CALIFORNIA^ ENTERPRISE. 171 



tains it flows through rich, level bottoms, in Colorado and 

 Western Kansas, most of which are too dry for cultiva 

 tion without irrigation, and now afford only pasturage. 

 In Central Kansas it passes through a rich and beautiful 

 country, now well populated, on the verge of the dry 

 country, but within the arable region. At Hutchinson, 

 in Reno Co., the enterprising inhabitants have cut a 

 canal from the river, for a length of two miles, for the 

 purpose of providing water power for factories, and mills. 

 The fall of the river is 8 feet per mile, which is sufficient 

 to carry the water in the course of a few miles on to the 

 high uplands, and to water these as well as the broad 

 valley. At present there is no intention of using the 

 water for irrigation, but should it become necessary or 

 desirable, it is here shown that an inexhaustible supply of 

 water can be obtained at nominal expense to supply every 

 need of the farmer in the dryest seasons. Also it is clear 

 that the whole of this grand valley may be made available 

 for farms. This is one instance only of what may, and 

 in time undoubtedly will, be done in many places where 

 there is only a partial and occasional use for water. 



Irrigation in California has, so far, been done by in 

 dividual enterprise. In 1871, there were 915 irrigating 

 ditches, supplying only 90,000 acres of land, or on an 

 average, but 100 acres to each ditch. The ditches, with 

 few exceptions, are rude affairs, and of inconsiderable 

 length. The exceptions are as follows : The San Joaquin 

 and Kings River Canal Company, is 38 | 2 miles long, and 

 is supplied by the San Joaquin river. It is 55 feet wide, 

 four feet deep, with a fall of one foot to the mile. 15,000 

 acres are irrigated by this, and cultivated in wheat, bar 

 ley and alfalfa, and water enough for 60,000 acres more 

 can be supplied. The extension of the canal 40 miles 

 further, is proposed, by which 325,000 (?) acres can be 

 irrigated. The cost so far is stated to be $500,000, (an 

 enormously excessive cost under any circumstances), and 



