| Show resolutions I 1 the following resolutions adopted at the late session of the california state grange have been embodied bod ed in a petition to be presented to th the e legislature of or that state F first arst recognizing the natural di division A sion slon of our seasons into dry and rainy and that the farmers of the state are wholly dependent for remunerative munera tive crops on a sufficient clent supply of water and recognizing and looking full in the face the further fact that nearly all of the inland waters of the state available for the purpose of irrigation are now under either the practical or asserted control of private corporations or federated confederated con capital in sume form they hold bold that the inland waters of this state its lakes rivers and streams are and of right ought to be the property of or t lie tile state or of the people thereof and subject to the use and control of the 1 people through their creature the legislature of the state and that each inhabitant of the state is of right as much entitled to the use and benefits of an equitable proportion of the inland waters of the state as he is to a sufficiency of the free air of heaven second that the asserted proposition that a few or any number of men can under the forms or privileges of a corporation joint stock or other association lay claim to and hold as private property tho the first right or exclusive privilege to use for their own gain to the impoverishment of the general public any of the inland waters of this state is false that it is indefensible in reason law or justice and an unblushing outrage upon the people and especially upon the farmers ot this state third that it is not only the right night but it is the duty of the legislature of california to at once tali take and ana retain the control of all the inland waters of the state and by a general law provide the mode and means of dividing the whole state into irrigation districts and for distributing under fixed equitable rules the waters wate 0 of f each district among the land and mine owners thereof whose mines and lands are susceptible of being advantageously supplied with water that the state should defray the expenses of laying out and surveying the several districts that the lands and mines of each district susceptible of being advantageously supplied with water should taxation for constructing and keeping in repair the canals and other means of conveying the water and for that purpose each district should be authorized zed under a general law to issue its own bonds fourth that in order to secure the people of this state their right to use the inland waters of or the state the legislature to which this tills petition is addressed should before its adjoua adjournment ament provide a way for condemning every and andall andali aily alls actual asserted or pretended prior rights privileges or franchises to or in the use of anhof any of the inland waters of the state whether held heid by individuals associations or corporations and the same should be condemned to the public use of supplying the ian lan lands of s and mines of this state with water and the price of the thing condemned wo alid be bild gut out bof of the state treasury |
