IRRIGATION FROM SAN JOAQUIN RIVER. 217 



capital, to supply the demand for water, and more costly and complicated irrigation 

 systems were found to be necessarj". Consequenth' stock companies were formed, 

 and large amounts of capital enlisted in irrigation enterprises. In this wa}' most of 

 the waters flowing in the streams were "taken up "or "appropriated," and the 

 importance of storage of the flood waters to meet the growing need became evident. 



The development of stock companies and corporations soon grew to such propor- 

 tions that a new danger became apparent. A monopoly of the waters available for 

 irrigation was threatened. Great systems, involving the expenditure of hundreds of 

 thousands of dollars or even millions, were practically absorbing all sources of 

 water for irrigation. The farmers found themselves at the mercy of water com- 

 panies, both as to i"ates charged and quantities of water applied: and the life and 

 growth of agricultural communities were considered in jeopardy. This condition of 

 affairs resulted in the evolution of the Wright irrigation law. 



This law seeks to establish a system bj- which the people of any locality, the 

 lands of which are capable of irrigation from a common source, may form an irriga- 

 tion district on a basis somewhat similar to that of a municipal corporation. The 

 effects of this law on irrigation in California and the litigation arising under it will 

 be discussed later on. 



During all this time the advantage of irrigation was becoming more firmly 

 impressed upon California farmers and orchardists. "With numerous excellent 

 object lessons before them, thej- abandoned the prejudices formerly held against 

 it and the expense and labor it involves, and have come to recognize in it an insur- 

 ance not only of a crop but of vastly increased production froui the same fields 

 and, perhaps, of several harvests in a single year. As a result, from the more arid 

 districts of southern California, where it naturalh^ began, irrigation -has spread 

 rapidly over the State to its northern boundaries, and even over localities which are 

 credited with reasonable i-ainfall. 



Following closely in the path of such enterprise has come a wonderful increase 

 in the variety and yields of ci"ops, in population and in wealth. Kaisins, wines, citrus, 

 and other fruits have supplanted pastures, wheat, and barley; cities and towns stand 

 on the ground of the old lonelv faimhouse; and millions in bank are substituted for 

 the "promise to pay" of unfortunate farmers. As an example of this wonderful 

 increase in population, I will mention only seven of the many counties pi-acticing irri- 

 gation, viz: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern. Tulare, Fresno, and 

 ^Merced. In 1870 their total population was 40,849, and their combined wealth 

 $22,513,820. In 1890 their population had increased to 296,719, and their wealth to 

 $198,356,127; or the population had multiplied more than sevenfold and the wealth 

 ninefold. 



In contrast to these improved districts are those which have persistently resisted 

 irrigation. They have not advanced. Often they have gone backward; and have 

 retrogi-aded in population and in wealth. 



The writer believes that the prominence which California enjoys is largely due 

 to irrigation ; and that since the subsidence of the gold fever her progress and pros- 

 perit}' have been coincident with the production of the great variety and quantity 

 of her crops resulting from the wise and skillful irrigation of her soil. 



Turning now to the San Joaquin Valley, we find that Fresno County, in the center 



