Imperial Valley press., 1921-08-12
DANGER TO ALL
Continued from page ~


be correct this article would not have
been written.
The Southern Sierras and allied COM
panies are part Of the business life
of Bishop, and spend money here
Last year the company OUTLAWS here
and in Immediately tributary terri
tory amounted to$350,o00. It's pay
rolls are important to the community
This gives it no right to commit in
justice, but it backs up fair claim
to just treatment.
ii is not the ownership of the gorge
that is publicly important. 1t is the
principal that Los Angeles can take
a property to which il has no moral
right. If il can take compary'S gorge
rights. it can take those on Bishop
creek. If il can condemn Southern
Sierras plants. It can take those of
other companies on similar pretexts.
If the courts uphold the claim that
city has q preference right for pow
or, they will certainly maintain its
superior right t. water If the city's
ringlcajyrS conclude that Los Angeles
should have pure mountain water. i'll
stead of an aQuuduct that IS claimed
to deliver Overs River water. the law
already gives a preference in its favor
and against our ranches. If these sug
geStionS are thought to be magma
tive, consider the past, and consider
also that Los Angeles Is HOW looking
toWar. the Colorado river with an,
S>0o.0oQ,0t0 power project IN MIND.
And In this connection We may repeat
: prediction made . Us by city en-
uloyc. In conversation regarding the
decision Of Judge Nan. Fleets count WI
the gorge ease, the remark was made
that the city Wouli condemn the b'~:u0
creek plants ana control tire water. Re
prc5ictsj that in 10 years Los Angeles
would own all the valley water. Win
such belief already eN.ant among me
Subord,rateS. ale Jhe above su-@t>-
t;ors wholly wild? And are w too
inS.>cert IL urging that the Wafer
committee lose no more time.
i Is apparent that Los Angeles a. 4
bit,orS looh toward q complete mon-
opoly Of the power situation, for 1he
building UP Il that city. The city hfS<
already secured preference locatlYa .
rights of p. coo square miles Of m0qU /
tain area, ana bv the 6eatfcenle lof
the laws passed for is benefit .sl:a,
position 10 hold these rights for elTflt
years, in idleress. Other inCeresS
that might develop them Tor tae us\
Of communities must hee0 OUT, ana rEe ,
communities get along er Tot, Is. IS /
may happen. In addition. there : n /
huge Colorado project, as already Mer- /
toned, in which the city seeks ~ per /
cent control cf power taat should cL..C I
up the whole southwest.
II all this power program, i s..eu.a +
he remembered. the municipality IS
absolutely independent u state control /
Or regulation. It may sell power De-
low cost 10 attract Industries. the tax .
uayers paving the difference. L may (
urGcrsel. and run out q 5d.aetltor.
and then make its own rates. in COM !
maud Of field, i may divert - cur
rent % come manufacturer, ala tlaEt j
irrigation pumps iila. These ts.rg,,
and more. are nosslb.e-aEa "f-I los
hugeltS any u@cnecHes He>s3o.!-tf .aI .
.ooner ar later become 2 probability.
On one side Is the Unlimited posi- I
y.lities II Los Angeles aspirations; n
valring the choking Of smaller ccln-
mUnities that tne city may re~-!4e is 4
ambition Of becoming Anoe r.ca's GREAT /
e-c; on the a-k.r, ne growth aid de- !
velopment Of all the territory, .-ciuI
.lg Owen. Valley. I
Unles, the ambitions Of Lga Angeles
are curbed. We may look for eard t.
the gradual taking away Of waattyar
Of our possessions it desires. L i a /
great >.ty, and win be greater; olt IS /
greatnes, wl! do the reat 81 u TO
good if II means urban grow 2. t1e +,
expense of 5he back country.
lnyO county owes the movement It's I
full support, and should sho# lo ncz.-
tation in giving It.