The herald., 1898-04-10
RIVERSIDE WATER.
DIFFERENCES TO BE SETTLED
AT THE POLLS
Fifteen CENTS AN INCH
AN $soo,ooo BONDED DEBT TO
BE MET
A o5-Cent Per Inch Rate Will BE
A o5-Cent Per Inch Rate Will Be
Necessary to Pay That Debt.
$3.50 an Acre Per Year

The neople of Riverside will tomorro"
engage in a vigorous municipal election
IIeretofore their city elections nave Us
alIv been fought over the WHISKY ques-
tion. but this year the contest Is o'e'
water. ,,t
riverside is strongly Republican, put
this year all the people are, TO CERTAIN
extent. Populists, for they nave a.
agreed to adopt the Popullstlc ioea VI
the referendum for the settlement VI Tic
saloon question, by submitting the ques-
tion of license or no license 10 al III
formal vote of the people at separa.e
ballot box on election day, and the canoi,
dates for city trustees have all aSreeu
to be governed by the result OF 'hau 'o'o
on that question.
The water question for irrigation puf-
poses is now the all-aosoroihs suo'N'
for discussion.
IN THE BEGINNING
When Riverside was founded, in 1Sn,
q close corporation owned the land ana
water system. The land, with a water
r;oht attachment, was sold at from wv
+o so5 an acre, and the water was SOLD
70 consumers at az cents per inch for
a twenty-four-hour flow. Most OF the
land of the colony was sold at the prices
fixed.
A SECOND CANAL
few wears later a second canal was
huilt and then both canals consolidated
under one ownership and the water sys-
tenn was extended down the valley to
cover the vast tract now known as Arl-
ington. About half of this new tract was
sold at prices ranging from $40 to $50 an
acre. including water right, and at the
nresent time about 5000 acres of this
tract in the lower end of the valley,
towards the Temescal wash, remain un-
sold.
Som after this extension of the system
+be nrice of water was fixed at 6 cents
per inch.
REORGANIZATION BY THE PEOPLE
In 1884 the people became dissatisfied
with the water management, and, a1ter
extended negotiations, the owners OF the
irrigated land formed the Riverside
Water company, which purchased from
the old company the canals and water
rights and a half interest in 5000 acres
of unsold lands. Bonds were issued to
nav for the system and for the improve
ment of the same, and the settlers mort
gagged their lands to this new company
for $50 an acre as financial backing to
the company and its bond issue.
THE CITY INCORPORATED
Prior to this move, however, the people
had incorporated the city of Riverside
The corporate limits included all the ter
ritory covered by irrigation system. The
object was to have the city trustees, who
were elected by the irrigators, fix the
water rates. This move was fought Wig
orously by the water company in the
courts, but the supreme court said the
work was legally done.
EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
The new water company then proceed
ed to improve the system by construct
ing a long flume across the Santa Ana
river and running a tunnel through the
mesa south of the fiume. 1t also pur-
chased ater-bearing lands near san
Bernardino and put down many artesian
wells to increase the water supply. 1t
cemented a portion of the main canal,
and bV these means increased the waite"
supply from about 1000 inches to nearly
1000 inches. This additional supply of
water was saved by cementing the ca
nails for miles; also by cementing the
distributing bitches in some places and
putting in pipes in other places.
A LARGE FLOATING DEBT
By these Improvements not only was
all the money secured from sale of
bonds expended, but a large floating debt
was contracted. This debt was partially
incurred because the receipts of the COM
pany were not equal to the running ex-
penses.
A DOMESTIC SYSTEM
The company also secured the con-
struction of a domestic supply system
consisting of large main pipe to bring
the water from artesian wells; also a
distributing system. This investment
was good one, for the net receipts from
this source amount to over 500 900 year.
In the meantime the water rates were
again raised to 71a cents per inch.
A HEAVY LOSS
The water company meets with loss
because it put its sinking fund into the
Dyer bank, to the extent of some 100000.
and when the bank failed this sum went
up the fiume.
The company requiring a greater in
come, increased the rates for water to
10 cents per inch.
BONDS SOLD AT A SACRIFICE
During the recent financial panic the
company could not meet its obligations,
and therefore a receiver was appointed,
Soon after this the 100000 of bonds
which had been authorized by the COM
many were sold at So cents on the dollar.
The company was thus able to pay it's
former bonded debt and its floating debt
and further extend it's Improvements.
Ry this sale of bands at so great sac
r,fice the company lost $4,000.
More revenue being necessary, the
water rates were again raised in 1897,
and $3.50 an acre was charged in addi-
tion to the 10 cents per inch.
A THOUSAND ACRES DESERTED
By the increase in rates 1000 acres
formerly planted to alfalfa were aban-
doned, because the price of hay would
not warrant that price for water
This year the water rates were again
fixed. The price is 15 cents per inch,
IN lieu of 10 cents an inch, and $3.50 per
acre.
This brings us down to date.
THE PRESENT CONTEST
The Republican party of Riverside has
ospoused the cause Of the water COM
many. and proposes to elect board Of
trustees who are in sympathy with the
management Of the company.
They claim that the present rate of
IL cents an inch will not be sufficient,
and that tine rate will probably have to
A- t,,ph hot