66 ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



"Recognizing the necessity of irrigation, and fully appreciating 

 the enormous increase of taxable values in real estate, and the 

 absolute annual increase to the nation, in the production of 

 wealth resulting therefrom, the Governments of Italy and Spain 

 have been most liberal in their encouragement to irrigation en- 

 terprises. Italy pursued a course very much like that of our 

 own Government in assisting the railroad companies, but with 

 this marked difference : while the interest on the bonds issued 

 by the company was guaranteed by Italy, she did not give away 

 her land. She remitted all taxes for a certain term of years, 

 and guaranteed the companies against loss by confiscation in 

 time of war, etc. Although these canals and works are the 

 private properties of the companies, they are always held sub- 

 ject to the jealous control of the Government first, and are ren- 

 dered more or less subject to the rules and regulations of 

 irrigating associations through whose lands the canals are con- 

 structed. These associations are composed entirely of the 

 actual irrigators and workers of the soil. Their representatives 

 or officers enter into contracts with the canal companies, from 

 time to time, for a definite number of cubic feet of water per 

 second during the irrigating season, for a certain fixed sum. 

 These contracts are generally made by individual members of 

 these associations, who in turn farm out the water to others. The 

 companies themselves do not assume the distribution of the 

 water after it leaves their canals, nor are they held responsible 

 for it. In Italy the water districts are divided 'by canals, as in 

 Spain. Each district elects members to a water legislature 

 that meets twice a year, to elect their own executive and judicial 

 officers, to hear complaints and grievances, to settle disputes, 

 assess taxes, etc. 



"In Spain, the Moorish system still being adhered to, each 

 canal forms an independent district of its own. The irrigators 

 of these districts meet only once in every two years, to elect 

 their permanent administrative committee, to assess the taxes 

 for repairs and current expenses, and to appoint their officers 

 for the ensuing two years. The presiding officer of the district 

 is called the Syndic, which would correspond in position to a 

 general superintendent with us. In qualification he must not 



