Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-12
Ios Aageles Alsmla.
LETTER UPON IRRIGATION.
ANAHEIM, Nov. S, 1873.

Committee, appointed at the recent
Irrigation Convention, held in Los
Angeles, it was resolved. that all per-
sons who had given thought to the
solution of the irrigation question,
should write out their views and for
ward them to you, as chairman of the
committee, so that said committee
could by a comparison of views ascer-
tain what the public sentiment of the
people of this county was Oh this i'm
portant subject. And this having
been done, that bill embodying
those views could be carefully prepar-
ed by the best legal talent, to be pre-
sented for passage by our legislative
delegation, during the coming legis-
lature. TO prevent delay it is impor-
tant that the question should be fully
discussed and understood, before the
commencement of the session, and
in order that the parties interested
should know what is to be done. 1t is
better that all com munications on this
subject should be printed in the news
papers of this county, the managers of
Which will doubtless be glad to give
reasonable space in their columns for
the discussion of so important
measure.
offer the following as my opinion
what the main features of the law
should be, in order to enables us to
effect the object which we have in
view:
l. Each Irrigation District should be
separate and distinct from all others.
The boundaries to include all lands
that can be irrigated from said source
of public water supply, without any
reference to county and tOwnsiiplines
70 ascertain said boundaries, u care
tul survey should be made at the eX-
pense of said district, to ascertain the
quantity of water that can be made
available for the purposes of irrigation,
from each public source of water sup
ply. Then line should be run to as
certain the highest level upon which
it is practicable to construct ditch for
conveying said water upon the lands
to he irrigated, in order to utilize said
water as manufacturing power, be-
fore using it upon he low lying lands
for the purpose of irrigation.
= The district boundaries to be the
outer line of said tract of land that can
he irrigated by said water supply.
The money used for the construction OF
said ditch, and to pay the expenses,
such as paying for the right of way,
lands required for reservoirs, ditchs and
other expenses incidental to the con-
GtructiOn, maintenance, and effective
utilization of said ditch, to be provid-
ed for by levying Il pro rata tax upon
each acre of land, that can be irriga
ted by said ditch, and upon all other
real and personal property in said dis
trct, that will be enhanced in value
hy the construction of said ditch.
3. Five Water Commissioners shall
he elected in each district who shall be
authorized to levy taxes to pay for the
construction of said ditch, and its
main branches,-dams, reservoirs, al
readyfconstructed bitches, payment of
employees, and other expenses proper
ly belonging and incident to the con-
structiOn and maintainance of said
ditch.
And, said commissioners shall have
full power to appoint, pay or discharge
from service, all employees who may
be required for the construction,
maintenance, and utilization of said
ditch. a4sa.
And, said commissioners shall have
authority to condemn and take posses
sion of all lands and other property re-
quired for the construction Of said
ditchs, etc.
Provided, That no mans property
shall be taken without paying an equi-
table price therefor, said value to be
provided by law, for fixing the value
of lands taken for county roads, rail
roads, etc.
4. No person shall be permitted to
vote at an election of Water Commits
siOners, except such persons whose
property pay taxes for the cOnstruc-
tion of said ditch, but, each taxpayer
shall have one vote for each l60 acres,
or fraction of 100 acres, or other prop
crty of similar assessable value upon
which he or she pays taxes for or on
account OF said ditch, said vote to be
voted by them or their legal represent
tatives, it being understood that it is
the property and not the person that
is represented by the vote. aa =.
5. Said Water Commissioners shall
be authorized to direct the distribution
of the water, and fix the rates at
which it shall be sold, charging a
sufficient amount to enable them. to
pay the current expenses of the ditch
and ordinary repairs, but in case ex-
traordinary repairs are required, a
pro-rata tax shall be levied as hereto
Iore to pay for the same. Provided
that before any tax is levied, local no.
tice shall be given to all who are au-
thorized to vote, and if a majority of
the votes cast, shall be in favor of said
tax, it shall be levied, but if major
ity shall vote against said tax, it shall
not be levied.
6. The law shall provide for impos-
ing a heavy penalty both of fine and
imprisonment upon any person or
persons, who shall wlllfuly cut, dam
age, or in any way injure said bitches
or water flowing therein-provided
that if any person or persons acciden-
tally, or unintentionally injure the
same, he shall be made to pay for
all damage caused by his act.
7. The law shall distinctly provide
that no person r persons shall be per-
mitted to waste water that is or may
be wanted for irrigation, that all ar
tesian wells must be capped, if neces-
sary to prevent the flow OF more wat er
than Is required for irrigation, domes-
tic purposes, or watering stock, as it is
believed that any useless flow, may be