Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-06-12
The IrrIgators' Meeting.

In response to the Mayors proc
lamation a large number of irri.
gators and other citizens of Los
| Angeles assembled at Turnvereir
Hall last evening to consider the
present aspect Of the water CUES
ton. AT ten minutes past eight
over an hour after the time al
which the meeting was called, on
motion Of Mr.. w. II. Workman,
Mr.. s. J. Beck was elected Presi'
dent. Mr.. @. J. Fox Secretary and
Mr.. H. J. Barrows Assistant Score
tary.
Tho Chairman stated that the OBJ
ject Of the meeting was to consider
the remedy for the scarcity o.
water, Of which complaint hat
been made. He had accompanied
the Chairman Of the Zirja Com
mittee up the river, where he founi
three heads of water in use on the
Feliz rancho and six heads of watel
on the Corralitos and on the land.
Of A. Glassell. The six heads wert
turned back into the river anG
water was plenty again. A guart
was placed over the bitches. blu,
the men were driven off by The
parties using the water.
City Attorney Godfrey was thel
called upon, and gave a historical
sketch Of the original water gran
from the Spanish Government IL
l7e0, and of the use of the watel
since that time and of the lega
measures that have been taken t
protect the city in the use of the
water, arriving ut the conclusion
that the decision of the Supreme
Court settled nothing In regard te
the rights of the city. He declared
that the grants to the owners o.
lands outside the city were made
for cattle ranches, and prohibited
the owners from interfering will
the rights of the pueblo. His ad
vice was to put the city In the pc
sition of defendant in a suit fol
damages by taking possession Of
the water by force and compelling
the other side to bring suit fol
damages.
Governor Downey was the nexl
speaker, and made lively on.
slaught on the present expensive
style of government. He asserted
that the Spanish Government made
no grant Of water to the owners oil
the lands that now claim the wa.
ter OF the river, and that the city
has an indefeasible right to the
water and must maintain that
right.
Col. Geo. H. Smith was the next
speaker. He said that his sympa.
thies were with the city, but be
thought Misrepresentation had
arisen, and a prejudice had been
aroused against Mr.. Glassell. Mr..
G. was willing to submit to the de.
cisiOn of the courts. He had never
couDseled armed resistance to the
city. He had but two days use oil
the water, of which there was only
about head used. Only 80 acres
we're irrigated, and the amount OF
water could not have been large.
He counseled moderation and good
feeling, and that there should be
no ill-will against Mr.. Glassell.
The Chairman stated that Mr..
Glassell was not on trial.
Col. Smith declared that there
was no use In attempting to defend
Mr.. Glassell before such q meeting.
He had been first and foremost In
advocating the just rights of the
city in regard to this matter, and
would say that his friend, Mr.Glas-
sell, would make no resistance to
the city, but would submit the de-
oision Of the courts.
Governor Downey said there was
deDger ahead. IF Glassell should
succeed, the owners Of the Provi.
denciA and part Of the San Fer
nando rancho would claim and get
the water, and let the city dry up.
Judge Brunson said that eight
years ago he paid the present
Mayor of the city 800 for orange
trees. This season he had to take up
$1,000 worth Of these trees that died
for lack OF water. lie said Mr..
Glassell told him he would not
make resistance TO the city except
through the courts, which was
right. He advocated a firm course,
aud resort to fUrce if necessary to
protect the city. He criticised the
decision of the Supreme Court as
mbecile and Injurious to the inter-
ests Of the city. He thought the
owners Of orchards in the city who
had used water for many years
should have water to preserve their
trees rather than give 1t to some
new land that had never been irri-
gated. He advised more care in
saving and using the water, and
more dams for arresting the water.
Mr.. 0. H. Bliss moved that the
action of the City Council be sus-
tanned in what they have already
done, and, II necessary, to call out
the citizens to aid them. Carried
unanimously.
Mr.. Lelong offered series of res.
olutions, which were adopted, re-
turning thanks to the Mayor and
Council for their energetic action
in protecting the water rights OF
the citizens.
Adjourned.