Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-07-27

their cause, however, Is indexed by the
degree Of personal vituperation they hurl
against Governor Stoneman for doing
his duty at this crisis. / believe that,
notwithstanding all the assault and de.
traction this call has brought out, the
Legislature will pass measures which
will be OF great advantage 10 the irriga.
tion farmers OF this State. They will, !
am led 10 believe, place the supreme
control OF the natural streams Of Califor-
mia In the State and pass an act enabling
districts TO be formed for irrigating pur-
poses and TO govern the distribution and
tire cost of water that will place the
rights Of the irrigating farmers upon a
sound, solid and enduring footing. IL
they will do this they will have accom-
plished great deal. All the legislation
the people require Is embraced Ia the
conversion Of the ownership Of the water
TO the State and efficient checks against
monopoly In its distribution. There
does not appear to be strong desire to
dismantle the Supreme Court, although
that tribunal, outside OF its riparian
complexion, has failed to give anything
like satisfaction. But the prevailing
sentiment seems TO be that II Is better
TO wait far its reorganization in the nat
ural course than to rudely set II aside at
the present juncture. 1t is perhaps
better to take away Its power for
harm on this water question by timely
legislation than TO let its friends
set up the cry Of persecution. One can
stand mild dose Of religious martyrs
but q strong dose Of martyrs from the
legal fraternity would be more than we
could endure.
STATE WATER WORKS.
Senator Cross Of Nevada has intro.
duced series of bills having for their
fundamental idea the creation Of State
Board Of Irrigation Works to determine
upon water improvements wherever ra-
ouired. and to establish a State Fund
from which money could be borrowed by
the districts to make such improve
ments as the Board with the State
Engineer should formally pass upon. !
have not had chance to read the bills;
but there is broad hint here Of a policy
that might be carried out to great adj
vantage in this State. By present
methods of taking out, carrying and dis
tributing irrigating waters, at least go
per cent. Of the element is lost by evap.
grafton, percolation, etc. That is, about
40 per cent. Tor less) reaches the real
uses for which the water lie taken ont.
Then again the water possibilities could
be indefinitely increased by proper sys-
tens Of storage. 1t will therefore be
seen that an important question arises
as to whether 1t would not be better for
the State to use it's credit for the pur-
pose Of building efficient water improve
ments and thus at once greatly snlargethe
area Of land TO be irrigated by any one
stream. Economy OF water and the en-.
iargement OF its productive possibilities
means rapid growth Of the State in in
dustry and wealth. These are subjects
worthy the most careful and serious at.
tention of statesmen. The difference
between 400, 1000 and 200, 900 prosper.
Gus farms in the southern part OF the
State Is difference which vitalizes this
subject with a principle Of stupendous
moment.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
see by a late paragraph in your pa.
per that Hon. G. Z. Berry has positively
Withdrawn from the field as candidate
for the nomination for Governor by the
Democratic convention. This Is mis-
take. He told me himself and / so
wrote you, or intended to write you, a
few days ago, that he ,oas candidate
Tor the nomination.
The rise in the price Of hops has had
quite an inspiriting effect upon the
large number of growers In this vicinity
4 - 4.