The herald., 1893-08-20

The city officials quietly proceeded to
the business in hand and the officer
served the papers upon the gentlemen.
Mr.. Pomeroy acted in very quiet man
ner, accepting the inevitable with all
possible grace.
TIE WATER TURNED ON.
The situation was surveyed by the
officials after which the. force OF men
were instructed to again turn the water
into the canal to osupply the city.
Earth began to fly about l O'Clock,
and before the lapse of many hours the
water was again rushing through the
disputed ditch.
NO RESISTANCE MADE.
Not the slightest resistance Was made
by the owners of the property through
which the ditch runs. On the other
hand, the matter was thoroughly dis
cussed by the city's Representatives and
the landowners. Matters were AMIGA
bly, arranged and a verbal contract given
by Mr.. Pcmeroy to the effect that no
action would be taken by him to shut
off the water until the question as to
ownership is settled in the courts.
Mr.. P0meroy was seen by a reporter.
He showed the lease Of the ditch be-
tween his firm and the Citizens Water
company, by which Hooker & Pomeroy
were to receive S. day rental for the
use of the ditch. The contract specified
go days as the limit OF time in which
notice OF the termination ef the con-
tract was to be made known to the
Providencia ranch owners. Notice had
been given the Water company June
18th, according to Mr.. Pomeroy, and
the city was not to be recognized in the
matter. He tcontended that the city
has no right to trespass upon his lands.
and II it must have water it must be
gotten some other way than by carrying
1t over his property.
EXPENSIVE LITIGATION.
However, Messrs. Hooker and Pome.
roy claim they will make no effort to
undo what has been done by the city,
and will await the decision of the court.
The trouble will involve the city in
extensive litigation, which may not be
settled for years. While the city claims
that the courts will finally restore the
ditch, the Providencia ranch owners
claim with equal certainty that they
will win the case. Complications may
arise which will carry the matter along
for an unexpected length Of time.
WITHOUT BLooDsHED.
It Is very pleasant to know that this
important matter has been at least tenn
porarily settled without bloodshed. 1t
is admitted that mistake was made by
the owners of the Providencia ranch in
sending armed men to the dam to guard
it. What the result OF this attempt to
defy the city will be can only be SUR
missed.
THE INJUNCTION.
The complaint sets forth that the CITY
owns an irrigating ditch or canal leading
from the Los Angeles river at q point on
the Providencia rancho and flowing
through the city. The ditch has capa-
city OF 400 miners' inches OF water and
it ia used for the purpose of supplying
it's inhabitants with water for domestic
purposes, irrigating purposes. flushing
sewers and ifrigating and supplying
public parks with water.
1t is alleged that for more than 20
years the city has maintained dam on
the ranch at point near the termina-
tion Of the ditch, which is necessary to
divert the waters Of the river into the
ditch.
The city charges that August 18th the
defendants unlawfully diverted the
waters from the ditch. causing them to
flow bsck into the river, and destroyed