Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-06-10
Irrigators' Meeting.

About 800 people assembled to
discuss the water question at Wash.
ington Gardens Saturday evening
last. The meeting was called to
order by Mr.. d. v. Waldron at Sis
p. NJ. By unanimous vote Mr..
Briswalter was declared President
and s. w. Luitwleler Secretary.
Mr.. Osborne stated that the Coun-
Gil had been negligent of Its duty
In not keeping the No. s ditch In
proper repair.
Mr.. Lawlor stated In substance
that the Council had done all in it's
power to serve the people.
Mr.. Beck stated that the City
Council was glad that the ir-
rigators in the city had taken steps
In the matter to get their rights in
regard to water. He stated that
seven heads of water had been
taken by private parties above the
city fer their use; that the dams
raised for this purpose had been
torn down at last and that we
should now have the full supply of
water; that the interests of the ir-
rigatOrs should be carefully guard
ed and the water question should
be fully settled.
Mr.. Brunson stated that he had
not had half his former supply of
water this year. He said he want
the same quantity that he had
when he set out his trees; that the
east side should not have water to
improve its land at the expense of
the already improved property on
the west side. He believed we had
vested rights which should be Sc
cured to US. If four mounted police
could not keep the water from be-
ing taken from our bitches we
would mount our own horses and
keep 1t in. He found fault with
the Council for putting new bitches
on the east side unless they could
furnish water enough to fill them
without taking 1t from the present
irrigators.
Col. Godfrey stated that he had
made the water rights of the city a
special study and that he believed
that the city had a right to the
water of the Los Angeles river.
The city had used the water under
the Spanish and Mexican govern.
ments; that in 1859 there was
deed placed on record by the owners
of the Feliz ranch, purporting to
be from the city Of Los Angeles,
which was a forgery but which
only went to show that they recog-
nized the rights Of the city of Los
Angeles to the water. He said the
city would take the water and force
the people living above the city to
bring action against the city; that
we would have the water by force
II not in peaceable manner. We
would have 1t any way for 1t be.
lopged to us by right,
On motion of Mr.. Osborne, o
committee was appointed to draft
a resolution on the subject. The
committee, as appointed by the
chair, consisted of Messrs. Brunson,
Whiting, Coronel and Austin, The
following resolution was drafted by
the committeei
RESOLVED, That the undersigned,
present at meeting held at WASH
ington Gardens June 7th, 1879, do
hereby ratify, endorse and approve
of the action of the Common Coun-
Gil Of the city of Los Angeles, taken
at its regular session, held Thurs
day, June 9th, with reference to
the taking, retaining and distribut-
ing of the waters Of the Los Ange-
les river to the irrigators Of said
city, and that not only in that ac-
ton, but in all other and further
action by said Council hereafter
legally tobe taken to that end, and
for that purpose We pledge to the
Council our moral, and, If neces-
sary, our physical support.
The resolution was adopted and
signed by the trrigators present at
SAIL W. LurrwErIER. Sec,