IRRIGATION WORK IN CALIFORNIA. LXXXIII, 
was found that much interest was taken in irrigation 
questions, and this immediately suggested the proposition 
that electricity, if produced cheaply enough, might possibly 
be applied to the irrigation of the land in the same manner 
as it was applied in California. I had the honour to draw 
attention to this subject in a short memoir presented 
to the Hngineering Section of this Society in July, 1903, 
and then determined, that if opportunity offered, would 
visit California again, and study this question more closely- 
It was necessary in the meantime to study the problem of 
producing cheap electricity, for up to 1904 the general 
public, at all events in Sydney, could not purchase 
electricity for less than 3d. a unit, although supply 
companies had been in operation for ten years or more. 
At 3d.a unit, transmission and irrigation were entirely 
out of the question as a commercial possibility. I may 
also offer, as some excuse for approaching this subject, 
the fact of having been brougbt up and lived amongst 
people who were and are connected principally with 
farming matters. 
The particular aspect of the question to which it is 
proposed to draw attention this evening, is the aspect 
which is presented by a study of the conditions in California. 
There, the country was to a great extent arid until irri- 
gation was carried out, and, by its success, demonstrated 
the existence of great agricultural possibilities, not only 
for the large capitalist capable of taking up large tracts, 
but for the settler with next to no capital, except his 
health and strength. In California much irrigation work 
is being carried out by means of water pumped from below 
the surface, and much of this water is pumped by electricity 
transmitted from the ranges of the Sierra Nevada. A 
similar method of irrigating may be possible in Australia ; 
whether it will be so or not depends on a number of 
