The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-10

got word Ito Don Antonio, urg-
ing on him the uselessnees and
hopelessness of the fight, and he and
others gave up and came in, bat Flores
and remnant OF his command retired
to Mexico. After peace was declared
and Alta California became permanently
a portion of United States territory and
it's citizens became, if they so elected,
citizens OF the United States, Mr..
Coronel, with the great body of the
Cslifornians, transferred their allegiance
in good faith to the nationality repre-
sented by the stars and stripes, to which
ever afterwards, or so long as they lived,
they remained loyal and true.
In 1S47-48 Mr. Coronel was a member
OF the board OF msgistrstes, having in
charge the regulation OF irrigation.
With this very important question,
which was new to Americans, he was
both theoretically and practically
familiar. The whole theory OF water
rights under the laws and customs OF
Spain and Mexico and of all dry coun-
tries where irrigation is necessity, is
radically different from that OF England
and the United states, where, as a rule,
irrigation is unknown. The persistent
though futile attempts which Americans
in California and other semi-arid states
and territories have made, and are still
making, to apply the theories relating
to the use and ownership of water as
evolved in wet countries to dry coun-
tries, have caused vast amount of con.
fusion and loss, and frequently blood
shed, the end of which is not yet. The
writer of these lines has often discussed
this matter with Don Antonio, who as
often expressed his regret at the inapti-
tude or selt-sufficiency or disincination
to learn, what, in spite OF all their pre-
conceived notions on this subject, they
will have to learn at last. So OF the
rights OF pueblos to running streams
under the laws OF Spain and Mexico.
Mr.. Coronel held 1t WAS OF the utmost
importance that the people and officers
of this city should know and assert to
the last all the rights to all the water OF
the Los Angeles river, which this city
inherited as successor of the pueblo. In
q conversation had with him a short
time before his death it seemed as
though he could not impress on me
strongly enough this view of this i'm
portant matter.
MIR. Ooronel was assessor of Los Ange.
les county in 1850 and '51; and in 1868
he was elected mayor of Los Angeles
city. he was member of the city
council, exoeut during two years, from
1854 till 1865, when he was elected
treasurer OF the state of California for
four years. He also served at various
periods, as supervisor, mem Der of the
state horticultural society, president Of
the Spsnisa-American Benevolent 80
ciety of this city, etc.
When the notorious claim of Imam
tour to considerable portion of the
city OF San Francisco came before the
United States courts In 1857, Mr.. Coro-
mel rendered very important aid in ex-
posing the fraudulent character OF that
claim. He was sent on a confidential
mission to the City OF Mexico to ex.
anime the archives there and gather
testimony, etc., which his knowledge of
the Spanish language and familiarity
with Mexican land laws. and acqusint- !
ance with public men in that capital.
enabled him to DO very efficiently. His |
labors were facilitated by President
Comoniort and other high officials. The |
evidence he obtained was laid before
the United States court, with the result
thas the claim WAS rejected finally, and
that the titles to thousands of homes
in San Francisco were cleared of the
cleud that hung over them. Only those
who were cognizant at the time of the