On Hiking a U.S. 1930's-era Pubic Works Irrigation Canal: Brings thoughts of an aqueduct in Acca

Hiking a 1930's Sinlehekin Valley pubic works irrigation canal, a set on Flickr.

A portion of the hike we took in the Sinlehekin was actually inside an irrigation canal that had been constructed in the late 1930's as a depression-era public works effort. Overgrown and encroached upon as it was, it was especially eery to traverse. There was no water running in it now. It was lined with dirt instead.

Oh, the effort that humankind has gone to to move water for drinking or farming! The canal seemed so out-of-place, as the Sinlehekin seems so remote, but people have been engaged for decades to make fertile and productive the land around the town of Loomis to the north. Productive it is, with irrigated crop circles and extensive orchards in the vicinity that makes good use from water that is available today, although not from the canal we encountered.

The industriousness necessary to construct the miles of concrete of the canal reminded me of the industriousness it must have took to build originally, and then to have restored at Baha'ullah's request, the aqueduct that brought fresh water to 'Akká on the opposite side of the world. -gw

Photo source

Such was the devotion gradually kindled in the heart of that governor, through his association with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and later through his perusal of the literature of the Faith, which mischief-makers, in the hope of angering him, had submitted for his consideration, that he invariably refused to enter His presence without first removing his shoes, as a token of his respect for Him. It was even bruited about that his favored counselors were those very exiles who were the followers of the Prisoner in his custody. His own son he was wont to send to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for instruction and enlightenment. It was on the occasion of a long-sought audience with Bahá’u’lláh that, in response to a request for permission to render Him some service, the suggestion was made to him to restore the aqueduct which for thirty years had been allowed to fall into disuse—a suggestion which he immediately arose to carry out.

Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By