Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-30
Has the City any Claim to
the Water.
Some Interesting Facts About
the Water Supply.
The Five Year Limit will Expire in
December.
History of the City Water Company
Water rRfght-Features of the Crys-
tai Springs supply-Possi-
BILE Points.

7 The question OF the title OF the City
Water company to one OF its sources of
supply, viz: Crystal springs, has come
up before the public several times. 1t
has been stated as this way, and that
way, and all sorts OF ways. The HERALD
herewith publishes the results in brief
of the researches OF Mr.. G. P. Dorland,
the attorney who is preparing paper
for the District Historical society, on the
Los Angeles river, has looked into the
water supply question. His points are
as follows:
The city has granted leases of water
from time to time to various parties,
among them being the Los Angeles City
Water company, corportion that is
entitled to the use of ten inches of
water from the river; but this amount
being very small part Of the quantity
used by that system, the question nat
urally arises from whence does this cor
poration get its supply?
The natural presumption would be
that the supply must come from the
river, unless there is some OF her source
within reach OF the corporations ditch
or pipe line. This company pays an
annual rent OF $400 for water it obtains
from the ci.y.
In 1868 this company purchased the
property now known as the Crystal
spring, located on the Los Feloz rancho,
and on this property have developed
large supply OF water. The Crystal
spring is located in an old bed of the
river, and the water therein is evidently
part Of the river itself. If this is true,
then the water company could not ac-
quire title to the water, though they
might buy the land; neither could the
company acquire a title by use or pre-
scription while they are the lessees of
the city, as the city is the undisputed
owner of all the water of the river.
These facts have evidently presented
themselves to the water company, and
they have governed themselves accord
ingly, and as they, being lessees, could
not acquire title by prescription, the
method that would naturally present
itself for action would be for the water
company to transfer its right and title
to said springs to third party. and if
this third party could hold open, noto-
rious and adverse possession for the
period of five years then, perchance,
this third party could hold the title to.
water by prescription even against the
city.
Did the water company do this, and is
this scheme being carried out?
| The following facts are public property
and may 9be found in the office Of the
county clerk.
In 1868 the corporation called the Los
Angeles City Water company, was duly
organized, with the express object of
taking water from the Los Angeles river
and distributing the same throughout
the city for domestic use.
This corporation acquired not only
the Crystal Springs property, but also
right of way for bitches, zanjas, tunnels
etc.
On the 5th day of November, 1886, the
Crystal Springs Land and Water COM
pany was incorporated with capital
stock of 81 ,240, 900, but only $4,000 sub
scribed for, the object being to acquire
deal in and rent water, water rights and
water works in the county of Los An
gelee.
There are two striking features of this
corporation, the first is that the capital
stock of the new company is just the
same as the old, and the other is that
all it's stockholders are also large stock
holders in the Los Angeles City Water
company.
Within month, that is on the 18th
day of December, 1886, the new
company commenced to carry out
the object of it's creation by buy
ing from the old company for the
sum of $1.OO, and other considerations
not mentioned, all their right, title and
interest to the Crystal springs property; !;
also the right to develop water upon
said tract; also the right of way, ditch,
zanja, wooden conduit and other prop
erty Of the Los Angeles City Water COM
pany. 4fa
AS the Crystal Springs Land and
Water company is now and has been in
possession of the water OF the Crystal
springs since the 18th day OF December,
1886, and is exercising unqualified own
ership over said water, will not all ques-
tions as to the title thereto be settled
after the 18th day of December, 1891,
by the title becoming vested in the said
company, and the city losing q quantity
of water now sufficient to supply large
part of its inhabitants?
If so, is there a supply of water in the
river below that point, and still high
enough to be brought by the force Of
gravity into the city to meet it's needs
There is common opinion, as erro-
neous as it is prevalent, that there is an
abundant supply of water away up the
river somewhere that can be carried by
force OF gravity over all the hills of the
city. ss
Is there any danger OF the city losing
| large quantity of water?
Is this matter of enough importance