Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-10-11
The IrrigatOrs Convention.

DtItSuttS lTOIll dtl ttc
ty met at Gallatin oh the 9th instant,
to take into consideration the water
interest of the county, and to memorial
ize the Legislature.
Representative Higbie was elected
President, and briefly stated the OBJ
.jects of the meeting. }. A. Walker
was made Secretary. Short and terse
speeches were made by Gen. Baldwin
and Col. Peel.
w. w. Maxwell made a few re-
marks supporting the appointment
of water commissioners, and recOm-
mending other enactments to better
regulate the water interests. He pro-
posed that
|. Laws should be enacted declaring
public all water courses that rise on
public lands; and that they be spread
to their utmost capacity.
III. The lands should define the pow
ers of Board of Water Commission
ers, in developing, extending, and
limiting the spread of water to such
an area of land as can be well watered.
This Board should see that the water
be not spread to limit that will be
detrimental to the property and rights
first established by use.
III. The Commissioners should
have power to create rules and regula-
tions for the government of all
streams and bitches in their respective
townships, and to govern the price of
water according to the expense of dis
tribution, and to fix the price thereof.
w. A law should be enacted maxi
ing it criminal offence, and attaching
II penalty of $50, to Obstruct any
stream, ditch, or reservoir that is used
for irrigating, and contracted by Il
Board of Commissioners and over
seers.
V. The law should define the fees of
commissioners for services rendered on
such bitches. n #sf IL
VI. The commissioners should nave
power to condemn land for bitches and
reservoirs, when the right of way is
not granted by the proper owner Of
such land. #s-
VII. They should have power to
levy labor tax on each land-hOlder,
on all public bitches through which
persons obtain water, either to repair
or construct the same, and to enforce a
fine of SO upon all delinquents.
VIII. A State law should be enact
ed to provide for reclaiming dry, bar
rem lands, as well as overflOwcd swamp
lands, and to encourage planting tim
Der on all public bitches, such being
conducive to rain.
IX. A State law should be enacted
encouraging the development of water,
tO-wit: that all land so irrigated, in
excess of that irrigated in 1873, shall
be exempt from State and county tax
for 20 years.
Mr.. John II. Gordon read an address,
which had in main been previously
delivered. This address was given in
full yesterday.
The meeting then adjourned for
dinner.
At o'clock the meeting reassembled
and appointed II committee, to whom
was entrusted the drafting Of memO-
rial to be presented to the Legislature.
the following are the committees:
Anaheim-W. r. Olden.
Azusa-JOhn II. Gordon.
ComptOn-A. Higbe.
FL MOnte-GeO. Fl. Peck.
Elizabeth Lake-To be appointed. p
FlOrence-Wm. Ferris.
San AntOniO-W. II. Easton.
los Angeles-W. H. Workman, j.
G. Downey, Hancock Johnson.
Los NietOs-E. b. GrandOn.
Ballona--Rose.
Old Mission-Geo. Durfee.
San Gabricl-Gen. Stoneman.
San Juan--Richard Egan.
San Jose-Richard Fryer.
Old Santa Ana - McFadden.
San Joaquin-W. II. Spurgeon.
San FernandO-Andreas Pico.
SOlcdad-Mr. Harper.
San Gabriel Mine--Hcnry {. Rob-
erts.
Silon Precinct--T. w. Venable.
WilmingtOn--Gen. Banning.
The Cmmittee was ordered to meet
in Los Angeles ut 10 a. NJ, sharp, Oc-
tober 25th.
The secretary was ordered to inform
the members of the committee, by
sending them the minutes of the
meeting as published in the papers.
The secretary was ordered to provide
the several papers with copy of the
minutes.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.