres of reclaimed land were sold to individual cultivators at an 

 average price of $25 per acre, which is stated to be the general average 

 of reclaimed but uncultivated land in tlie State. Cultivated lands ou 

 Sherman Island sold at $60 per acre, and were held as high as $75. 

 Lands belonging to associations of capitalists are rented to cultivators, 

 either on shares or for a specific sum of money per annum. In the 

 former case the landlord generally demands oue-fourth of the crops 

 raised ; in the latter from $10 to 820 per acre. 



The Department is in receipt of letters from reliable parties living 

 upon Sherman Island, Mandeville Island, Twitchell Island, Grand Island, 

 and other localities, detailing the character and results of the cultiva- 

 tion of reclaimed lands, which uniformly attest the wonderful productive 

 capacities of the soil. Sherman Island, containing about 14,000 acres, was 

 the scene of the earliest enterprise in reclamation within the fresh- 

 water tide-land region. Being nearer to San Francisco, it enjoys special 

 facilities for marketing produce. The numerous channels through 

 which the rivers discharge their surplus waters are a partial defense 

 against destructive floods, rendering reclamation works iesscostly. Man- 

 deville Island contains about 5,000 acres, which have been reclaimed dt 

 a total cost of $11 per acre. This island is about sixty miles from San 

 Francisco. Grand Island, twenty miles farther up the valley, contains 

 17,000 acres, and is said to be better leveed than any tract below 

 Sacramento City, the embankment being fi'om G to 10 feet high and 

 from 2G to 42 feet wide at the base. A deposit of sediment here over- 

 lies the tule-soil to a depth varying from 4 inches to 2 feet. The cli- 

 mate of these districts is equable, mild, and dry. They are penetrated 

 with a net-work of navigable channels, which enables the producers to 

 secure transportation to market as low as $1.50 per ton. Lands in these 

 localities are rapidly rising in value and, at their present prices, 

 seem to offer to cultivators with small capital an eligible opportunity of 

 investment. 



LANDS ABOVE TIDE. 



The reclamation of lands above tide has, as yet, excited but little 

 attention. The problem here assumes additional elements of difficulty 

 on account of the narrowness of the upper valleys and the consequent 

 greater rise of the floods. Until the salt-marsh and fresh-water tide- 

 lands shall have been marketed it is not likely that these lands will be 

 reclaimed to any great extent. Yet thoughtful men in California are 

 giving timely attention to this new phase of the reclamation enter- 

 prise. Among the proJGcts already conceived for the treatment of these 

 lauds is the proposition to inclose the higher portions of the mountain 

 valleys with substantial dams, which during the rainy season will create 

 immense reservoirs for inigation during the growing season. This re- 

 straint of the waters during the rain-fall will limit the range of the 

 floods in the valleys below, tlius reducing the expense and labor of re- 

 clamation. How these ideas will be realized in practice remains for 

 the future to develop. 



