THB IRRIGATION AGE. 



339 



a little coarser than that classed as gravelly loam 

 with a slight mixture of clay. 



To the west and to the north of this "mound" 

 can be found a different type of soil, which evidently 

 has not been worked over by the creek. It is of a 

 reddish color, contains a little gravel, and is classad 

 as San Joaquin loam. 



The Sacramento gravelly loam has always been 

 held in light esteem for purposes of dry farming, as 

 owing to its looseness it does not retain sufficient 

 moisture during periods of drought; but it is very 

 fertile when supplied with the necessary moisture. 

 Some of it is now irrigated and is producing the 

 finest alfalfa, oranges and lemons. Judged by the re- 

 turns under "dry farming" the San Joaquin loam is 

 considered a little better than the gravelly loam, 

 while the Sacramento loam is prized next to the sandy 

 loam. The climate of California affords the greatest 

 surprise to her eastern visitor. To find the upper 

 Sacramento Valley, six hundred miles north of River- 

 side and Los Angeles, enjoying practically the same 

 temperature as those much-advertised cities seems 

 little short of paradoxical, yet it is true that the iso- 

 thermal lines follow the contour lines; that the effect 



UNCLE SAM'S ADVERTISING AGENTS. 

 Denver Field and Farm. 



It is impossible for those who have not experienced 

 pioneer life or who have never made a study of con- 

 ditions under which settlement takes place to under- 

 stand the difficulties which confront a settler or to 

 formulate laws or regulations relating to the control of 

 our natural resources which will assist him instead of 

 being a detriment to his progress and prosperity. A 

 settler generally depends largely upon public officers 

 for advice. It is difficult if not impossible for him to 

 present his cause in such way that he will be under- 

 stood unless he is given opportunity to do so verbally. 

 Eules and regulations made at Washington are often 

 not understood even by the local officer who is charged 

 with their administration. 



The settler seldom sees the local officer and when 

 he makes an inquiry the rules and regulations are gen- 

 erally sent him without interpretation. Under these 

 conditions any policy which will lead to a centralization 

 of control of all natural resources at Washington will 

 tend only to increase the hardships of the settler and 



Scene in Petrified Forest, Arizona. 



of latitude is almost ^inappreciable, altitude alone 

 seeming to determine the temperature. 



The great valley of the state is four hundred 

 miles long, walled in on all sides by lofty mountain 

 ranges making it in effect a great room with one cli- 

 mate except for minor modifications of slope, expo- 

 sure, or relative elevation. In general, then, the cli- 

 mate at Orland is the same as in all parts of the 

 valley, except for the slight difference caused by its 

 position on the "mound." For, as is well known, the 

 colder air being heavier drains down on the lower 

 levels, and in flowing down the valley it, like the river, 

 makes a detour around Orland, giving a practical im- 

 munity from frost that permits the lime that most 

 tender of citrus- fruits to thrive and bear heavily. 



The nights are always cool and pleasant, and 

 one is sure of a refreshing night of slumber after the 

 warmest day. The summer afternoons are warm, but 

 owing to the low humidity the heat is not distressing. 

 No prostrations ever occur, though men and teams 

 work in the fields in the warmest weather. In fact 

 the sensible heat is less here with the thermometer nt 

 ]00 than it is in the Mississippi valley at 85. 



render his condition less enviable. In order that we 

 may clearly understand the present power and influence 

 of some great bureaus at Washington we must study 

 their policies and their methods of securing support. 

 Those who scrutinize the papers and magazines cannot 

 fail to notice that articles identical in purport and lan- 

 guage are published on the same day in many widely 

 separated towns and cities. 



The reader who desires to continue his studies will 

 find that these large bureaus at Washington control 

 press agencies which are conducted bv men employed .it 

 the expense of the government. These, press bureaus 

 are maintained for the sole purpose of advertising the 

 chiefs of the bureaus, creating public sentiment in favor 

 of their policies and criticizing and ridiculing all per- 

 sons and policies which in any way oppose these great 

 administrative machines. The heads of these press 

 agencies may be designated in the pay roll as statis- 

 ticians or by some other title which protects the bureau 

 and serves to mislead the public. Bv co-operation with 

 staff reporters at Washington despatches indorsing the 

 policies of the bureaus are sent to the press of the 

 country. 



