Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-13

may be excusable in me to call your
attention to the inequality of the bur-
denl imposed upon the taxpayers for
the city at large, by defraying the ex-
penses incurred from lighting some of
the streets, or portions of the city, to
| the exclusion of other streets or pOr-
tions from the common treasury. That
| it is beneficial to the people of the city
at large that even few of the chief
streets should be lighted, we will not
deny; but, that this partial lighting of
the streets is Of equal benefit to those
living upon streets left to their natural
darkness that it is to those living upon
those streets that are lighted, could
hardly be maintained. 1t would, there
fore, seem just that the property sit
uated upon the streets which are light
ed should pay something addi tional
toward this expense.
If street, or a given part of a street /,
is to be lighted by the city, / can see
no good reason why the owners or Oc-
cupants of property along the line Of
said street should not be required to
contribute directly to that especial
purpose. 1 would therefore recon-
mend that proposition which shall
be fair and equitable should be made
without unnecessary delay to the Gas
Company, to enter into contract with
the city to light such streets or parts of
streets as you may deem eXpedient,
always reserving the right on the part
Of the city to modify or cancel the con-
tract upon reasonable notice, at any
time after the expiration of one year,
and if such proposition should not be
accepted by the Gas Company, that
measures be taken with all judicious
expedition to procure the lighting of
the streets by some other agency or
means.
OUR WATER RIGHTS.
The most valuable heritage which
the inhabitants of this city received
from their predecessors is the water of
the Los Angeles rivei. 1t was this
water, and the ease with which the
land adjoining could be irrigated by
it, that led to the settlement of this
town.
The settlement, although at it's in
ception denOminated town and exer-
cising the privileges of municipal
corporation, was purely an agricultu-
raj one, drawn to this locality by the
advantages flowing from the river,
and until the presnt time, now verging
on one hundred years, the cultivation
of the soil has been controlling pur-
suit of the inhabitants, and the agricul-
tural products have been the basis of a
prosperity which has advanced with
certainty and uniformity seldom
equaled. Afe
Although its growth at no time has
been rapid under speculation or WIS.,
ionary stimulus it has, from the fact
that the cultivation of the soil was its
chief support, advanced in population
and business with astonishing regu-
larity. Therefore, as the use of the
water for irrigation has caused this
growth, we are admonished to eXer-
else the utmost vigilance in guarding
and protecting this invaluable inher-
itance; that we may transmit 1t intact
and without incumbrance to our sue.
cessOrs, and in the same fullness that
we received it.
Manufacturing and mechanical in.
dustries build up towns more rapidly
than the cultivation of the soil. They
are fluctuating and frequently lead to
great suffering; yet they are import
ant and valuable auxiliaries to the
growth and prosperity of q city. Di-
versified pursuits by people are far
more advantageous than any one sole
vocation for their dependence.
WATER POWER.
The water of the Los Angeles river
is capable of furnishing great and val
liable power which, if directed to USE
full purposes, would greatly add to the
resources of the city, augment its pop
ulation, increase its wealth and the
taxable property, without detriment
to its volume for irrigation.
OUR ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OVER
THE WATER.
BY the laws of Spain, concerning
the settlement of towns in America,
and the actions and decisions of the
constituted authorities of Mexico and
California, it appears to be beyond con-
troversy that the absolute and exclu-
sive right to all the water OF the Los
Angeles river, from its source until it
passes out below and beyond the linn
its OF the city, except what might be
lctucu lOl llNC 5tOCh dhu llOubcuOlu
purposes only, along its course, was
vested in the inhabitants of Los An
geles city, and it may be doubted
whether there has been, since the set
tlement of this town, any political
power, either legislative, executive or
judicial, which could and has divested
its inhabitants of any part of this
right.
1t is of vital Importance to the well
fare of the people of this place that its
| rights to so important and valuable q
resource should not suffer by want
of due and proper diligence on the part
of those to whom it has been given,
by the people, the authority to man
age, guard and protect their common
| interests.
THE IMPoLICY OF GRANTING FRAN
| &8XlIE CHISES. laG sILEf
The granting of rights and privil-
eges to individuals and corporations
has been of great detriment to the well
fare and prosperity Of many towns.
There are are but few of the many
cities scattered over our land which
have not suffered more or less from the
manner in which their. grantees and
their successors have exercised their
rights and privileges, or from their
heartless and grinding opposition.
While it may be mooted question
whethera franchise for any public OBJ
1eet or purpose derived from the peo-
pie, which circumscribes their free