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2 Book 1 Supreme Court of the United States, October Term, 1905. No. 7, Original: The State of Kansas, Complainant, vs. the State of Colorado et al., and the United States, Intervenor 1905

handle is hein.trials/sctesterok0003 and id is 1 raw text is: THU STATE OF COLORADO ET AL. 4596 J. C. NEEDHAM, Wash :,gtu1. 1). C. Direct examination on behalf of hitervenor. By Mr. CAMPBELL: I reside in Modesta, Stanislaus counby,.California. I am a mem- ber of Congress and have been for the last six years. My 4597 term began on March 4, 1899. I am very generally ac- quainted with the conditiolis prevailing in California, partic- ularly with the conditions in my cGngressional district. It is un- doubtedly true that a large amount of property in California, and in my district particularly, has been created and exists by reason or irrigation. There are two counties in my congressional district that have been developed by irrigation-Fresno and Kings counties. Fresno county is probably as good a county as we can take as an ex- ample in the State to show its development by reason of irrigation. Prior to the development of the irrigation possibilities of this county it was largely given over to sheep and stock raising andl some 4598 wheat raising, and then when the people there learned that they could use water for irrigation purposes they did so, with the result that the value of all kinds of property doubled and trebled, and in some instances it has gone up many times its former value. In respect to what the land was worth prior to its being irrigated, the first stage was the stock stage; that was before we commenced to raise wheat. During that period land was worth $1.25 to .$4 or $5 an acre. In answer to your question as to what land now in Fresno county under irrigation is worth, I will say that I could perhaps de- scribe that a little better by stating that land that is susceptible of irrigation but is not prepared for irrigation would probably be worth as a minimum $50 an acre if it is prepared for irrigation, and say it is in alfalfa, it would be worth about $tOO an acre ; and then if it is in vineyards, for raisins or fruits, it would be worth all the 4599 way from $150 to $500, depending on the nearness to the city, etc. Vhile I have not the statistics, I think about one- third of Fresno county has been put under irrigation. Yes, land can yet be added to the irrigated part of Fresno county by using the waters for irrigation purposes and by storing the flood waters. I think it would be possible by putting in storage in the mountains to double it. 4600 We have had to depart in actual practice a good deal from the doctrine of riparian rights in order to have the develop- ment we have made, and under that doctrine of riparian rights it would be difficult to make any future development. It would prac- tically prevent future development if strictly enforced. If the irrigated area were confined within half or three-quarters of a mile from the center of tile stream, I do not think it would be too strong to say it would aim)st destroy development-practically. 1203

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