The herald., 1898-02-08
TREASON TO THE CITY

There is pending between the CITY anu
the Crystal Springs Water company
an action at law to determine the own
ership of the water of Crystal springs.
The contention on the part of the city
is that this is all seepage water from the
bed of the Los Angeles river and there
fore constitutes part of the water right
owned from time immemorial by the
CITY, The water company claims that
the source of supply is independent
of the river and therefore. by right OF
development and ownership of the land
on which it is secured, the Crystal
springs supply is the property of the
company. Upon this the issue has been
Joined.
The decision of the question is of vast
importance to the city of Los Angeles.
1t is from Crystal springs that the prin-
cipal part of the water used in Los An
geles for domestic purposes is secured.
Should the suit be decided adversely to
the city, there would still remain the
possibility of sinking a dam in the bed
of the stream and securing an adequate
supply from that, but the water would
not be so pure after flowing in an open
channel as it is when filtered through
the clean sand on the margin of the
stream. Then, too, it would always be
regarded as a menace to the city's rights
to have an independent water claim
alongside the river.
So important was this matter consid-
cred that when another claim, similar
to that of the Crystal springs and just
above it, was established by Messrs.
Pomeroy & Hooker, the city began con-
demnation proceedings against it and
on winning the suit, paid $4,000 into
court by way of compensating damages.
Look at the matter in whatever light
we may, the water of Crystal springs is
of vast importance to the city of Los
Angeles. The most elaborate prepara-
tions have been made to enforce the
city's rights and the city attorney has
expressed his firm belief in being able
to win the case. He is assisted by able
lawyers and the council has spared no
expense or trouble to fortify him with
necessary evidence. AS the decision of
the question whether the water of Crys-
tai springs is seepage from the river or
not must necessarily turn on technical
demonstration and expert opinion, the
council engaged corps of hydraulic
engineers to assist the city engineer in
making an exhaustive test. This work,
which it is estimated will cost from $1,000
to $4,000, has been going forward salts
factorily, and part Of the money has
already been paid.
Now comes singular development in
the city council At a meeting Of the
finance committee last Saturday Coun-
Gilman Grider, who had already voted
in favor of acquisitions to the amount
of $4,000 for expenses of the engineering
board, refused to join in recommending
the transfer of money to the cash fund
to be available for meeting these reoui-
sitions. At the session of the council
yesterday, Councilmen Grider and
Hutchson sat back to-back and votad
against providing the funds to meet
these outstanding requisitions
Neither of the gentlemen who took
this singular course thought it worth
while to explain his vote, but the mean
ing is obvious. If they had been a ma
3ority instead Of a minority of the coun-
Gil and had voted thus, the work of the
city's board Of engineers would have to
stop for lack Of funds. This would leave
the city at the outset of an important
lawsuit without the technical evidence
to make good its case. It's good thing
Tor the'eity Of Los Angeles that Grider