Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-31

IA Wholesale scale on Second street
and the wisdom Of his purchases be-
comes very apparent in view OF this
recent development.
------------
The Irrigation Problem.
We copy below from the Kern county
Gazette OF the Goth inst. timely article,
which should be carefully read by the
business men of San Francisco. We
fully endorse the views therein expressed
II is time that our Legislators and judges
took some heed Of the great wants Of the
State and the demands of public opiaion.
II we cannot have irrigation, one. half Of
the State Ia given over to perpetual bar.
renness. We assure political aspirants
that this will be vital issue in the com
ing campaign, and the interest OF San
Francisco in it's solution in favor of irri.
CATION Is as great us that of Kern or
Fresno county. The Gasette says:
1.-THE Legislative Committee of the
State Irrigation Convention Is about to
issue call for State Convention. The
especial purpose Of this convention will
be to organize for active and relentless
warfare against riparianism at the ap.
proaching election. The people Of
Southern California are now confronted
with danger sufficient TO excite
the greatest alarm. A majority
of tho Supreme Court have de-
cided that the English doctrine of ripa.
rian right Is law In California. They
have declared that water cannot be APP
kropriated for irrigation. A State Leg
stature ready TO execute the will of the
people has been throttled by the com.
bned and corrupt efforts Of small min
GRITTY. We are an agricultural commu'
nifty. We are blessed with a soil whose
fertility and productiveness seem incred-
ible, almost marvellous, to the stranger.
We have a mild, equable and salubrious
climate. But we look to the skies in
vain for water. The rainfall is so scanty
and the heat of the sun so intense, that
our only recourse is TO the rivtrs, We
must irrigate to produce and live. We
must have the right to appropriate from
the rivers to irriPate. The right OF ap.
preparation is to us Ms the sun TO the
tree. The traveller Of our eprller days
summed the San Joaquin valley as the
valley of death Over its desert area
lay scattered the bones Of men and
beasts thirsted and hungered to death.
What has made It what il is now? How
Is it that the school-house and farm.
house now mark the grave of the fam
lshed wandercr? Whence spring the
grain, the fruit and the h)wers, where
once rotted the carcasses OF starved cat
tie? From the appropriation of water
from rivers by virtue OF the doctrine that
prior appropriation for useful pur-
pose establishes right. IL is the pur-
pose Of the State Convention Just about
to be called, to secure unity OF action in
order to maintain that right by which
we came into existence as community,
and by which we live. We want Su.
preme Court which will protect that
right. We want Legislature which
will properly secure and regulate the
right to the use OF water appropriated.
We want Governor who is sound ON
this question. To us the vital issue of
the coming political campaign is. appro.
priation or riparianism. All other con-
sid erations are secondary Our people
must have it distinctly understood that
nc man, be his politics what they may,
can be elected to an office, high or low,
who leans favorably toward riparianism.
Let no man be supported who is not an
outspoken and unqualified friend of and
believer Ia the doctrine of appropriation.
Make hostility to riparianism the price
of vote, from Supreme Judge down TO
Justice OF the Peace, and from Governor
to Supervisor. No half way policy can
be sure of success. The riparian swamp
land preservers and cattle kings are nu-
merically few but very powerful by theh'
wealth, and politicians are said to have
itching palms. The friends of irriga-
ton should organize at once all over the
State. Organised and united, they can
present powerful front, and can con-
troll the election of such officers as have
executive or official duties affecting this
question. Not the least among the
friends of irrigation should be num-
bered the merchants and manufacturers
of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The
sagacious man of business of great
commercial mart cannot fail to see at
glance the business advantage TO be
gained in developing the San Joaquin
valley by irrigation. Instead of stand
ing as spectators in our contest the men
of those citieSwill be represented in our
convention, and are expected to aid in
organizing the fight. as well as in shar-
ing the fruits of our certain success.
Every irrigator and ditch owner in the
State should attend or be represented in
this convention, as well as the business
men OF every city in the State. The
baleful principle of riparianism must 90
to the wall.
The Kern county Californian of the
same date is emphatic in its declaration
that this issue will overshadow all others
until it is settled in accordance with the
best interests of the State. But the pa
pers from which we quotevoice the sent
iment of the Southern part of the State,
where great experiments in irrigation
have turned sterile deserts into fertile
fields, and built up prosperous communi-
ties. San Francisco has had the full
benefit Of all this, and will profit by it
in the future, ii all progress is not ar
rested by subservienoy to inexplicable
maxims of English law. Says the Cali
fornian
We are upon the eve of general elee-
ton. All OF the State officers, three SUI
preme judges, Legislature and county
officers are to be elected. The contest
between the two political parties bids
fair to be close one. The difference in
principles professed by each in this
State is scarcely discernible. ANY non
partisan question with powerful support
and of public Importance can command
the balance of power Ly proper organ.
ization of its supporters. The Execu-
tive Committee of the Fresno Irrigation
Convention have been summoned to
meet, with view of calling a State r.
rigation Convention. 1t is expected that
this convention will take q hand in
the coming campaign. The advo.
sates of complete and unqualified
assertion of the doctrine of appropria-
ton of water believe its Importance sur
passes oil party questions. They are
ready to sacrifice political allegiance TO
any party, and fight any politician or
nspirant for office to the finish who is
weakened on this question. They
propose to beat any man to death at the
polls who is on the fence. No candidate
need talk about a fair compromise be.
tween riparianism and appropriation. A
compromise means that 'one side takes
turkey and the other the buzzard, and
the irrigators do not propose to take the
acknowledgements
----
WILLIS L. CULVER, OF Pavilion. N. Y.
says that Gilmore's Magnetic Elixir cured
him OF long standing throat and lung
trouble. For sale by II. b. Godfrey. Nadeai1
Block.
CONFINED TO THE RED Fotrp NtoN,Tt,s