The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-02
Rights Under Spanish Grant.

For many decades various judicial
bodies have heard legal debates on
the question of the water ri~hts OF the
San Fernando Valley. Many jurists
have pondered over volume OF EVIL
dence submitted pro and con. and an
attempt Is now contemplated to carry
the case from the Superior Court to
the United States Supreme Court Last
February Judge Gibbs. sitting IN the
Superior Court at Los Angeles, de-
cided that the water percolatfng
through the undersoil Of the San Fer
nando Valley was a part OF the head
waters OF the Los Angeles River, and
consequently belonged TO the city. This
city's right to the water was estab-
hshed under Spanish and Mexican
grants. Disputes under these grants
arose IN the days OF the padres. In
1908 the padres at Monterey decided
that the few settlers IN ths valley had
no right TO dig wells or pump water
from their land In ths dip beneath the
San Fernando hills.
> Yet the rancherS have continued to
sink wells and pump water upon their
fields despite DEGREES or judicial inter
dict. The authorities OF Los Angeles
have often threatened drastic action.
but the fear OF hloodshed has always
held them back Judge Gibbs said to
the writer that bloodshed would un-
doubtedly follow any determined EFFORT
TO prevent the farmers from irrigaring
their vineyards, orchards and alfalfa
fields.
There has been talk" said Judge
Gibbs, "of suing out fnjunctions under
the decision for the city. but no action
has been taken In this direction so Tar.
There Is reluctance on both sides to
make a serious issue OF the long ad-
Indicated water rights OF the valley.
Much blood has been spilled IN thess
water wars. and It Is to be hoped that
this dispute can be settled amicably.
Only serious shortage OF the city's
supply would force the taking away OF
the pumping privileges from the farm
ers"
Though engineers ara far from
agreed that the recent Widespread fires
on the San Fernando range viii work
which Los Angeles now derives its sup
ply. several experts declare that there
will be shortage of water next sum
mer. In this event the city would un-
doubtedly seek TO enforce the law
against the valley ranchers, aud Mr..
James ]. Jeffries says this would mean
the burning of powder and the spend,
ing OF shot
An Ajax of the Farm
Then would we ind this twentieth
century Ajax Leading the van OF de-
termined little army OF farmers, bid
ding defiance to all the uniformed con-
stabulary OF a great city? He viii not
commit himself positively. though his
very silence is grimiy threatening. His
neighbors look up to him Al a man OF
great and heroic deeds Surely they
would call upon him to prove his valor
in event Of water crisis. Judging by
their reverence for the asy-going
young giant, they would select him as
their leader. He would make spien-
did front ito fight behind. He might
weave a chest protector OF alfalfa
bales, when he could safely face the
leaden hail OF Maxirns. A man OF his
build might catch mortar bombs and
thirty-pound shot IN either hand and
hurl them back upon the enemy
These and other epic thoughts rose to
my mind as I saw Jim numbering
about the farm-n0w he would move
heavily laden dray with an easy push
Of the hand; now carry a sick cow from
one stall to- the other; a stubborn mule
he slapped in the face, topping II over.
A farmland could noterlove barrel OF
sand. James picked 1t up ana tossed &c
across the lot