THE IRR1 GA TION A GE. 257 



view of the loose talk there has been for many years about "water bar- 

 ons," "water monopolists," etc. With politicians and too many others 

 this has for years been a favorite theme, it being assumed that 'every 

 water company is getting rich by squeezing the poor settlers out of the 

 last cent of profit there is in their crops. No doubt there are enough 

 that would do so on the principle of some railroads charging all the 

 traffic will bear; but those that have done so exist only in the heated 

 fancy of the demagogue who thinks that everyone who puts on some 

 cheap style is making money. 



I have worked for a number of companies in a way that has given 

 me more knowledge of the inside than most people can get. As consult- 

 ing engineer, and all around "steerer" I have been in six different ones 

 in which I took all my pay, beyond expenses, in stock or water or both, 

 and with the express understanding that in no case was I to put up a 

 cent. On account of the great interest I have for many years taken in 

 the subject as a matter of business I have known the inside working of 

 many companies besides these and probably know of more than any one 

 else living. In three of the six companies I have been in I threw up my 

 interest, getting out without loss and expenses paid. Out of the other 

 three I have made some money but must frankly say I don't want any 

 more at those figures. If any one ought to know how to be a succesf ul 

 "water hog" I ought and I don't hesitate to admit that I have tried to be. 

 But if any one will show me how it is none I will do all the work, find 

 parties to take all the risk and give one half the profits to the sage who 

 furnishes the recipe. I don't know the man who has been smart enough 

 to work out the problem. A very few have made money by manipulat- 

 ing the stock provided they had sense enough to stand from under in 

 time, but these are very scarce and the game is a very dangerous one. 

 Many have made good profit by buying land, uniting water with it and 

 selling out the two with the stock of the company, turning over the 

 whole to the land- owners who then form the company and fix the rates 

 to suit themselves. Most all of these have been a success but no promo- 

 tors have got very rich and the most of those who have made anything 

 out of it have done so by getting water for their own land and becoming; 

 cultivators under their own ditch which they have sold out to their nigh- 

 bors. I do not know of a case in which any big profit has been made, 

 but do know of many in which even this profit is still imaginary and con- 

 sists only in the present ownership of land and water which the party 

 will probably be able some day to sell but has not yet done so because 

 unable. 



There have been cases, as at Redlands, California, where companies 

 have charged for land and water' more than the average settler can af- 

 ford to pay and several times more than the cost of the combination. 

 But this was avowedly fancy property desired by rich people for fine 

 residences in connection with orchards and they willingly paid the price. 

 Much of the watered property in southern California has been of this na- 



