The record-union., 1896-11-20
VOICE OF THE PRESS,
Extracts From Editorial Expression 0
Journals
OF the State and the Coast on Sub.
jects of Living and News
Interest.

Chico Chronicle Record: The decision
E the United States Supreme Court, de-
clar,lng the Wright irrigation law con-
stitutional, will have a marked effect on
the valuation of property in California,
and in many neighlboring States as well.
In this territory there are millions of
acres of arid land, possessing son as
rich as any in the world and needing
only water to make it yield as abund-
antly as the most favored spots of the
earth, located where rain is more fire.
quent. The people of this and other
States have been taught by experience
that irrigation is the thing that is posi-
lively necessary to reclaim the desert
lands and when this done the result is
surprising.
FOR RIVER WORK.
Marysville Democrat: The land
owners who were in session in this city
Saturday last, if correctly reported, are
In favor of the constructing of a dam or
barrier I'm the foothills on the Yuba
River. They also favored the construc
ton of earth and brush embankments
on the south side of the main channel
similar to the work just finished on the
north side under direction of the United
States Debris Commission. A commit
tee was appointed to confer with the
members of the United States Debris
Commission to urge upon them the i'm
portance of the work mentioned as
further protection to the system of earth
embankments and road grades in Linda
Township.
THE WRIGHT LAW.
San Bernardfno Sun: The decision of
the United States Supreme Court up
holding the constitutionality of the
Wright Irrigation Act, coming as it
does just after the close of the cam
paign, when capital is released and
looking for investment, will add mater
tally in bringing capital into California,
and assist in the development of the
agricultural and horticultural interests
of the State.
That the effect will be wholly good,
the Sun is not prepared to say. Some
districts organized under the law are so
heavily bonded that they can never pay
out, and the ultimate result will be to
turn the land over to the bondholders.
And in such cases the result will work a
hardship, but the number Of such dis
tricts is not so large, and the general re-
suit will be tot bring more money into
the State, and to immeaSurably increase
confidence in California. securities.
AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
Los Angeles Herald: In confirming
the constitutionality of the Wright irri-
cation law, the Supreme Court of the
IL,
gates of good and evil, but only good will
flow if the State Legislature will hasten
to shut the gate against the organization
Of wildcat schemes. Strange as it may
seem, the decision Of the court is based
upon the old time doctrine of State
rights. That is to say, the court cannot
go behind the will of the people when
the issue is one In which the State alone
has direct interest, and the theory is
also confirmed that the few have no
redress for injury when the injury is
inflicted for the general good of the
community. The decision seems to en-
large the right of eminent domain, but,
on the other hand, it extends no further
than the distribution of water for irri-
cation purposes.
Stockton Independent: While the de-
ciSion of the Supreme Court of the
United States sustaining the Wright ir-
Iigation law of California is in some re-
spects a disappointment, it is in the
main highly satisfactory and gratify-
ing. The court decides that the mode
of assessment is not in violation of the
fifth amendment to the Constitution, but
leaves the question of the incident of
Mrs. Bradley's grievance undecided as
one not proper before the court In
this connection what is said by Mr.
Wright, the author of the law, be-
comes important. He says several dis
tricts have been organized in evasion
and violation of the law, and from this
1t may hereafter appear that Mrs Brad
ley's counsel did not seek the proper
remedy. Now that the law is. as Mr..
Wright says, beyond the reach of legal
attack, close attention should be eiver,