172 



IREIGATION. 



the income, in 1873, for water rent, was less than $10,000. 

 It is evident that for some reason, probably inexperience, 

 and poor engineering, the cost of this canal has been 

 ruinously great. The Kings Eiver Company Canal when 

 completed, is expected to water 300,000 acres (?). There 

 seems to be a serious error in the stated capacity of these 

 canals as will be explained in a future chapter. It is 30 

 feet wide, 3 feet deep, with a fall of one foot to the mile. 

 In the same valley the canal of Messrs. Chapman, Miller 

 and Lux, taps the San Joaquin river, and runs 30 miles 

 down the valley, supplying 30,000 acres. It is 35 feet 

 wide, 3 feet deep, and falls one foot to the mile. Another 

 canal, owned by Friedlander & Co. , takes water from the 

 Fresno river, at the foot hills of the same valley, and 

 supplies 40,000 acres. This ditch is 10 miles long, 40 feet 

 wide, and has a fall of about 10 inches to the mile. A 

 reservoir, connected with the canal is a mile and a half 

 long, 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep. Numerous farms, 

 gardens, and orchards are irrigated by the smaller ditches, 

 and some by wells. San Francisco is chiefly supplied 

 with vegetables from irrigated gardens, many of which 

 are cultivated by Chinese. A small-fruit plantation of 8 

 acres is watered by a 4 | a horse-power engine, from a well. 

 In all the instances referred to, irrigation is successful and 

 profitable. But in California, while irrigation is as yet 

 in embryo, its possibilities are immense. The interests 

 involved, however, are so vast and complicated, the min 

 ing interests clashing seriously with those of the farmers, 

 that legislation will undoubtedly need to be invoked be 

 fore such measures, as will be satisfactory and effective, 

 can be applied to the gigantic natural facilities and op 

 portunities afforded in the valleys of this State. 



This naturally leads to the consideration of the owner 

 ship of the water, for from this question will probably 

 arise much difficulty and litigation. It is a new element, 

 depending at present upon the principles of common 



