Effects of Irrigation in California," in his capacity as IrrigatioH 

 Engineer, United States Office of Experiment Stations. He 

 pointed out the conversion of large holdings of land, producing 

 grain, into small farms intensively cultivated, through the bring- 

 ing of water to the soil. He showed that where irrigation is 

 not considered necessary increased profits are realized when irri- 

 gation is employed. Summing up, Professor Fortier said: 



"Irrigation makes gardens and orchards of the desert 

 places of the State; it increases the yield of both field and 

 orchard in localities where a rainless summer robs the soil of 

 its moisture ; it tends to subdivide the large estates into small irri- 

 gated holdings; it converts low producing grain ranches into 

 intensively cultivated small fields; it adds greatly to the number 

 of the diversified farms; it increases the exports of all soil 

 products; it does away with the isolated life of the farmer by 

 the density of rural settlements; it provides most of the advan- 

 tages of both country and city life, and it constitutes the safe 

 anchor of the State by the establishment of an ever-increasing 

 number of prosperous farm homes." 



The chairman then announced the personnel of the commit- 

 tees as follows, pointing out that all parts of the State were 

 represented : 



Committee on Credentials — Clarence E. Edwords of San 

 Francisco County, D. W. Coolidge of Los Angeles County, Wil- 

 ber Walker of Alameda County, H. H. Whitmore of Stanislaus 

 County, George Henderson of Humboldt County. 



Committee on Resolutions — Edwin Stearns of Alameda 

 County, Arthur G. Nason of San Diego County, Luther J, Evans 

 of Napa County, H. A. Greene of Monterey County, George W. 

 Pierce of Yolo County. 



Rufus P. Jennings moved that, in order that the business of 

 the meeting might be facilitated, speakers present any resolutions 

 they had to offer at the close of their addresses — that resolutions 

 be read by title only and then referred for consideration to the 

 Committee on Resolutions. 



The subject of "Irrigation in the Sacramento Valley" was 

 assigned on the program to W. A. Beard, executive officer of the 

 National Irrigation Congress. In opening he expressed his appre- 

 ciation of the arrangements that had been made for the enter- 

 tainment of the delegates, and his regret that he would be un- 

 able to participate in the program after the morning session, 

 business calling him away. He further expressed his thanks to 

 the committee for choosing as the subject of the meeting topics 



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