Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-01
LETTER FROM Will LMINGTON.
WILMINGTON, Oct. 2Sth, 1878.

WILMINGTON, Oct. 18th, 1850.
EDITOR HERALD:-The great want
of Wilmington is water for irrigation.
If supplied with abundant water,
orchards and forests would spring up,
and gardens bloom in beauty.
A few years ago, an attempt was
made by the officers in charge OF Drum
Barracks to bring in water from san
Gabriel River. A ditch and flume
seven miles long, were constructed at
the expense OF the government.
About half million dollars are said
to have been expended. The ditch was
dug by the soldiers, and the ruins of
it are still pointed out to the passing
traveller, as monument OF folly.
One million and quarter feet OF lum-
ber were paid for, though subsequent
measurement proved that only one
third of that amount was actually
used in constructing the flume.
Through this ditch and flume,
mighty stream of water flowed for two
weeks, and there was a general jubi-
lee; suddenly all their hopes were laid
low. The farmers along the San Ga
briel, needing all the water of that
river for irrigation, laid claim to it,
and took it. The river was turned to
irrigate the lands above, and no water
found it's way to Wilmington. Orders
were given to sell the lumber of the
flume, but before the day of sale ar
rived, there was very little to sell. 1t
was stolen by the Kanchmen. Since
that sad failure night discouragement
has settled down upon the people.
Consultations have been held, and the
question of the best means OF getting
water, thoroughly discussed. The soil
is of the best quality, but uncultivated
for want of water. Gen. Banning has
at last solved the problem, and found
it to be very simple. He has said to
the people; there is water enough
under the ground to wet the entire
surface, and all we have to do is to
raise it up Setting them an exam
pie, he is now engaged in this work.
He is digging well on the highest
elevation III town, near his house,
fourteen feet square and seventy live
feet deep. Water was reached at
thirty feet, and only thirty five feet
more remain to be dug. This man,
moth we'll will furnish all the water
that can be raised by steam engine,
which is to be the power used. In the
prosecution of this great work, two
steam engines are used, one to hoist
the dirt, and the other to pump out
the water. With his accustomed en-
ergy Gen. Banning is pushing this
great work to rapid completion.
Meanwhile, Hon. b. d. Wilson con-
templates boring two deep wells at
Drum Barrack. 1t is the intention of
Gen. Banning and himself, who now
own the sixty acres that recently be-
longed to the Government at Drum
Barracks, to plant the entire grounds
in shade trees, interspersed with
orange and walnut, roses and shrub
berry, and to construct gravelled roads
and walks over all these beautiful
grounds. The name of the grounds is
to be changed to Wilson'S Park-a
name that will be very appropriate.
No labor or expense will be spared to
make these grounds, now so destitute
of trees, the most attractive and lovely
in Southern California. With abun-
dant water this can be done. Visitors
from distant lands will be attracted to
it, and invalids will find here genial
home and a salubrious climate.