Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-10-10
Bloomfield Gravel Mining [

is nOw72 feet high and $40 feet long.
The reservoir created by it covers Il sur
face of 800 acres, holding 44S,0O0,0 600
cubic feet of water. This dam is to be
made 90 feet high and 375 feet long, and
water. There are other reservoirs in
the same vicinity, OF like dimensions
and capacity.
The fourth inquiry looks to the agen-
cy by which this work is to he accom-
plished. II must be wrought out by
one of these Observation-Disclosures
State, county, or private corporations.
There seems to be no valid reason why
the State should not devise IL grand
system of irrigation, IA a measure of
State policy. If it be proper for the
State to adopt measures to redeem the
swamp lands from their superabund-
ant moisture, and render them availa-
bic for agriculture, assurcdly the same
principles carry an increased force
when applied to measures for impart-
ing additional moisture to the over
dry lands. This point presents fruit
full theme for extended argument,
which time and space will not permit
to be indulged in in this report.
Should the State decline to adopt the
policy, the next instrument that may
be employed is the county, in its corpO-
rate capacity. If there is no impro-
priety or valid objection to the county
constructing highways, bridges, etc,
and furnishing the sinews of war for
gigantic railroad corporations, that
may, perhaps, prove burden rather
than II blessing to the people, with
what consistency can objections be
urged against the county employing
the means to develope and increase the
water supply for agricultural pursuits,
that will insure untold benefits, caus-
ing her wide wastes to be densely pop
ulated, and her desert places to "blOom
and blossom as the rOse""
TheneX and dernier resort is an
agency of private corporations, from
the tender mercies of whom may the
Good Being deliver the agricultural
interests of Los Angeles county,
The fifth and last inquiry that will
claim notice in this connections: What
preliminary steps may be requisite be-
fore embarking in the ENTERPRISE
1t may be necessary to get the con-
sent of the L. 5. Government to con-
struct reservoirs and cut canals and
bitches on the public domain. 1t will
be proper to have an Act passed by
the Legislature of California, author
izing the condemnation of the rights of
private land-holders for the same pur-
pose. For the county to carry on the
work it will be proper for the Legisla-
ture to adopt a law authorizing the
county to act in the matter.
Much more might be said in support
of the mOmentOus question referred to
the special committee; yet this report,
containing only suggestions without
elaboration, has grown tOa length that
forbids further enlargement at present.
Auxiliary to the question above, is
consideration of the proper manner
Of distributing the present water sup
ply among the beneficiaries. The law
should define the rights ofparties. The
water committees of townships should
exercise no judicial functions; their
power should be limited to laying out
and repairing bitches.
The water Of all running streams,
except such as rise and have a we'll
defined head or source on private land,
should be declared public property,
and devoted to agricultural Interests.
The same rule to apply to the water
of Il stream rising on private land
after it passes beyond said private
land limits.
Private improvements that have
been made-by virtue of n long dedica-
tiOn of the use of the water of any
running streams. tins declared Dub-
lie, sustaining damages thereby, shall
be fully compensated, when the
amount Of damage is ascertained by
disinterested appraisers.
State and County Water Com
missiOners should be elected in the
same manner as Superintendent OF
Public Instruction are, and their du-
ties clearly defined.