318 WATER MONOPOLY AND IRRIGATION. 



ers and the rights of capitalists may not be adjusted by some 

 such plan, on the basis of justice and of mutual interest. We 

 observe that the conditions just referred to place a company of 

 capitalists in the light of temporary owners, and that they 

 contemplate a period when the works shall be owned by the 

 State, or by the farmers. 



20. 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 coun 

 tries, is not favorable, so far as the interests of the share 

 holders are concerned. It may be a question for the State to 

 consider whether it is a good policy to offer any special induce 

 ments in aid of such enterprises. 



21. 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 lands which are capable of irriga 

 tion; that most of this land cannot be cultivated under existing 

 circumstances; that it has no value, except for pasturage, 

 during part of the year; t aat, if irrigated, its value would be 

 increased many fold; that under these circumstances, it may be 

 a question whether the United States ought not, in some way, 

 to encourage the irrigation of these lands. 



.22. That when any canals are built, the State should estab 

 lish 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 mean 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. 



23. That such supervision will probably be distasteful to 

 the parties concerned; that, nevertheless, we believe it is essen 

 tial to future prosperity, and that its neglect now will bring a 

 fruitful crop of contentions in the future, will delay the devel 

 opment of the country, and that by making irrigation unhealth- 

 ful, it may make it odious. 



24. 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 irriga 

 tion, at least for many years to come. 



