WATER BIGHTS ON LOS ANGELES RIVER. 343 



The West Los Angeles Water Company is the owner of a large tract of land 

 situated in the San Fernando Valley, at some distance from the visible Los Angeles 

 River. Operating on its own land, the company constructed a number of open cuts 

 and tunnels containing wooden flumes or galleries open at the bottoms for the admis- 

 sion of water, and in this manner has developed a flow amounting to several hundred 

 inches of water. The city again asserts its "pueblo right" in the fullest and most 

 explicit terms, and alleges that in 1895 defendants entered upon the line of various 

 branches of Los Angeles River, both surface and subterranean, and without right or 

 authority excavated certain trenches, ditches, and tunnels whereb\' not less than 400 

 inches of water were diverted and the natural flow in the river diminished by that 

 amount. The defendant claims that the water is developed from percolations in the 

 soil, not a part of the river. The suit was begun in May, 1897, and is now set for 

 trial in November, 1900. 



DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF WATER. 



The supply of water for irrigation in Los Angeles is distributed by means of an 

 extensive and intricate system of zanjas, maintained and administered by a department 

 of the citj' government. Regulations governing the distribution are prescribed by 

 ordinances of the city council. The executive officer is a water overseer, who has a 

 chief deputy and two outside deputies commonly known as "zanjeros." During the 

 summer season, from April 1 to November 1, the number of field deputies is increased 

 to five. 



On the 24th or 25th days of the month each irrigator who desires water during 

 the ensuing month must file an application therefor, filling in a blank form provided 

 by the city. This application contains the name of the Irrigator, number of the 

 ditch from which the supply is to be drawn, number of "heads" of "day water" or 

 "night water" desired, and the dates when wanted. Sunrise and sunset divide the 

 twenty -four hours into day and night runs. The basis of distribution fixed by the city 

 council is one irrigation head for twenty-four hours' run every month for 10 acres of 

 land. The "head" is an imaginary unit whose value has never been determined. 

 For the sake of convenience it is usually estimated as amounting to 100 inches, but 

 as a matter of fact it ranges in value from less than 50 inches to more than 150 inches, 

 according to the available flow of the I'iver. 



The number of "heads" of water ordered for a month must be paid for in 

 advance not later than the 30th day of the preceding month. In acknowledgement 

 of such payment a receipt is given in the following form: 



DAY. 



Water OvBaiSEEK's Office, 



Los Angeles, Cat, , 1900. 



From Sun to Sun. 



Received from the sum of four dollars for the use of zanja No. for the purpose 



of carrying one head of water through the same for one day only. 

 , 1900. 



, Water Overseer. 



, Deputy. 



The rate per half day is $2.50. A receipt in the same terms, but printed on 

 paper of a distinguishing color, substituting night for day, and at the rate of $2 

 instead of $4, is issued for night runs. 



