Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-30
OWENS RIVER
BASE OF SUPPLY.
BOND ISSUE OF S23,000,O00
PROPOSED
OFFICIALS ARE CONFIDENT
See New Greatness for Los Angeles
II Enormous Flow Of Water ls
Brought From sIerras to
cIty's Gates
OFFICIALS ARE CONFIDENT
rrom Pnre one.

CitIs 4Ill6 dQucuuOl VIII p0 hGAb W
the longest on record 1t being 24O miles
II, length. The only one exceeding 1t
ir length is the Coolgardie pipe in
New South Wales, Australia, which
is 307 miles long. This line is thirty
inch pipe and 1t runs up hill for the
entire distance, raising the water al
together about 1000 feet. In order to
make this long haul and lift, fifteen
relays of steam pumps of great power
are necessary.
The city. through its water COM
missioners, has already either acquired
or secured options on the land and
water rights on the Owens river from
Owens lake to Fish Springs, a distance
of about forty-six miles. The options
SO far obtained include more than 100,-
900 acres Of land, beside vast tracts
which the government has promised to
turn over to the city. According to
Mr.. Mulholland, there is not strip in
this entire forty-six miles which the
city has not secured an option on that
can not be jumped across.
The first five miles above the lake
was government land and the goven-
ment had engineers at work consider
ing the proposition of conserving the
water, but through the efforts Of En-
gineer j. B. Lippincott this idea was
given up and the land turned over,
with the water right, to the city.
Purchase Riparian Rights
Above the governments grant it was
necessary to purchase all of the rights
which were obtained. While few of
these riparian rights were bought out
right, in the majority of cases options
were secured on the land and vested
rights.
One of the most important options
secured was that to the ditch of the
Penn colony, with it's right to 5000
inches, This colony was established
about twenty years ago, but owing to
the nature of the ground it never pros
pered, and they were eager to give the
option, not knowing, however, that 1t
was for the city of Los Angeles.
Fish springs, forty-six miles above
OWtflS ldhc iHdi Nd tiiC AiOi SiSAiA DONAA0
ary of the proposed purchase. Con-
siderable water is taken out above
these springs for the purpose of irriga-
ton, and yet the river. "makes" so fast
that the loss of the water is not ap-
parent farther down.
Bought Cottonwood Canyon
Cottonwood canyon was purchased
outright for $1,000. The engineers who
made the purchase say 1t seemed like
taking the stream away from the own
ers, as 1t runs 1000 miners inches all
the time, and that is one-third the
present water supply of Los Angeles,
which is said to be worth $25,000,000.
Acquisition of this valley by the city
may mean the total depopulation of
the town of Independence This is a
village of about 900 Inhabitants who
depend for their existence upon the
trade of the ranchers in the valley.
The land is said to be worth little for
anything but cattle raising, and the
total population of the valley is said
to be about 1000 persons.
Eaton Fathers Scheme
Ex-Mayor Fred Eaton is the father
Of the scheme to bring this water into
the city. Some thirteen years ago he
bought cattle ranch in the valley and
as he is an engineer was at once inn
pressed with the possibilities of the
stream.
81
For ten years he has been talking OF
the project but until the last few years,
when the water problem had reached
alarming proportions, he could get no
one to listen to him. He has worked
persistently but quietly and has not
talked much of late.
For year past he, with Superinten-
dent Mulholland and the water COM
missioners, have been seriously con-
sidering the scheme. Preliminary sur
veys were made under his direction. A
number of the water commissioners,
with Mayor McAleer and City Attorney
Mathews, went over the ground and
thoroughly investigated the proposition.
Everyone was instantly impressed by
the great possibilities which the de-
velopment of the scheme would bring
forth for Southern California and be-
came enthusiastic advocates.
Some Of the most prominent business
men in Los Angeles were consulted and
they. after thorough examination of
the proposition. declared that If the
scheme could be materialized the future
prosperity OF Los Angeles would be
assured.
VIII Cost s2s,ooo,ooo
After careful estimates It was figured
that the approximate cost would be
s2s. .0OO, 900 Practically every business
man who examined the deal declared
that with SO abundant water supply
assured for all time property values in
Los Angeles would Immediately in
crease to much more than the extent of
S2s. 900. .OOO
on account Of the state law at the
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