Year: 1873

We are informed that there are a
great number Of petitions in circula-
tiOn among the farmers of the State
relative to agricultural interests, and
emb0dying what Is really declara-
tiOn Of the. right of the farmers to the
use and benefits of the inland waters
of the State. These petitions are re-
ceiving the unanimous assents of all
who are engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, and each petition contains the
following enumeratiOns OF the rights
of the subscribers:


First-Recognizing the natural di-
visions of our seasons into dry and
rainy, and that the farmers of the
State are wholly dependent for remu-
nerative crops on sufficient supply
of water-and recognizing, and look
ing full in the face the further fact
that nearly all of the inland waters of
the.State available for the purpose of
irrigation are now under either the
practical or asserted control Of private
corporations, or confederated capital
in some form, they hold that the in
land waters of this State, it's lakes,
rivers and streams, are, and OF right
ought to be, the property of the State,
or of the people thereof, and subject to
the use and control of the people
through their creature, the Legisla-
ture of the State, and that each inhab-
liant of the State is of right las much
entitled to the use and benefits of an
equitable proportion of the inland
waters Of the State as he is to
sufficieney OF the free air Of Heaven.


In
tion that q few, or any number of men
can, under the forms or privileges of a
corporation, joint stock or other asso-
citation, lay claim to and hold as pri-
vate property the first right or eNclu-
sive privilege to use, for their own
gain, to the impoverishment of the gen.
eral public, any of the inland waters
of the State, is false. That it is inde-
fensible in reason, law or justice, and
an unblushing outrage upon the peo-
pie, and especially upon the farmers
of this State.


Third-That it is not only the right,
but it is the duty of the Legislature of
California to at once take and retain
the control of all the inland waters of
the State, and by general law pro-
vide the mode and means of dividing
the whole State into irrigation dis
tricts, and for distributing, under
fixed, equitable rules, the waters of
each district among the land and
mine owners thereof, whose lands and
mines are susceptible of being advan-
tageously supplied with water. That
the State should defray the expenses
oflaying out and surveying the gener-
al districts. That the lands and mines
of each district susceptible of being
advantageOusly supplied with water
should pay, by taxation, for construct
ing and keeping in repair the canals
and other means of conveying the
water, and for that purpose each dis
trict should be authorized, under a
general law, to issue its bonds.


FOurth--That in order to secure to
the people of this State their right to
the use Of the inland waters of the
State, the Legislature to which this
petition is addressed should, before its
adjournment, provide way for con-
demning every and all, actual asserted
or pretended prior rights, privileges
or franchises to or in the use of, any of
the inland waters of the State, wheth-
er held by Individuals associations or
corporations, and the same should be
condemned to the public use of supply
ing the lands and the mines of this
State with water, and the price of the
thing condemned should be paid out
of the State treasury.-[Sacramento
Union.