The record-union., 1891-07-11
IRRIGATION PEOPLE EXPLAIN
The Employment of Engineer Vim.
Ham. Hall.
It Is Claimed That He Represents the
Bankers and Not the Irrigation Dis
ment.
The following communications are self
explanatory:


explanatory:
EDS. RECORD UNION: Like thunder
clap from clear sky came the editorial
IN the RECoRD-UNIoN of June 23d. In
common with the supporters of the dis
trict system in the State, l have ranked
Inc RECoRD-UNION among our stanchest
friends, and do so regard it now, and
think you wrote that editorial without a
thorough understanding OF the situation,
and l think I can get you right VIII
you hear me?
In the first place you proceeded on the
presumption that Mr.. Hall is to be con-
sulting engineer for all the districts,
when in fact there is no such under
standing. You say that he is employed
by the district, and, of course, as its en-
ploye he viii make good report, and
that it will, therefore, have no more
weight than report of any other en-
ploye. While he viii be paid bys the
district, it is the understanding that ne is
not the employe of the district any more
than the eland-grader, or land agent, sent
out by q bank to examine the property of
one applying for a loan is the employe
of the borrower. The twelve gentlemen
who signed the Endorsement, and who
agreed to answer all inquiries with copy
OF MIR. HalPs report indorsed, look to
him for protection, and he is in honor
bound to protectthem and no one else. He
will be under no obligation whatever to
the district that pays him any more than
the land agent of q bank is under obliga-
ton to the borrower of money who pays
him his fee. This all seems clear to me,
but l have been through every step of
the negotiation, and am responsible for it,
right or wrong, but as things sometimes
seem clear TO actors in a scene that are
not so to the casual observer, | ask you
TO indulge me in making more extended
statement.
Notwithstanding the fact that every
body admits the value of irrigation to the
State, and the necessity for some general
system by which the waters of the State
may be made to do the greatest amount
of good to the greatest number, almost
every inch of water SO used has involved
a contest. Noquestiou of civil polity has
been surrounded by SO many difficulties.
The bank owners claimed that under the
common law of England, adopted by this
State, they had right TO see the water
flow on past them to the ocean, undimin-
ished in quantity and unimpaired in
quality, and that no power on earth could
deprive them of that right. The courts
held with them, and many of the great
irrigation works were run in defiance of
law. Some Of them are so running now
Six years ago a district bill, pretty much
the same as the Wright law. was prepared
creating public corporations with power
to condemn the riparian rights with other
private rights. The bin was defeated by
the use Ofmoney, but the discussion over
it created q public sentiment that pre-
vented any opposition to the passage of
the Wright law two years later. nder
that law districts We're formed, but these
public corporations met everywhere
with unyielding opposition. The first
districts formed had to submit to eXpen-
SiVe litigation. The courts. that had
upheld the riparian idea, affirmed the
validity of the district organizations; but
the fight still did not stop Financial
circles We're so poisoned against the
credit ofthe districts that it became almost
impossible To sell bonds. When efforts
were made in the East or in Europe to
sell bonds and inquiries were made to
San Francisco, the money center Of Cali
tOrnia replies went back that invariably
discouraged investment.
So matters hung along until the ad-
journment Of the last Legislature, when
concluded to go to San Francisco to COM
mence q campaign of education. The
bankers would not listen TO anything
and the Chamber of Commerce was APP
pealed TO and a hearing was granted
Prominent irrigatiOnists from all over
the State appeared before the Chamber,
and the business men OF that body, after
acknowledging their former ignorance,
expressed great satisfaction at the infor-
nation given, and favorable report was
made. The Produce Exchange was next
brought into the field, and it came nobly
L
meeting Of bankers was held, and it was
proposed TO them that an engineer and
an attorney, whose report they could in
dOrse, be appointed to examine the affairs
of each district. Then the matter went
to the Clearing and was there dis
cussed, and it was concluded that some
thing ought 10 be done. 1t the meantime
lhe Chronicle began to gather material
Tor its great educational number.
y number of prominent bankers signi-
fed their willingness TO do something if
anything could be gotten into proper
shape. They said that as there We're
thirty and odd districts in the State it
was more than probable that in some
there might be careless engineering or
the value of the land might not be as
represented, or the water supply might
not be sufficient. 1t was stated that al
though both the original Wright Act and
the supplemental Act providing for the
confirmation of the proceedings by decree
of court had been upheld by the Supreme
Court in a number of cases, and that no
district would be likely to offer bonds
without such contirmatory decree,
stillit would be more satisfactory to have
some reputable attorneys employed,
not to look out for the interests of the dis
tricts, but for the indorsers or referees.
AS the courts had settled so much,
however, the engineer was considered the
most important. The best known engi-
neer on that subject was VIM. Ham Hall.
After a great deal of talk, and going back
and forth, and bothering some gentlemen
not q little, the correspondence as
published was prepared. When it is
remembered that only two months before
the signing Of the document these same
gentlemen would not even talk about it,
1t seems to me that much progress was
made.
As soon as it was seen that Mr.. Hall
would possibly be the man demanded by
the bankers, he was seen rs to the amount
Of charge. and he was not consulted until
this became necessary. Maximum
charges for his services were agreed
upon-not as consulting engineer, but for
the report And it was distinctly under
stood that he stood under no obligations
10 any district, but that his duty was TO
protect his indorsers.
district may be spending much
more money than Mr.. Hall thinks
necessary, but if the works will accomp-
lsh the desired result, and the security is
ample, Nh Hall and his hackers will be
satisfied. If he were a consulting engi-
neer, however, employed as such by the
district, he would be obliged to correct
unnecessary expense. "Wm. Ham Hall,
Consulting Engineer is referred TO in
the card, simply because his business is
announced to the world in that way; it
IS simply descriptive of the man, as
civil engineer" IN that place would be.
W. S. GREEN.
Maxwell, June p, 1891.