State Agricultural Society. 313 



is for farmers to build and own the canals, we also believe that where 

 the farmers are unable to build, and where the State is unable or unwill- 

 ing to build, it may be, and it probably will be, the best policy to invite 

 the aid of private enterprise. We refer to numerous instances in Spain 

 and Italy, where this system is now in successful operation, in support 

 of our opinion. The private companies undertaking such enterprises 

 should be subjected to certain conditions, some of which are as follows: 

 That, after a stated period, the franchise shall lapse in favor of the 

 State, or of the irrigators; or that, after a certain same period, the 

 State shall have the right to purchase on certain previously defined con- 

 ditions. That the price of water shall be fixed by agreement; each 

 party in interest being represented by arbiters; that the State shall 

 have the right to charter an association of irrigators to administer the 

 works, the company merely selling the water and having nothing to do 

 with it after it leaves their channels; the association making all arrange- 

 ments for its distribution and the collection of the water rates. This 

 latter provision has several advantages. It relieves the company from 

 the arduous duty of discriminating in times of scarcity, and from the 

 endless disputes which attend the distribution of water, and puts the 

 responsibility Avhere it belongs — on the irrigators. It favors each irri- 

 gator, for he becomes a member of a company which is strong enough 

 to stand up for its rights in any contest with the capitalists. 



NOT AN INVITING FIELD FOR CAPITAL. 



That there is no reason to suppose that for a long time capital will 

 look upon this kind of investment with favor. The financial history of 

 most irrigating enterprises in other countries is not favorable, so far as 

 the interests of stockholders are concerned. It may be a question for 

 the State to consider whether it is good policy to offer any inducements 

 in aid of such enterprises. That the relation of the United States to 

 the irrigation of California is, for the most part, indirect; but that in 

 the southern end of the valley, between Visalia and Bakersfield, and 

 south of this town, it is believed that the United States own many 

 thousand acres of land which are capable of irrigation. 



THE DUTY OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. 



That most of this land cannot be cultivated under existing circum- 

 stances. That it has no vaiue except for pasturage during part of the 

 year. That if irrigated its value would be increased manifold; that 

 under these ch'cumstances it may be a question whether the United 

 States ought not in some way to encourage the irrigation of these lands. 

 That when any canals are built the State should establish a system of 

 inspection, by which a proper construction shall be assured. That the 

 quantity of water to be taken from a river at its main stage, for the 

 irrigation of a definite quantity of land, should be fixed by a reasonable 

 rule, so that those who come later shall not find all the water taken up, 

 and so that proper drainage shall be secured. That the water rights of 

 the streams now taken up for mining purposes in the mountains do not 

 conflict with the irrigation of the plains, the water being returned to 

 the natural channels above the points where it will be taken out for 

 irrigation, at least for many years to come. 



40_(agri) 



