The herald., 1897-02-02
RIVERSIDE
Stirring the Water Question-Mass
Meeting to Be Called

RIVERSIDE, Feb. There Is some
little stir over the water question here.
The question of selling spirits has occu-
pied the attention of the people and es-
pecially the authorities for some time.
That question practically settled by ar
resting and re-arresting those engaged
in the traffic of the ardent" and impos-
ing heavy fines, the question of selling
water has the floor. There is some street
talk of calling a mass meeting of stock
holders for Saturday of this week, or of
such stockholders as are opposed to the
fixing of rate of 7.50 per acre per an
mum, but the proposition can be traced
to no reliable source. The present board
of directors, as before stated in these
columns, are in favor of the rate stated,
rather than continue the present system
of raising revenue by charging by the
inch. They claim that the acre rate will
make the tax come equally on all, while
as it now is some will decline to use as
much water as is absolutely necessary
for their trees, hence the man who uses
water freely pays more largely in keep
ing up the system. Besides, by the pres
ent plan of levying a tax of IL cents per
inch for a twenty-four hours run enough
money is not Forthcoming during the
year to meet the expenses of the present
sinking fund to meet the bonds when
they shall become due. They argue that
unless the interest on the bonds is paid
the system must go into the hands OF q
receiver, and thus the people of the val
ley will lose control of the water system,
and that finally the rates will be much
higher than it is now proposed to fix
them, and there will be no redress. The
feeling of the more conservative of our
aitizapS tO 10 n favor of dOin O.
almost anything that will insure the re-
tanning of the control of the system by
the people.
Another copious downpour of rain WIS.,
tied this county Sunday evening, contin-
uing all night and all day today, adding
more than an inch to the seasons pre-
cipitation and bringing the total up to
within a few hundredths of am inch of
nine inches The ground is full of water
all over the county, insuring good
yield of grain and hay on the dry ranches
Even before the present rain the ranch
ers were pretty generally of the opinion
that there was enough rain to insure
fair crops. The country never looked
more promising than at present for a
prosperous season, and of course the or
ange and lemon growers are happy.
c. M. Dexter and Sim Dew returned to
Riverside this noon from Randsburg
They report a pleasant trip, and from re-
marks they dropped think Randsburg
will amount to something in the near
future. They say the Riverside resi-
dents are prospering and that Joe
Schneider and partners will strike water
in few more days if indications count
for anything.
The seventh annual exhibition Of the
Los Angeles County Poultry association
will be visited by three poultry enthusi
asts of Riverside-V. Tresslar, B. F..
Kingman and F. w. Twogood. B. F.
Kingman will have ON exhibition his
buff Leghorns,V. Tressler his white Leg
horns and white Cochin bantams. F. w.
Twogood his white Plymouth Rocks.
One of Mr.. Twogood's birds on exhibit
ton will be bird that took first prem
ium at the Nebraska state poultry show.
The preliminary examination of r. j.
Bush, upon the charge of perjury, was to
have occurred at o'clock this afternoon,
but on motion Of Mr. Bledsoe of San Ber-
nardino the examinat ton has been post
poned until next Monday at 1:30 p. m.