348 IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. 



engineer measures the streams and ditches, aixl the board secures an intimate knowl- 

 edge of the facts and conditions before a decision is rendered. The whole procedure 

 is as simple and effective as can be conceived, and it produces a minimum of annoy- 

 ance and expense to those concerned. The work of this board for the past ten years 

 has had the effect of practically abolishing the exhaustive litigation over water rights 

 which is so common in other States. The State engineer and the division superin- 

 tendents are also charged with the duties of ascertaining the water supplj-, appor- 

 tioning it among the consumers according to their respective rights, issuing permits 

 for new appropriations, keeping complete records of all the diversions on the differ- 

 ent streams of the State, etc. The plan has given unqualified satisfaction to the 

 people of Wyoming, and it promises equal success in California. 



WATER BIGHTS SHOULD ATTACH TO THE LAND. 



In southern California it has been the genei-al practice for many years to treat 

 the right to use water as equivalent to the absolute ownership of the water. This 

 view is not affirmed bj' decisions of the supreme court of the State. On the contrary, 

 the attitude of the court is advei'se to the principle of private ownership of the coipus 

 of the water. 



The propriety of having all water rights attached to the land itself is so manifest 

 that it seems evident that the reformed code of irrigation laws for this State will con- 

 tain a declaration to this effect. 



Doubtless it is within the power of the State to declare that existing water rights, 

 as well as those hereafter established, must be appurtenant to the land, and it seems 

 that such practice will be just and equitable to all concerned. 



"WASTEFUL PRACTICE SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED. 



The irrigation practice on Los Angeles River is peculiar in many respects, due 

 to the fact that the whole flow of the river is claimed by the city of Los Angeles, 

 but it is like that of all other localities in showing the necessity for intelligent super- 

 vision by some authority' other than that of the principal claimant. Los Angeles is 

 notoriously prodigal in its use of water for domestic and ordinary municipal pur- 

 poses. Therefore it is not surprising that it should be lavish with its irrigation supply. 



The trait of human nature which leads the average purchaser of an}' valuable 

 commoditj' to get all that he can for his money finds full sway in the city's manage- 

 ment of the water supply. There is no incentive to economy. Elsewhere there is a 

 general recognition of the principle that the onlj' equitable basis for water rates, 

 whether for ii-rigation or other use, is to charge according to the amount of water 

 actually taken by the consumer. Where the charge for irrigation is made by the 

 acre each consumer will probabl}' take all that he can get, the cost being the same. 

 Were the citj' to provide a modern system of distribution I)}' accurate measurement, 

 charging according to the quantity taken, a decided improvement in the line of 

 economy of water, with corresponding increase of area served, would soon result. 

 An officer of the State should see that the citj', and those who receive water from 

 the city, should not divert from the river a greater quantity of water than they can 

 use in a reasonable manner for beneficial purposes. 



The drought which has prevailed throughout southern California for the past 



