Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-05-26
ANTI RIPARIAN CONVENTION
Address of J. De Barth shorb,
ESQ.

Esq.
On calling the State Anti-Riparian
Convention to order last week at San
Francisco, President Shorb spoke as fol
lows:
As it fell to my lot upon the discussion
at Riverside, upon irrigation as per.
manent policy for California, to co-ope.
rate with the pioneers of the present
movement assembled there aud at Fresno,
now it becomes my duty to call this Con
vention to order to the end that 1t may
organize itsel' and the people for the
greatest public struggle that has ever en-
listed the popular energies Of an Amer.
can State. The two sovereignties which
had lordship of this soil before it came to
US by conquest and treaty each recog-
nized the value and importance of the
useful appropriation of water to promote
the fruiifulness Of the soil. Under
Spanish and Mexican law the great
utility Of our streams had been recog.
nized; bnt those governments did not
know, as we have learned by experience
here. the magnificent results that were to
follow the bringing of land aud water
together.
Had learned Of the Saracens and Moors
the value Of irrigation in gardens and
upon the product of her soil during the
seven centuries of oppression. After
they had made their last stand at Gran
ada and were routed from the peninsula,
their great hydraulic works were per-
mitted to fall into disuse and decay. and
the life-giving water no longer conjures
the latent generosity of the plains. nor
in the tiukly fountains lulls the noon
day siesta. The irrigated lands were
given up for sheep walks, and in that in
dustry Spain sought to replace the prof
its that had been borne by vineyards and
orchards. By high breeding she produced
the Merinos, and set up wool staple to
rival the Downs OF England; but her
blsating focks, nibbling the scorched
heritage Of arid plans. were q sorry
substitute for a happy people whose
tolls had been made q pastime by the
combination Of land and water under q
kindly sun. At last, in Valencia and
Granada, the broken hydraulic cisterns
we're mended. After long divore the
land and water welded again, and at
once sprang from vine and tree the lus-
cious fruits to celebrate the marriage
feast. The land again reclaimed soon
commanded an annual rental per acre
equal to the first cost OF non-irrigated
lands adjoining. The fock-masters
gave way to the wins-presser and the
merchant in raisins and oil Spain had
learned the lesson, which she in turn
taught to her colonies and her people
wherever her discoveries and conquests
brought them in contact with similar
physical conditions. We have gone
through
AN ALMOST SIMILAR ExPERIENcE
In parts Of this commonwealth, whers
flock and herds overran valleys and
mesas, which q century ago had beer
irrigated by the Mission fathers; and
the recent history of more than one new
county stands in testimony to the. wis
dom which here has doubtless recog
nized the necessity for usefully appro.
priating the waters which have been
running wastefully to the sea. This
principle of appropriating was first ap'
piled to great and necessarily transito.
nv interest in the mines and no one
questioned the use which the Court
made haste to validate. Now, it is pro
Dos ed to apply it to the interests in agri.
culture and horticulture, which are o,
enduring as the physical necessities OF
man, and the courts halt and hesitate, as
is their right aud duty II they discover
great balancing reasons which
are worthy Of examination. But We
must remember that
LEGISLATION
Is. in q matter like this, the first resort
of the people. When by our organic
law and statutes we are brought into
right relations with the conditions o.
our community and the prosperity Of
the people, and when 1t will have
guided the courts to a conclusion IL
harmony with the overmastering neces
stiles of the State, our duty leads US to
secure sach constitutional amendments
and legislation as shall put irrigation
among the permanent policies of tb,
State. [Applause.l There is no time
for delay. In the East, Nature, il
rigorous seasons and deadly convulsioni
Of the air, Is warning people away, max
ing them seek more element climate
and greater certainties that result from
labor and industries. The continent
affords only one sure refuge from the
extremes of cold and heat, the destruc
ton wrought by storms and the uncer
tainty of tickle seasons, and that refug'
is here. Now is
THE ACCEPTED TIME
For California, and we are here to con
cert measures that shall open our gate
to the successful settlement by the en-
terprising millions already lured by oui
fame. Our duty is to protect then
when they haTe arrived here. The sim
Pile possession of the elements Of great
ness is valueless unless utilized by tn,
genius and enterprise of man. Nature
laws should be mans best guide for tn,
creation Of wise and just measures. Ma
lures God has placed the land and tn,
water of this State together, and what
therefore. God has joined together LEI
no man put asunder. Prolonged ap
plause.