304 WATER MONOPOLY AND IRRIGATION. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



&quot;WATER MONOPOLY AND IRRIGATION. 



CANAL AND WATER COMPANIES, HOW AUTHORIZED LEGISLATION FAVORABLE TO 

 MONOPOLIES Los ANGELES CONVENTION VOICE or THE PEOPLE Gov. DOW- 

 NET S ADDRESS MEMORIAL OF COLORADO TO CONGRESS CONGRESS APPOINTS 

 IRRIGATION COMMISSIONERS FOR CALIFORNIA MR. BRERETON S VIEWS OF AGRI 

 CULTURE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CONCLUSIONS ARRIVED AT BY THE 



COMMISSIONERS. 



UNDER &quot; An Act to authorize the incorporation of companies 

 for the construction of canals, for the transportation of passen 

 gers and freights, or for the purpose of irrigation or water 

 power, or the conveyance of water for mining and manu 

 facturing purposes, or for all such purposes,&quot; approved May 

 14, 1862, and another Act, bearing date April 2, 1870, nearly 

 all the waters of California, now required for irrigation, are 

 controlled by corporations or private individuals. 



An Act of Congress, approved July 26, 1866, provides: 

 &quot;That whenever, by priority of possession, rights to the use of 

 the water for mining, agricultural, manufacturing, or other 

 purposes, have vested and accrued, and the same are recognized 

 and acknowledged by the local customs, laws and decisions of 

 the Courts, the possessors and owners of such vested rights 

 shall be maintained and protected in the same, and the right of 

 way for the construction of ditches and canals for the purposes 

 aforesaid, is hereby acknowledged and confirmed.&quot; 



Under these laws, a large amount of capital has already been 

 invested. It is easy to see how a monopoly may spring up 

 under their protection, and grow to such great proportions as 

 seriously to retard the agricultural development of the State. 



The reader will remember that one of the most important 

 questions which has come before the State Grange, is that of 

 water monopoly and irrigation, and that the efforts of the 

 Patrons to secure desired action of the Legislature of 1873, 

 proved unavailing. In the autumn of that year, a convention 

 had been held at Los Angeles, for the same object, and had 

 adopted the following preamble and resolutions : 



Whereas, In our rivers and mountain lakes, there is a large amount of water not 

 utilized, which if properly developed would irrigate a large area, and thus greatly 

 enhance the taxable values of our agricultural lands; and, 



Whereas, Our mountains are pierced with numerous and convenient canons, 



