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Show ( i m i-(jw: t Poi ait: j:x- I'LIU.M N'T I'AIPM iiitm:. j J. A. WrL'! t aad J. P. Sort-ens,,,,, j aoenbers of the enmmission to select a -itc lor the Suite Kxperimelit I arm. irriv.;! 1. T: :;-sday morning from i'do':,-;;;L vvirri Thomas J add. in the afternoon timy w-re taken out to tile -it.e in the Washington Field oifered by tie.- Washington Field Canal Co. Hon. I. C. .Macfarlane. Thomas P. Cottaei. Mayor Brown and the editor of this paper accompanied them. They made a thorough inspection of the "site" and the canal, and also of lands in both the old and new lields. and were very favorably impressed with the appearance of the crops. The heavy second crop of lueern. mostlv (tut. was an object of comment, as was also the very heavy crops of grain, mostly in the sheaf" Mr. Wright remarking- that the crops were much heavier here than they promised to be in the north. The whole of the land in the Washington Field was believed by Mr. Wright to be lirst class fruit land, with the possible exception of some of the very lowest. From the Field the party proceeded up the Virgin river about eight miles to the dam, examining portions of the canal enroute. The deep cuts and other dillicult parts of the canal occasioned oc-casioned much comment favorable to the people that engineered and carried the work through to completion. But the dam itself was the object that received re-ceived the most attention. After the commissioners had examined it, they said they considered it a wonderful piece, of work and utterly impossible for it to wash away, Many dams had been built across the river, only to be washed away, usually by the cotnbined action of floods and quicksands, and they generally went at the irrigating season, so that a crop in the Washington Washing-ton Field was a very uncertain thing. The last dam to go was a pile dam that cost $11,000. The present dam was completed in 1891 at a cost of $14,000 and is a wonderful strong piece of work resting on solid rock, and promises to last as long as its foundation.- Nearly the whole of the Fcio Virgin water was found to be running in the canal, which was a little over 3000 inches. Mr. Wrig-ht was enthusiastic over the possibilities of this section for raising early vegetables and fruits for the northern markets. He said that when he left Salt Lake, on the 27th, uonv potatoes were being sold wholesale whole-sale at 4 cents per lb, string beans 10 cents per lb, and other vegetables proportionately high. "Over $200,000 is annually sent out of Utah for fruits and vegetables," said Mr. Wright, "that ought to be -kept at home." With the railrord at Modena it should be possible for the people here to ship asparagus, lettuce, cabbage, and other early vegetables, apples, grapes, sweet corn, melons, etc. So says Mr. Wright, and at a good profit too. "Evaporated fruits is what Dixie should excel in" said the gentleman. He recommended the steam evaporator over others, putting put-ting it first in rank. That there is a big future for Dixie in the fruit exporting export-ing business is certain, if properly managed. The commissioners arrived home about 9 p. m., and left the following morning for Le Verkin. accompanied by Hon. Thomas Judd, where they will inspect another site. |