314: WATER MONOPOLY AND IRRIGATION. 



States surveys, the railroads and principal towns. On this 

 map, which alone is worth the cost of the commission, the rail 

 roads are laid down; the canals that have been projected and 

 actually surveyed, and the hypothetical system of irrigating 

 canals. Other valuable charts are added to the report, illus 

 trating the irrigation systems in other countries. 



The conclusions arrived at by the Commissioners, are as fol 

 lows : 



1. That there are large bodies of fertile land in the great 

 valley of California extensive plains, in fact that require ir 

 rigation to make them productive, and that the natural features 

 of these plains are favorable to artificial irrigation. 



2. That there is an abundance of water for the irrigation of 

 all land on the eastern side of the valley by canals from the 

 rivers. 



3. &quot;While there is a scarcity of water on the western side of 

 the valley, at the necessary elevation, particularly on the west 

 ern side of the San Joaquin and Tulare valleys, yet there is 

 sufficient water attainable there, and at a sufficient elevation, 

 to irrigate large areas of land on that side. 



4. That irrigation is much needed, particularly in the San 

 Joaquin and Tulare valleys. The productions of these valleys 

 could be increased many fold by a comprehensive system of 

 irrigation. The value of the irrigable land, and of the revenue 

 derived from it, both by the State and by the people, will be 

 increased in the same ratio. 



.5. The cost of a comprehensive system of irrigation for 

 these valleys will be great, bufc as the different portions are not 

 equally in want of irrigation, the complete system may be the 

 work of time. 



6. Irrigation is but little understood in this country, eicLer 

 by our engineers, who must design, plan, lay out and execute 

 the works for that purpose, or by the farmers, who are to use 

 the water when it is brought alongside their farms. 



7. That the experience of other countries appears to prove 

 that no extensive system of irrigation can ever be devised or 

 executed by the farmers themselves, in consequence of the im 

 possibility of forming proper combinations or associations, for 

 that purpose. That, while small enterprises may be under 

 taken by the farmers in particular cases, it would not be in ac 

 cordance with the experience of the world to expect of them 



