Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-24
FEARS EFFECT
OF DIVISION ON
OWENS RIVER
Conduit Would Not
Be in State
~ California Is Divided, Speaker De-
cIares, Disagreeable compllea-
tons in Water Supply
Would Ensue

Members or the Union league met IN
informal banquet assembly last night
and after partaking of the choice and
appetizing viands spread before them
were treated to a speech by Grant
jackson, his subject being one of the
important questions of the day, state
Division"
Mr.. Jackson's talk was a reply to an
affirmative argument on the same sub
ject advanced by Robert N. Bulla at
the last meeting of the league, and the
speaker created a most favorable i'm
preston with his clear cut points and
fluent delivery. His speech in part is
as follows:
"There is at present an attempted re-
vival of the old and often talked of, and
as often abandoned, project of what is
designated as state division or, more
properly speaking, the division of the
state of California and the creation of
new state out of that portion of Cali
fornia lying south of what is termed the
natural line of division, or the Teha-
chepi pass.
"I will not attempt at this time to dis
cuss the question as to whether or not
a state can be divided nor will at
tempt to answer any of the arguments
heretofore made in favor of the division
of the state; but assuming, for the pur-
pose Of this article that state can be
legally divided, will content myself
with presenting certain reasons why
the people of Los Angeles should oppose
state division. And so, taking it for
granted that the state of California can
be legally divided, it would, under any
circumstances b. necessary to first
have the consent of the legislature of
the state before such a division could
be had. 1t would at this time, for vari-
Gus potent reasons, not necessary to be
discussed now, be practically impos-
sible to procure such consent, and if
there is to be a division at all resort
must be had to an alleged consent of
the legislature of California given in
1859.
Effect on Owens River
within the past three years the city
of Los Angeles has acquired valuable
water rights in Inyo county and pur-
poses to convey therefrom water sup
ply sufficient to meet the needs of Los
Angeles and vicinity for all time to
come. The city has already expended,
in acquiring water rights, making sur
veys. ETC.. many thousands of dollars,
and by the time the project is COM
pleted it will have expended at least
$25,000,000, and in addition to this the
city also purposes to build and operate
a railroad along the general line of the
conduit, as an aid in building and main
tanning the necessary facilities for con-
veying the water into this city, after
which further legislation will be neces-
sary to enable the city to maintain and
operate the railroad. 1t will thus be
seen that if the state be divided in ac-
cordance with the consent of the legis-
lature of 1859 all of the water rights OF
the city of Los Angeles, in 1nyo county
will remain in the state of California,
and will be without the boundaries of
the proposed new state. The conduit
necessary to convey this water into Los
Angeles has been estimated to be ap-
proximately so miles in length, and
about 140 miles of the conduit will be
north Of the proposed line of division.
1.-THE Owens river water project is a
great undertaking. It's successful ope-
ration means prosperity and greatness
to Los Angeles, while it's failure means
stagnation forever. The enterprise
must not be endangered. A division of
tho state of California would place the
city's water rights at the mercy of the
legislature of another state, and might
result in the practical confiscation of
the property. Los Angeles could have
no representatives in the legislature Of
that state and would be helpless in the
event of a threatened attack made there
upon its property.
Might hamper Enterprise
at would be possible for the legisla-
ture of the northern state under pres
sure of an already active opposition in
Los Angeles, to so hamper the exercise
by Los Angeles of its water rights
that this city would be forced to prac-
tical abandonment of it's property,
which would then revert to the people of
1nyo county, or more likely 1t would
fall into the hands of some public cor
poration waiting to grasp. without COM
pensation, what the people of Los An
geles had bought and paid for. But
even If the city were able to retain
ownership of the property it would be
hampered greatly, if not absolutely pro-
hibited by law, In the control and opera
ton of it's water system.
Il am advised by an official con-
nected with the water board of the city
of Los Angeles that the value of the
property which would be north of the
line of division, if the state be divided
in accordance with the consent of the
legislature of 1859, would be about S2O.-
100000, while the value of that portion
south of the line would be of the value
of about S3,O0O,00O. The tax rate of
Inyo county for the year 1906 was SO
per $100. Upon this basis the city OF
Los Angeles would be called upon to
pay to the county of Inyo an annual tax
of 100000. 1t would be a difficult
thing indeed to induce the people of
the northern state to amend their con-
stitution so as to exempt from taxation
property owned therein by a municipal
corporation of another state, and unless
that could be done this city would for
ever pay an annual princely tribute for
the privilege of being the chief city of
state, more than two-thirds of the
total area of which would be desert
waste. and which would be unable to
supply its inhabitants with the one
natural element necessary to its
future"
Little girl (who has just kissed her
father good night oh, father. your
beard is scra' hyl
Father-Dear me, miss, you are par
ticular. 1t can't be very bad-I shaved
1t this morning.
Little Girl-'Yel, then. father. it's
it's very tall for its age.-Punch.