Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-06-15
IRRIGATION MATTERS.
The Report that IL Suggested TO be
Made.

Major E. W. Jones, President OF the
Chamber of Commerce, has received the
following letter under date OF Washing
ton, June 8, 1889:
MY DEAR SIR-Yours of 31st before
me. In reply thereto l suggest as fol-
lows for the gathering OF needed lnfor-
nation and date: First. that in
your county and district, subcommittee
be formed by you or at your request,
which shall prepare for their severa!
localities full history and report Of
their irrigation experiences, etc. That
ia to say, in Los Angeles county each
colony should be requested to prepare
such a report; then each local water
company, ditch and local irrigating COM
munity; then the city of Los Angeles
should have a full report prepared OF
its special water system. In Los
Angeles county there are several
different phases of the water supply and
distributing problems. 1t is necessary to
bring each of them out clearly. First,
there is the old Mexican or Californian
plan of appropriating and using water
with its zanjas and officers; second, the
old mission bitches, plans and rules
third, the Cooperative Colony plan and
regulations. This is again divided into
Land and Water Company or specu'
latiye sides, and the joint stock or
cooperative association idea; fourth,
the large land or ranch owners
and their water systems;. fifth, the
water companies proper, and their mode
of selling and distributing to land owners
and cultiyators; sixth, accounts OF all
reservoirs, wells, sub-irrigation systems,
conveyance by pipes, etc. The getting
of such information should be divided
among subcommittee, to be made up OF
persons familiar with the special sub
iects. l suggest that Hon. j. De
Barth Shorb, and gentlemen OF
similar experience and culture,
would readily advise with you as
to the details of these matters. The
work of the Chamber of Commerce itself
might appropriately aid in the direction
of obtaining and formulating the produc-
ton and other results of irrigation in Los
Angeles county and city. The work
should cover (a) land areas now irri-
gated and irrigable, Government and
private irrigable and non-irrigable land
values, past and present, (b) agricul-
tural and horticultural results OF
irrigation, (c) commercial growth,
progress in other directions as resulting
from irrigation, Id statistics from all
trade and development material and
social, that can properly be traced to the
industrial use of water, (e) the gathering
and presentation of all local and COM
munity laws, rules and regulations on
the use of water, % the preparation oil
comparative tables OF cost Of irrigation
works and of water, such as permanent
rights, fixed or annual charges per acre
or per farm; the duty OIL
water comparatively arranged for your
whole section and its various groups Of
irrigators. Cd A special report should be
prepared on the water supply and its
conservation. In the preparation OF this
the opinions of your best engineers and
of your most practical and competent ir
rigators should be obtained. Possibly
may seem to have mapped out large
amount OF work. If it is pro.
perly divided, however, it will
net fall heavily on any group
1t is all very essential and will
be of great importance in the creation
hereafter of legislation and public opin.
ion. suggest that it will be well fol
eacn colony anu Otner suD-com nltteeS u
have prepared plat or map of locality
considered showing water supply and its
distribution. Photographs, pamphlets
reports, etc., should also be gathered
Then several matters will be put in evi
dence to the Senate Committee at it;
Los Angeles session and by it will be
made use OF in proper form. II there are
other suggestions to be submitted l shall
be pleased to reply. l am, very respect
fully,
r. J. HINTON,
Irrigation Engineer U. S. Geological Sur
vey.
P. S.-If your control as member o
the State Board of Trade, extends to SaI
Bernardino and San Diego counties, the
same general outline should, or may bt
followed therein. r.. j. H.