328 IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS IN CALIB'ORNIA. 



against the success of the undertakings. The natural difficulties to he surmounted 

 were great; the division of authority between ecclesiastic and military officers was 

 not conducive to the best results; communication with the vice-regal Government in 

 Mexico was slow and uncertain; costly errors were made; disastrous delays were 

 suffered. Nevertheless, the missions were gradually- extended and each establish- 

 ment grew in wealth and influence. 



Meanwhile both missions and presidios were a heavy financial drain upon the 

 Government in Mexico. The mission farms had been successful from the outset, but 

 they were hardh- able to keep pace with the increased demands rising from the grow- 

 ing numbers of neophj'tes and other dependents of the missions themselves. Conse- 

 quently they were able to do nothing toward the support of the presidios. Supplies 

 of grain and other necessaries for the garrison had to be imported at great cost and 

 serious delays from Mexico. The expense and inconvenience of this arrangement 

 caused instructions to be sent to the governor to hasten the founding of the third 

 class of settlements — the pueblos, or towns. 



The pueblos were to have civil governments, practically independent of control of 

 either clerical or military authority, although entitled to the aid and comfort of both. 

 They were to devote their energies to the development of the material resources of 

 the I'egion, especiall}- in agriculture, even then recognized as the only permanent 

 foundation for a civilized government. Thus their establishment was properly 

 regarded as the principal step toward the colonization of the wilderness and the real 

 advancement of the new province. As early as 1776 two sites notably suitable for 

 pueblos were selected. One on the Santa Clara River in the north, now the modern 

 city of San Jose, was settled before the close of that year. Numerous delays pre- 

 vented the occupation of the second chosen site, that on the Rio de Porciuncula in the 

 south, and it was not until September -1, 1781, that the pueblo named Nuesti-a Senora La 

 Reina de los Angeles (Our Lady the Queen of the Angels) was founded. The pueblo 

 has become the flourishing city of Los Angeles; the Rio de Porciuncula is now known 

 as Los Angeles River; Ijut on this date began the historj- of water rights on the 

 stream and the chain of private title to lands within the limits of the pueblo. 



The original population of the pueblo of Los Angeles consisted of 12 settlers 

 and their families, 46 persons in all. Thej' were gathered in the older provinces and 

 were induced to come here under the especial patronage of the Government. They 

 were to be supplied at the beginning with live stock, seed, and farming implements, 

 which advances were to be repaid from the products of the land. They were to 

 receive stated sums annually for five years, to be paid them in clothing and other 

 necessaries. Each settler was to be granted a house lot and a tract of farming land, 

 and, in addition, all were to enjoy as a community the use of Government land for 

 pasture, and for obtaining supplies of wood and water. They were also to be free 

 from taxes for five years. 



IRRIGATION IN THE PUEBLO. 



The subject of irrigation was given prominent place in the governmental order 

 which directed the establishment of the pueblo. The site was to be chosen with 

 particular reference to irrigation necessities, and the point for diverting the water 

 of the river which would sei-ve the greatest area of land was to be indicated. Many 



