The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-11-21
RAIDERS THREATEN
TODYNAMITE DAM

independence, Calf, Nov. 17.-T.ate
Monday Judge w. d. DENY. of the
superior court of Inyo County. grant
ed an application by the CITY Of Los
Angeles for a temporary order To
restrain Owen valley ranchers from
interfering with the Los Angeles ao-
ueduct. Sheriff Collins Of Invo conn
ty left at once for Lone Pine n
serve the order on the small army
OF ranchers there, which SUNDAY
seized and opened the Alabama
waste gates.
The city's complaint states the
waste of water is 29O cubic feet 2
second and that the approximate loss
is $4,000 daily. The order is return
able next Monday, November "a.
The only names mentioned in the
documents are those of Mark o
WatersOn, and w. r. Mccarthy. pro-
Imlnent ranchers. All the others. m
wards Of 100 in number. come under
the category Of "John Doe.
Lone Pine, Inyo County, Calf, Nov.
1l.-An army Of ranchers, without
guns with no acknowledged leader.
but act in unison, backed by wives
and daughters, Monday night was
camping on the ALBANIA gate of the
Los Angeles aqueduct, defying county
and city authorities in its determi-
nation to waste Los Angeles water
until the city shall make a settlement
OF the water war" that has ragged
for years in Owens river valley.
ORDER SERVED
Late Monday Sheriff Collins of Invo
county served the assembage with the
county superior courts order design
ed 70 restrain the ranchers from in
teferrring with the aqueduct, but it
had no appreciable effect on the stu
alton.
Copies of the legal document were
handed to each man. Some put them
IN their pockets. Others threw them
into the Spillway, where hundreds of
gallons of water were rushing by
every minute, instead Of toward the
city of Los Angeles.
WHO is your leader?" the little
army was asked.
together" was the reply. "The big
city has fooled US ranchers long
enough and letting the land lie waste.
We've going to stay on these gates
until Los Angeles city comes TO terms
and there's nobody who can put US
off at least nobody, but the militia"
But" said one man and his threat
was echoed by a chorus of a dozen
others, eff there is a single one of
US hurt in showing us off here. it will
mean the destruction of the Los An
geles aqueduct."
So far as the Associated Pres cor
respondent could observe, there was
not a gun or pistol in the whole
and he was assured on every
hand that, contrary to statements re-
ported to have been made by repre-
sentatives of the city of Los Angeles
there was not an ounce of dynamite
On the Alabama gate side.
Camp fires sprang up all about the
Olg splllway as supper time drew near
n the valley, and wives, mothers and
daughters from the ranches through |
'ut the district began preparing the
neal in old time pioneer fashion over
he open flame
Bedding arrived in large loads for
he "army of ocupation" and every
evidence was apparent of an inten- |
ION to stay on the job until it was
or until the militia comes.
In reply to an oft-repeated cues
ION as to what proportion of the !
'anch population was behind the |
seizure and opening of the waste |
gates, the correspondent was assured |
y more than a score of men that |
from 50 to 100 per cent of the Owens
lyer valley approved of the move. !"
The Bishop chamber of commerce
londay approved the ranchers' action
n a resolution
ASKS TROOPS
Lone Pine, Calf, Nov. 17-Sbn,iff
'harles Collins, of Inyo county. Mon
ay, night telegraphed the second an
eaI to Governor Richardson for
tate troops to dislodge Owens River
alIey ranchers, who, Sunday, seized
ne Los Angeles aqueduct and diverted
S How into Owens Lake thru tba
Iaoama spillway, north of here.
among the raiders who were re
eyed by fresh men Monday after p
ergyman. Q "
Most of my congregation is here -
sad, TO some who voiced surprise
ms presence. my place is with