The herald., 1896-09-14
ANOTHER WATER DISPUTE
An Effort to Circumvent the
City Is Prevented
POLICE GUARD THE GROUND
The Pirtle Irrigation Company Seeks to
Lay q Pipe Line
When Refused Permission to Cross the City's
Lands and Ditch an Attempt ID Made
On Sunday But Foiled
POLICE GUARD THE GROUND

Through the efforts Of Councilmen
Pessell and Kingery, with the assist
ance of the police department, the Pirtle
Irrigation company was yesterday
foiled in scheme to circumvent the
city and run pipe line across the right
of way of the main supply irrigating
ditch which carries all the water for
the zanjas of the city, and also across
land claimed by the municipality, and
over which permission to pass had been
refused.
For over a year the irrigating COM
pany has been engaged in developing
water on lands owned by 1t adjoining
the Los Feliz ranch, near Burbank. The
water has been used in irrigating ground
Immediately surrounding the water
property, and as long as the company
confined itself to this, the council made
no protest, as they conceded riparian
rights.
But Pirtle and his associates desired
to get some of their water across the
bed of the river and the city's ditch, and
convey it to lands lying west of their
property along the foothills of the Ca
huenga. Accordingly they petitioned
the council for a right Of way, which was
promptly refused. The city claims all
the water of the river, both above and
under ground, and would allow no one
to lay pipes across it's territory. Not
withstanding this refusal, the irrigation
company began to lay a redwood con-
duit from it's water supply in the direc-
tion of the Cahuenga.
To reach it's destination their pipe
line would have to pass under what 1s
known as the canal and reservoir ditch,
which carries some 500 inches of water,
and which supplies the entire city irri-
CATION system. They have built their
conduit up to within twenty-five feet
of the ditch on one side, and, starting
some fifteen feet on the other, have
completed the pipe line. Only the con-
Meeting Ink under the ditch remained
to be laid. Zanjero James Briggs has
been on the spot protecting the inter-
ests of the city and watching to see that
no attempt was made to tunnel under
the ditch and lay tn, conduit
Yesterday afternoon he came into
town and reported that from appear
ances he was positive that an attempt
would be made to run the line through
during Sunday evening and night, the
company feeling secure, as no injunc-
ton could be sworn out. He had warned
the company's representatives not to
attempt to cross the city's ground and
they had said they would not, but yet
went ahead steadily with their work.
There was force of some forty men
on the spot, and a wooden fiume had
been built and sunk in the bed of the
ditch to support the weight of water
and prevent the ditch from collapsing
while a tunnel was being driven under
it.
Councilmen Kingery and Pessell. when
they heard the state Of affairs, immedi-
ately decided on course Of action, and
called on Chief Glass. He was informed
of the situation, and at once gave or
ders that two mounted officers should
proceed to the spot and remain on duty
all night. The policemen were to see
way, and should an attempt be made
to work within twenty-five feet Of the
ditch on either side, the officers were
to prevent 1t at all hazards. When they
reached the spot. if assistance was need
ed they should send for it, and it would
be Immediately forthcoming.
Accordingly, when the night watch
went out Mounted officers Woodward
and Huston were dispatched to the
scene. They evidently found everything
quiet and had no trouble in preventing
the company's men from carrying out
their object, as no call was made for
assistance, and the night passed qui-
etly. The matter will undoubtedly come
up for discussion in the council today
and proceedings will probably be taken
to enjoin the irrigation company from
any attempt to lay their conduit under
the ditch