LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Soils, 

 Washington, D. C, Septeniher 19, 1911. 

 Sir: In continuation of soil-survey work in the great interior val- 

 ley of California a survey was made of the Red Bluff area during 

 1910. This area covers a part of Tehama and Butte Counties. This 

 is a region of varied soils. "Wide areas, underlain by hardpan, will 

 never be of much value for agriculture. These areas will be used, 

 as they are at present, for grazing. On the other hand, there are a 

 number of fertile types at present used for dr\^ farming and, to a 

 relatively limited extent, for crops under irrigation. The develop- 

 ment of the region agriculturally depends upon the installation of 

 comprehensive irrigation works. Sufficient water to irrigate all of 

 the better soils now passes down the streams during the flood period. 

 It would be an engineering problem of great magnitude to store 

 these flood waters in reservoirs along the upper courses of the rivers 

 and to lead them thence by canals to the different parts of the area. 

 The question of undertaking such a project, or projects, is under 

 consideration, and preliminary surveys show it to be feasible. The 

 outlining of the soils in the area and the valuation of the different 

 types for the many special crops that may be grown in this region 

 where sufficient water is obtainable should be of value as a basis for 

 estimating the capital that may be safely invested in irrigation work. 

 I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript report and 

 map covering this area and to recommend their publication as ad- 

 vance sheets of Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils for 1910, as 

 authorized by law. 



Respectfully. Milton Whitney, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 J Ion. rlA.MKs Wjlson. 



Secretary of A;/ricuUure. 

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