Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-09

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| ing upon the voluntary contributions of
citizens for the expenses of the work.
| They undertook their task without pay,
at loss of time from their business,
with no personal aim, whether the cleo
ton was lost or won. except as their
interests are identified with the inter-
ests OF the city.
They have been working as if their
lives and fortunes depended upon the
success winning of the campaign.
On the first day citizens began to
volunteer their assistance. This proffer
of help has been increasing daily. All
political parties are united for the
common cause and next Wednesday will
see thorough organization working
for the bonds and getting voters to the
polls.
At first this campaign committee de-
cided that the campaign should be one
of education; the presentation of the
absolute facts whether they were for
or against the project; an appeal to
the reason of every intelligent citi-
zen. This plan was quickly placed in
operation. With no spirit of enmity
but with a desire to get at the facts,
the committee has investigated the as
sertions put forth by the aqueduct au-
thorities and by the opposition. State
ments of the latter when they have
come from any reputable source have
been investigated In numerous in
stances it was found that statements
printed were more than frequently dis
torted to give a meaning opposite the
intent of the author.
The committee also began to inves-
tigate the questions of taxation, of ir-
rigation, of the present supply, of
nearby sources of water, of the condi-
ton of the aqueduct department and
how the enterprise is to be conducted
in the future.
They found from the reports of Los
Angeles and government engineers that
there is no adequate source of supply
near Los Angeles, and that the present
supply barely meets the demands now
! made upon it.
AS to the question of taxation they
called upon the aqueduct authorities for
information on this question and upon
County Assessor Ward and City AS
SCISSOR Walter Mallard.
Tax Authorities Report
The reports coming from the latter
two authorities, men who should have
fuller knowledge of taxation than
any two other men in the city, bore
out fully the assertion of the aqueduct
authorities that the taxation, because
of the $23,000,000 bond issue, would not
be excessive.
On the question of irrigation there
came letters from the chambers of
commerce of Corona, Ontario, Redlands,
Riverside and San Diego. Irrigation
is most important subject in connec
tion with the Los Angeles aqueduct,
because with the water obtained from
the Owens river Los Angeles will be
able to supply not only the needs of
100000 people. but in addition will be
able to provide enough water for the
$4,000 barren acres in adjoining terri
tory that need only water to convert
them into orchards and vineyards.
From the five communities named
above came the story of how $4,000
acres of cactus and sagebrush land had
been turned into rich producing fields
and orchards. supporting an aggregate
population of $4,000 people and pro-
ducing crops that sell annually for
more than $220OOO00. 1t was found
that these $4,000 acres had been i'm
proved by irrigation so that their value
had been increased from little or moth
ing twenty-five years ago to an aggre-
gate value of SOS, 900, 900 at the present
day. 1t was a good point, and they
have made the most of it.
The aqueduct department was found
to be managed under a careful and
close system, with every indication that
il will remain so, and that it will be
kept out of politics, if the determine
| ton of the three big civic bodies pre-
walls.
How unanimous was the support of
the bond issue the committee had no
idea until after they had been in the
heat of the campaign for a week. Al
most every Improvement association
| passed resolutions indorsing the pro-
| ject merchants wrote letters to the
same effect, said they would use their
advertising space in the newspapers to
urge voters to vote fright" and that
on election day they would close their
stores; Mayor Harper and the defeated
mayoralty candidates at the last cleo
tion have called upon those who sup
ported them then to support the bond
issue now; meetings at which the cam
paign committee has called and for
which speakers have been furnished
have voted with one accord that the
city shall complete the aqueduct, and
everywhere and every place the same
sentiment has been met with.