The herald., 1898-04-16
A WATfRY DISCUSSION
BEFORE THE ZANJA COMMITTEE
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON
Vernon Irrigationists Ventilate Their
Grievances-Cause Of the
Controversy

Urbanites can scarcely appreciate the
value and Importance some people attach
to water-ditch water at that-and it takes
our suburban cousins to display genuine
interest in the matter.
They spoke of nothing but water at the
meeting Of the zanja committee yesterday
afternoon, and so monotonously was the
subject pursued as to cause a pervadine
thirst among the members Of the commit
tee and the spectators. And from this
matter of bitches and ditch water may yet
spring q family feud akin to those that
are 80 frequently occurring In some OF the
southern states. II 1t reaches that climax
here it will mean the Brewers and their
friends pitted against the Mopres and their
sympathizers all Of whom live in Vernon
or thereabouts.
And the head of the Moore family dis
played such passion while speaking be-
fore the board yesterday as to convey tho
impression that If family fight was
started 1t would be q vital one. So ex-
cited was Mr.. Moore that while deliver
ing himself of his opinion his entire frame
shook and his words came with the rapid
ity of man laboring under great mental
strain, as the speaker no doubt was.
for he crossed his legs nervously after each
assertion that Mr.. Brewer made in reply.
1t came about through a petition filed
with the board, In which the signers, in
cluding Moore, asked that the 2Sth aud
Goth Of each month be permanently set
aside for the turning on of city water into
bitches and g The petitioners are agr!-
culturists in and about Vernon. and
these bitches run through or near to their
properties. Behind this simple request is
volume of animosity on the part of the
petitioners, and all of 1t is directed against
J. II. Brewer, the zanjero of that neighbor-
hood. He has been making comfortable
living from the fees attendant upon the
office for the past twelve years, and now
there Is an organized effort to dethrone
him. upon the ground that he has of late
been showing partiality In the distribution
OF water and, further, on the tacit ground
that he is charging too much for the bene-
fit his work serves.
The old man fought for himself on every
assertion against him that was made. and
addressed the board at length on his side
of the controversy. His remarks, OF
course, were in the nature of an unequivo-
cal denial Of all the charges Of misman-
agement and partiality advanced, and his
words again were as strenuously combated
by his opponents.
His son backed him up in his assertions
and claimed that the Moore family were
the instigators of the outbreak. He urged
that of the. one hundred and forty three
acres held by the petitioners who we're act
ual residents of the district, seventy be-
longed to the Moore family, and they had
representation of eight In the Vernon
Irrigation society, of which both the op-
posing sides are members; that their vote
influenced the motion that was made al
the last melting Of the association, and
which is now the nucleus of the petition
under consideration.
All were ready to speak at once at this
juncture and arose to do so. ALI exclaimed
in unison and like a well-drilled chorus
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Board" and then Councilman Ashman
ordered them to be seated, and would per.
NIT but one Of their number to speak at
a time. This they oondescended to do
and Mr.. Moore explained his position at
still greater length and with no abatement
Of vehemence.
The water trouble Is Of some duration
and has received the attention of the
board on several occasions before. 1t has
also been source Of annoyance to ranch
ers In other sections or the outskirts of the
city, and in behalf Of the latter Council
weeks ago, succeeded in having a motion
passed in the council restraining the city
water overseer from selling water outside