IRRIGATION PROBLEMS IN SALINAS VALLEY. 207 



2. Is the present method of adjudicating rights satisfactoiy ? If not, what should 

 replace it? 



Answe)'. — It is not. It can not be until the necessary data on which to base an 

 equable decision are available. If a board be established to take charge of those data, 

 it would be naturally best qualified to render an equable decision, and should be made 

 up with this end in view. 



3. Is there any method by which the owner of a tract of land can acquire directly 

 from the public a right to the water which reclaims that land, as he can now obtain 

 title to the i:)ublic land itself by means of the desert or homestead law i If not, should 

 there be legislation to provide for this ? 



An-ncer. — There should be legislation to provide for this and use of the water 

 should attach to the land. 



4. What has been the influence of the doctrine of riparian rights on the success 

 of irrigation, and what modifications of this doctrine are suggested^ 



Answer. — The doctrine of riparian rights has been harmful to irrigation develop- 

 ment, and the California riparian law should be repealed. 



5. Is the present S3-stem of stream control and of division of water satisfactory ? 

 Answer. — It is not. The same central board, to the creation of which reference 



has been made, could put this matter in charge of an executive officer. 



6. Should there be a State engineer, and what should be his duties? 



Answer. — There need be no State engineer for this particular pui-pose if the 

 board of control appoints as its executive officer a man of wide experience in the con- 

 struction and management of irrigation works. Physical data are now being collected 

 in a satisfactory manner by the National Government, and by suitable cooperation on 

 the part of the State of California the national work can be sufficiently enlarged 

 in scope to gather the necessary physical data. The duties of the executive officer 

 would therefore be largely supervisor}' and advisory. All plans for new irrigation 

 works should be submitted to the board of control, and after approval the execu- 

 tive officer of the board should see that they are canned out as approved. The 

 executive officer of the board of control should also present to the latter the facts on 

 which to base its decisions in cases of dispute, and should see that the decisions of 

 the board are carried out. 



7. Should there be a central office of record of claims or titles to water in place 

 of the present sepai^ate county records, and what supervision or control should be 

 exercised over rights to be acquired hereafter ? 



Answer. — There should be a central office, and the board of control already 

 referred to should have the determination of existing rights and the control of the 

 establishment of rights hereafter. 



8. What steps should be taken to secure the fullest consen"ation and use of water 

 which now runs to waste ? The discussion of this question to include State or National 

 control and aid, the legislation needed to define rights to stored water, and to deter- 

 mine who is entitled to the waters thus stored. 



Answer. — There should be cooperation and consultation between the State and 

 National governments looking to the fullest possible use of the waters of the State 

 for irrigation, with especial reference to Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The 

 work of the National Government should include: (a) Improvement of the rivers; 



