216 IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. 



That this condition of irrigation affairs should be reformed is the sincere wish 

 of ever3' thiniiing citizen of our State. With a code of water laws based upon 

 faii-ness and justice to all, and an administration of them seeking the greatest good 

 to the greatest number, not only would the irrigated districts but the whole State 

 bound forward in a career of prosperity-. 



A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGATION IN CALIFORNIA 

 AND IN THE SAN JOAttUIN VALLEY. 



The problems to be discussed in this paper are those relating to irrigation from 

 San Joaquin River and its tributaries. It seems best, before turning directly to 

 them, to give a brief history of the development of irrigation in California and 

 more particularly, in the San Joaquin Valley. 



California, at first possessed by Spain and afterwards l)}- Mexico, derived its 

 earliest ideas and methods of irrigation from those countries. The first irrigation in 

 the State was practiced b^- the Spanish mission fathers, who, while converting to 

 Christianity and civilizing the Indians, planted and cultivated vineyards, orchards, 

 and farms surrounding the missions. The methods of irrigation in Spain were 

 peculiarh" applicable to the coast region and interior valleys of California because of 

 the similarity of natural conditions in the two countries. 



Until the coming of the Americans the water laws of California Avere those of 

 Mexico and Spain. Under them the waters of the stream were held to be a public 

 trust, title to which could not be granted to anj- private person or corporation. 

 Permission for use only could be given, and then to the actual user and to the amount 

 used. Upon the discovery of gold in California in 1848 the miners took water from 

 the streams to wash the golden sands, and established local laws dictated bA' common 

 sense and the interests of their industrj-. As indicating their righteousness, it may 

 be said that they were practicalh' the same in all mining districts, however widely 

 separated. 



As time went on California, which had been at first almost exclusively a mining 

 State, became a great agricultural one. Its valleys and hill slopes produced immense 

 quantities of wheat and other cereals, and spots favored by nature wei'e converted 

 into wonderfulh' productive orchards and vineyards. Wherever within her bound- 

 aries the rainfall was ample and reliable crops were good, both in quality and 

 quantity; but in many localities where the soil and sun were friendh' the rainfall 

 was uncertain and often deficient. Settlers in main' cases realized the importance, 

 and often the absolute necessit}', of the artificial use of water upon their farms in 

 order to secure crops and a livelihood. 



The first attempts of the American farmer at ii-rigation resulted in works of the 

 most primitive character. Often individual effort led to the introduction upon the 

 land, through a plow furrow, of a small quantitj' of water from a neighboring 

 stream. Later, comumnities of farmers cooperated and constructed irrigation canals, 

 to be utilized in common. At first, of course, the water most readily obtained 

 was made use of, and for a time only small, cheap systems were constructed, and 

 elementary irrigation practiced. 



As districts })ecame more populous and the necessity for water greater, individ- 

 ual effort, and even local cooperation, became insufficient, both as to methods and 



