Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-04
Appropriation of water.

The Riverside Press has this to say about
the appropriation Of water and the result
therefrom: "The waters of Los Angeles,
San Bernardino and San Diego counties
hane been appropriated under the laws of
the State.
1t is true that in some cases filings on
water have covered the waters of streams
many layers deep, but filings are not ap-
preparations any more than grub-stake Is
a mine.
An appropriation of water under the laws
OF the state consists IN diversion and use.
There may be filings on water oil stream
to the extent of 10000 inches when there are
only 1000 inches of water in the stream, but
in such case only 1000 inches can be divert
ed and used.
sires to use water for irrigation to divert and
use Tin other words appropriately just enough
for his own use There must he commu-
nifty OF interest in the appropriation OF wa
ter. Hence the filing on large blocks OF wa
Ter by single individuals. who act for large
communities or for the owners of large
tracts OF land which 1t is desirable to irri-
gate and to subdivide for sale.
Many land enterprises are started and fail
for want of funds, or because they prove on
investigatihn to be impracticable. In each
case the first move is to file on the water.
This holds the water for sixty days. II the
plans fail nothing more is done with the
filings become null and void and do not put
even cloud on the title to the water, which
is free fer anyone else TO divert and use.
Practically all the waters of the streams
of these three counties have been appropri-
ated that is, they have been diverted and
are being used. Occasionally stream Is
found which has never been diverted, but
this is the exception to the rule Such un-
appropriated streams when found are gen.
orally far away from any settlement, and
where the waters would be of little value
even If diverted for use.
The irrigation probabilities Of these
counties are being increased each year in
various ways even after all the streams are
appropriated. This increase of water is
| produced in various ways In some In
| stances bitches and canals are cemented or
piped and the seepage and evaporation
stopped gives water for large tracts ol land.
| In some cases tunnels are run and thus the
under-flow OF streams is saved and utilized;
| in other cases reservoirs are built and
| winter water is stored for summer use In
still other cases artesian wells are sunk and
| the artesian supply Is drawn upon.
Riverside, Eedlands. Etiwanda, Ontario
and Highlands are examples where large
quantities of water have been saved Dy I'M
| proving the canals and piping the water.
! Bear Valley reservoir is an example OF the
storage of water and other reservoir are in
process of construction. -
Pomona and the Gage system are lllustra-
| tions of the artesIan water Improvements.
The direct result Of the present water
system of the Safe, so far rs these three
I, counties are concerned, has been to subdi-
vide the large ranches and put thousands
of families and happy homes where before
thousands of cattle and sheep ranged over
arid plains. The owners OF these nome
steads own and control the water they use
through the medium OF those horrid water
companies, which are such thicving cor
porations, according to the Chronicle. :.
The said San Francisco Chronicle says "
| is in favor OF water for the people. Will
some one arise and explain how the people
| are to get water In San Bernardino county
any better than they now are under the
| appropriation laws of the State?
VIII the Chronicle. or some one In this
county who backs the Chronicle-if there
! be such person--point to a water monopo,
| ly in either Los Angeles or San Bernardino
| counties? And what could be done 10 put
| the water where it would do more good or
serve the people better than II does to-day,
except to spend more money In saving ano
distributing the water under the laws as
Will the so-called rule OF riparian rights
| as known in the common law of England
benefit the people of these countiesY VIII
tn enforcement Of that law, or any modih.
csion thereof, improve the condl Ion OF
our people or enhance the value OF our
| Ian 's.,i tttcrf ts2 ,
II hero has been 20 monopoly OF the
| T-.i crs ~ tie State In Fhesc itiel undei
I. t4 KS az ltcY EHsa ce iAa s''oer s Y
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