IRE IRRIGATION AGE. 



production was very marked, and in the 

 fiscal year 1894-5 they had fallen to 

 154,921,278 pounds. 



Since 1894 the production of raisins in 

 California has declined, but this, it is 

 claimed, has been due to adverse climatic 

 condition and not to any decline of inter- 

 est in the industry. Production, however 

 has been almost equal to the demand and 

 although imports have not wholly ceased, 

 they are practically offset by exports of 

 California raisins, which are now sent in 

 small and experimental quantities to all 

 parts of the world. 



The raisin producting section of Cali- 

 fornia comprises ten counties Fresno, 

 Kern, Kings, Maderia, Mercer, Orange, 

 San Bernardino, San Diego, Tulare and 

 Yolo. It is estimated by some authorities 

 that as many as 64,000 acres are devoted 

 to the cultivation of the raisin grape in 

 these counties. The City of Fresno, 

 which is known throughout California as 

 the "Raisin City," is the center of a section 

 which produces about two-thirds of the 

 entire output of the state. Eight months 

 of sunshine and an abundance of water 

 irrigation makes this the ideal grape pro- 

 ducing section of the world. 



HERE IS A NEW WORLD TO CON- 

 QUER. 



Some interesting facts regarding the 

 great size and possibilities of our country 

 were brought out at one of the recent 

 hearings before the committee on irriga- 

 tion and arid lands. It is not usually 

 realized that an enormous area of our 

 country, 600,000,000 acres in extent, lies 

 unutilized. Of co.urse, a great deal of it 

 i3 and always will be unfit for the support 

 of a large population, but with proper 

 management it is destined to become the 



home of thousands and even millions of 

 people. 



This great tract lies entirely west of the 

 Mississippi Valley and extends over the 

 Rocky Mountains, the Great Desert and 

 into California. Much of it at present is 

 a barren and desolate wilderness, with too 

 scanty a rainfall to provide the necessary 

 moisture for any but the hardiest vegeta- 

 tion. Irrigation is to effect the change. 



Years of successful experience in the 

 artificial watering of land has proved be- 

 yond doubt its wonderful efficiency in 

 certain portions of this arid section in 

 California, in Colorado and elsewhere so 

 that it is but a question of capital and en- 

 terprise before the whole large problem 

 will be solved. Every year sees an ad. 

 vance towards this desirable end. 



Congress has some phrases of the mat- 

 ter constantly before it; United States 

 Geological Survey has rendered valuable 

 assistance in determining the flow of the 

 rivers, which must be used for water 

 supply, surveying and estimating the cost 

 of dams and reservoirs and pointing out 

 past mistakes and errors which may be 

 avoided. 



Close the mind'-s eye for a moment and 

 picture the accomplished result. Fifty 

 million people added to the population 

 east of the Missouri River, for this is the 

 number of inhabitants the present waste 

 lands are capable of supporting a great 

 nation in itself; an agricultural commun- 

 ity, changing desolation into fruitful lands 

 and creating a constantly increasing de- 

 mand on Eastern manufactures, taxing to 

 the utmost the carrying capacity of the 

 great transcontinental railroad lines. It 

 means a new and bright era of develop- 

 ,ment for the country. 



