Imperial press and farmer., 1902-03-21
tNperts te Reform the Water RlOht
 laNS.

nave com Nfieul tNNulrrtRN rfalA w" Co prepare a neW code of irrigation laws Co be submitted Co the State Legislature.
 The commission Go draft a code of irrigation laws in accordance with resolutions passed by the last two meetings of this association. is al most complete. As 60 stands. it would probably be impossible io find in the United States men better qualified by experience for the work they are to do.
 With the single exception of Chief Justice Beatty. who may yet he per suadod that he can serve his State on the commission without interfering with his other duties. every person re- Qucsted Co act has signiiled his will. ingness to do SO.
 \ letter from Elwood Mead promis ing his help Is printed In this issue. One can not read much about irTiga. ton without running into the name of Elwood Mead. and on any cxamina. ton of the subject at all it becomes evident that Mir. Mead is about the greatest practical irrigationist in the country He Is now in charge of the irrigation investigations of the De partment Of Agriculture. What may not be so generally known about him Is that he was largely instrumental in framing the irrigation and water. right laws of Wyoming which are SO nearly perfect that it Is said only one case of water litigation has gone to trial in that State since their adop- tion 1T irrigation were as new in California as t was in Wyoming when Mir Mead went there. he could do the same thing here. Vested in- ;erests. however. introduce local com plicagions. The problem Is not to find what might be done. but what can be done
 To assist in clearing up the legal difficulties peculiar 10 California. two gentlemen have been asked to serve who ought to know more about what those difficulties are than almost any body else They are r. H. Short of Fresno and Hon. John n. Works of Los Angeles. ex-associate justice of the State Supreme Court Their wide experience Tn water-Tight litigation has made them familiar with the de- fecis of existing law and should prove invaluable 10 the people of CalifoT- mia This legal force only lacks Chief Justice Beatty
 Presidents Jordan and Wheeler of Leland Stanford. Jr. University and the University of California. need no introduction. Since they have been in the State no enlightened effort for California's benefit has failed Of their aid when il was asked
 ~ k- ~g.. department al Stanford. and Prof. Frank Sonle of Berkeley are widely known in their field. Both are members of the advisory council of the Water and Forest AssO- citation and are enthusiastic in their devotion 10 it's work. Each surveyed a stream when the original investigations were being made. and their work has given them expert knowledge of all the conditions of the irrigation problem
 Only one other member of the com mission remains 10 be mentioned He is F. Fl Newell. hydrographer of the United States Geological Survey. and cores bonding secretary of the Amer ican Forestry Association a man conversant with the situation
 needs. in respect 10 irrigation and estry. Of practically the entire coun try. and one who should be an unfail- ing source Of information on com paratiye water and forest law.
 The commission will probably hold its preliminary meeting in March. or ganlze and get down to business about the first of June It will begin Fn~ T.f