Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-20
TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA

VIHE STATE IRRIGATION COMMITTEE
i deem it proper to make a statement TO the
public IN regard to the scope and aims of the
Irrigation movement which has been organized
and directed, in sense, by this committee.
few unfriendly newspapers and the attorneys
for certain riparian owners, who are opposing
the movement, have published so many misrep-
reservations in respect to Our work and objects
that it seems to be necessary to reply to them in
this formal way. And more especially does this
seem to be proper since we are now about to
submit to the Legislature certain measures
which we believe to be essential to the pros
perity and material progress Of the people of
California.
The committee was first appointed by the
in December, 1881. 1t was reappointed by the
Convention of the same class of citizens and
others interested with them in the agri-
cultural prosperity of the State. held in this
city in May. We hold from these Conven-
tons full discretionary powers to pursue
the course we may consider best to obtain the
relief and protection as to water rights, which
is the sole aim OF the Irrigation movement.
The principles for which we contend in re-
spect of water rights, and which we are seeking
to have incorporated in the Constitution and
laws of the State, may be briefly set forth:
First-That the unnavigable streams of the
State are the common property of the people
thereof, and, like the air. should be free to all to
the degree that they are applied 10 Necessary
and beneficial uses.
Second-That appropriation of water must
not imply individual or corporate ownership of
the element, but that it can be taken simply for
the time and to the extent only that it is applied
to necessary and useful purposes. after which it
must again become common or public property.
Third-That the construction of canals and
other irrigation works should be encouraged
and protected by the assurance of fair returns
on the capital invested, and the appropriation
of water to be conveyed to the irrigator by such
means should be recognized as an application
of the element to necessary and useful pur-
poses.
FoIIrth-That tho 11nDovioafla e,,,oo me oe 81, =
State and all irrigation works must be under
such control and management that waste and
misuse will be prevented. to the end that every
acre in the State requiring irrigation may be
supplied with water. That this is a subject of
Legislative control.
Fffth-That the rights of irrigators, and ap-
perpetrators and owners of irrigation works shall
be equally protected.
These principles conform strictly with our in
structions from the two Conventions We shall
continue to agitate for their full recognition
In the course OF the agitation for the over
throw of the dangerous and destructive riparian
doctrine announced by majority of the Judges
of the Supreme Court, q widespread demand ap-
pears to have been made for the resignation of
has seemed to this committee that the rights
and interests of the agricultural classes of Cali
fornia, and others interested in irrigation and its
results, can only be secured and protected by q
reversal of that dec sion. We do not see how
this can be done except by n reorganization of
the Supreme Court as suggested and advised by
y. N.
c,amation converting the Legislature in speeial
session. And while we do not in any way ques-
ton the uprghtness, integrity or personal char
acter in any respect of any OF the Judges of that
high tribunal, we do not hesitate to say that we
believe that the welfare of the State requires
that the course indicated by the Governor in
| this regard should be followed.
In our work we have not known nor do we
know any politics but VA TER. Our Committee
Is composed of members of both political par
| ties. We believe that our work has merited the
confidence and support of the people and we
| do not doubt that they will sustain us in keep
| ing partisan politics out of the movement,
whether IN the Legislature or elsewhere. And
we are confident that the friends of irrigation
will resist and defeat all efforts TO bring the
Senatorial question before the Legislature at
+, this extra session. There is no emergency re-
curing the election of Senatrr at this time,
| and il would be an unfair and unjust proceed
| ing to DO so. Respectfully,
J.DE BARTH SHORE, J. F. WHARTON,
! W. s. GREEN, X. HUDNUT,
| H S. DIXON. L. B. RUGGLES,
j. II. TUCKER. D. X. ZUMWALT,
J. P. IRISH, W. B. CARR,
w T. COLEMAN, n. d. RIDEOUT,
L II. HOLT.
jyo0-lt Executive Committee