The herald., 1895-08-09
NE RIVERS WASTE WATER
Proposition From the Vernon
Irrigation Company
BEFORE ZANJA COMMITTEE
Action Is Postponed Three Weeks By
Unanimous Consent
II. M. Ames Claims That II II q Scheme to
Freeze Him Out.-.What the City
Officials Think

The zanja committee of the council yes.
terday morning began formal investiga-
tion into the proposition recently sub
mitted to the city. by the Vernon 1rriga-
tion Company, looSing toward settle
ment of the controversy between all OF
the parties concerned with regard to the
uss of the water in the river below the
city limits through the Vernon district.
Tn Vernon company is desirous of leas-
ing from the city the irrigation bitches by
which the southern and western por-
tions of the city have been irrigated, and
by and through which waters have been
delivered to other parties for use below
the city, to the end that the company
may be able to obtain the water from the
ditcnes for use and distribution in its
own bitches. By this means there will ac-
crue to the Vernon Irrigation company
an advantage in the point of diversion
from the river, which it believes will be
OF sufficient consequence to it To justly
contract with the city to the following
effect: That the Vernon company will
take charge of the bitches that may be
thus leased to it, keep the same in good
repair, furnish water 20 all persons enti-
tied thereto within the city limits, for
such uses and pun poses as they have been
accustomed to receive it, making the
charges therefor which the city has been
accustomed to make and subject to such
regulations as the city council may make
in pursuance of law; and will nay to the
city, net and clear, one-half of all the
.,~x1 49, 4 tLr, , fror ho
habitants within the city to whom the
water may be furnished, cleaning and
keeping the bitches in repair at the ex.
pense of the company.
In other words. the city Of Los Angeles
to have one-half of the gross proceeds
net and clear to it, and above all costs
and expenses for maintaining the bitches
and distributing the waters to the inhab-
itants; the Vernon Irrigation company
then to have whatever may remain of the
waters, to be diverted into its own bitches
south of the city, and distributed by it
to such persons as may arrange with the
com pany for the use of the water.
The Vernon Irrigation company FUR.
tner proposes that if the arrangement is
satisfactory to the city that it shall be
with the understanding and that the con-
tract which may be made in pursuance
of this proposition and its acceptance
shall provide that the city of Los Angeles
is entitled to the use of all the waters of
the Los Angeles liver which may be
needed for any and all municipal pur-
poses. OF for supplying the inhabitants OF
the city with water for everv sort of pur-
pose for which it might be required in
a IL -~,I Nl,nk kLA
Vernon Irrigation company relates only
to such waters as may be left after all
municipal purposes are fully supplied
and the inhabitants of the city furnished
with water. In other words, that the
contract with the Vernon Irrigation COM
pany shall not he deemed to relate to any
other waters than such as would otherwise
either pass down the stream after all mu-
nicipal want or wants of the inhabitants
Df the city wero supplied, or would sink
in the sands of the river bed, or be evap-
Grated. The only advantage the Vernon
Irrigation company is to acquire by rea-
Son of the contract is the advantage of
having larger quantity thus passing the
city limits and flowing into the COM
pany's bitches by reason of the privilege
of diverting through the city's bitches
within the city limits. rather than by
taking the water at the head of the COM
pany's ditch and after the losses that ac-
of diversion by the city by means of the
bitches and the point of diversion by the
company. The company is willing and
offers that the paramount rights of the
city shall be provided for in the contract
go that there shall be no question in re-
gard to them.
There were represented before the zan-
ia committee yesterday the Vernon r.
rigation company. by Judge Chapman and
"a. L. Gibpon as attorneys, the Vernon
irrigators by special committee, and
Judge A. Nj. Stephens as attorney, and
II. NJ. (Rlparian) Ames by himself. The
latter called the pending proceedings a
scheme to rob the riparian owners Of the
waters which belong to themselves. LET
this whole matter alone" remarked
Ames to chairman Pessel of the zanja
committee in a vehement tone of voice.
''and we will all of us fight it out among
ourselves"
tics showing how the zanja system as at
present conducted is very much of los
ing proposition to the city. The expense
for the four years beginning December l.
1889, and ending November 30, 1893, ex-
cee6ed the income by $4370.22. For the
five years beginning December /, 1889
and ending Novemb ber 30 1894. the In
come exceeded expenditures by S337s04,
or an average net income of $675.60 per
Annum. Taking 1t for ten years prior to
Noven Der 30, 1894 the average net loss
amounts to over $4,000.
The zanja committee took no action.
deferring the whole subject to another
meeting to be held III three weeks. In
the meantime the irrigators and the irri-
cation company expect to come to an un-
derstanding in the matter at issue.
Water Overseer Schaffer is very much
opposed to the irrigation company's
proposition, believing it not to be for the
best interests of tie city.
City Attorney Dunn on the other hand,
without having as yet officially inquired
Into the matter. is rather inclined to
favor the proposed lease. The company
will, it is said, at the proper time. make
better terms than those which have been
submitted.