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Owens Valley's
- Los Angeles Aqueduct
Owens Lake looking east from Olancha in 1906
Photo courtesy of the water Resources Center Archives, Orbach Science Library, University of California, Riverside, CA,
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Photos from the 1916 book "Construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct Final Report"
by the Board of Public Service Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles. |
Completed aqueduct
with a full Owens Lake in the background
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Cottonwood Creek diversion conduit
with a full Owens Lake
in the background |
Unlined canal construction -
Dipper dredge operated by electric power |
Map of the Los Angeles Aqueduct
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Placing concrete lining in open canal |
Construction of open-line canal in Owens Valley |
"Help Promised Owens Valley by the L.A. Board of Water & Power"
by Kenneth Q. Volk & Edgar Alan Rowe
"Civil War Threatened: L.A. Faces Water Famine"
by Andrae B. Nordskog
The Story of Owens River
Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
by Allen Kellky
250,460 Acres Of Land Withdrawn From Entry
Executive Order Issued July 16; Local County Authorities
Not Informed of Action
Inyo Independent |
Withdrawal of practically all federal lands in southern Inyo county from settlement, location, sale or entry has been effected through an executive order by President Roosevelt, according to communications received by Assessor A. A. Brierly from the General Land Office at San Francisco. The communication was received Sept. 20 and the executive order was dated as long ago as July 16..
The order includes lands surveyed and unsurveyed which are withdrawn subject to all valid existing rights, "in aid of proposed legislation withdrawing the lands for the protection of the water supply of the City of Los Angeles.
Practically all land in townships 12 to 23, incuding the area south of Independence and Lone Pine almost to the county line, and covering territory that drais into the Owens Valley proper, is included. Some land in township 4, and near Independence, also is included in the order.
According to county authorities, no word of this proposed withdrawal was received locally and the order became known here only by accident, although it was placed in effect last July. Correspondence disclosed the information from San Francisco.
The total of more than 200,460 acres of land is withdrawn, it is estimated. |
Owens Valey Irrigation District - 1925
Bishop Water Case Goes to Trial Monday
Superior Judge Jones of Lake County Presides
Inyo Independent - October 1933 |
Unless some sudden settlement is made by the City of Los Angeles, the case of the Hillside Water Co. and several property owners in and near Bishop vs the City of Los Angeles to halt the latter from pumping water, will go to trial before Superior Judge Benjamin C. Jones of Lake county at the courthouse Moday morning.
To date, no word of any settlement between contesting parties has come to the court's attention, and it is presumed that hearings will begin Monday. The case is of long standing and has been postponed and otherwise delayed several times.
Parties suing the Ciy are: Bishop Union grammar school district, Bishop Union high school district Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schoch, F.V. Craig, A. Burton, Mr. and Mrs. Feige, Mr. and Mrs. Lutz, Mr. and Mrs. B.E. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Collins, Mr. J. Bradshaw, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Summers, Mr. and Mrs. O. Kinney, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Riley, Mr. and Mrs. G.M. Dusenberry, Mr. and MRs. C.W. French, Mr. and Mrs. S.P. Griffith and Hess Lumber Co. Other suits have been filed by the following and
consolidated in one: Hillside Water Co., Rosetta McLaren, .C. McLaren, J.F. Brockman, Elma R. Crosby, Allen Matlick, Dora C. Coats, Zelma L. Nelligan, Lula Cox, Ed S. Matlick, Mr. and Mrs. West Amon, Chas F. Matlick, Estate of Andrew Gangler, Stella M. Shepard and Lunsford P. Yandell, Jr. |
OWENS RIVER VALLEY
Whitelaw Reid's Opinion as to the Future of the District
San Francisco Examiner - 1886 |
Upon his return to the East, after visiting this Coast, Whitelaw Reid, publisher of the New York Tribune, gave his impression as to the grand future of Inyo county and Owens river valley as a wine-producing district. He believes that the section is particularly well adapted for grape culture, and those people - Sir Thomas Hesketh and Frank G. Newlands - who are the principal owners in the wine-grape colony scheme, propse to bring the water necessary for irrigation from Owens lake, thirty miles distant. Mr. Reid added further, that as a soda-prodcing district, the Owens lake and environs are already well known.
Only recently the International Immigrant Union of San Francisco secured 20,000 acres of alley land in the neighborhood spoken of by Whitelaw Reid, for Frank G. Newlands, Sir Thomas Hesketh, Fred Sharon and others, and during his last visit to Owens river, Wm. H. Martin, manager of the Immigrant Union, entered over 30,000 acres, the most of which is for settlers who are coming to Califronia this Fall from Eastern States. After he got through with locating the above land,
he traveled overland from Owens Valley down, via the west side of Owens lake to Mojave, a distance of about 150 miles, and examined lands along the proposed extension of the Carson and Colorado Railroad to Mojave. He reports over 500,000 acres of good Government land between Keeler and Mojave, all of which will produce anything that can be grown in Los Angeles county, including oranges. It is to be hoped that very soon the railroad, as above proposed, will be completed, as it will give a grand outlet to the East over the Southern Pacific and the Atlantic and Pacific railroads for the products of the farmers and vine growers of Owens river valley. |
OWEN WILL TRY NEW INYO CASES
Governor Designates Judge in Water Right Trials
Ranchers assert City's Wells Lower Water Table
Stipulation Leaves Matter of Demurrers to Bench
Los Angeles Times - April 1925
by A. P Night Wire
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BAKERSFIELD, March 31 - Gov. Friend W. Richardson has designated Judge Eerwin W. Owen of Bakersfield to preside at three more trials in Inyo county involving the wagter rights of Inyo farmers and the city of Los Angeles. The Governor wired Judge Owen first and asked him if he would accept the designation. Judge Owen's single word response was "yes."
At this time four other Inyo county cases have been set for trial at Independence on the 21st inst. they will follow in order with Judge Owen sitting as arbiter.
The Governor's designation, announced by Judge Owen today, was for three additional cases. The plaintiffs are Mary McGann, on one action; Peter McGann on another, and Sharpless et al on the third, all against the city of Los Angeles.
The burdens of the separate complaints are similar in purport to one already settled by Judge Owen in favor of the defendant city of Los Angeles last winter.
The land involved in the separate action is situated in the Owens River watershed. The plaintiffs assert Los Angeles engineers in drilling new wells to augment the supply of water flowing into the great 200-mile aqueduct supplying the souther city are lowering the water plane in the valley, thus decreasing the local supply of water.
The plaintiff farmers allege that the new wells are draining off the very sustenance of their lives, water, which makes their crops possible, and without which they face ruin.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles attorneys are battling for the water supply of their city. The slender artery stretching 200 miles across the desert into Inyo county must be constantly replenished with water.
Unusual in the last three Inyo cases designated by the Governor is the stipulation of opposing counsel leaving the matter of the interposed demurrer wholly up to Judge Owen. This ruling will debar all further action. Judge Owen in his law chambers here will arbitrate the final issues.
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Cryptic Sucide Message Left by O.E. Howard
Commits Suicide in Front of Funeral Parlors
Inyo Independent - November 1933 |
Leaving a cryptic message to his family, O.E. Howard, field agent for the City of Los Angeles in Bishop drove in front of the Albright Funeral Parlors in Bishop yesterday morning at 9:35 and shot and killed himself. The pistol shot pierced his heart and death was immediate.
He left but a brief message, telling where his insurance papers might be found and closed with these terse words, "A square man should not get mixed up with the City of Loas Angeles."
Word of his suicide was received here from W. J. Land yesterday morning at 10:07 o'clock.
Mr. Howard had
been in the employ of the city for five years, having come here through the interest and effort of Mr. Porter.
It had been reported that he was despondent over general conditions and was to be supplanted in his position. A year ago last August he was severely injured in an auto accident when his car went over the Rock Creek grade. He had seemed to be in good health since his recovery and was unusually cheerful Wednesday.
He leaves a wife and four children, a son enrolled at Redlands University; a son and daughter in Bishop high school and a baby daughter. |
"A Message from Owens Valley - The Valley of Broken Hearts"
by Owens Valley Property Owners Protective Association Sacramento Union - 1927
BUILDER OF NEW ROAD ARRIVES FROM SOUTH
F. S. Edinger Tells of Construction Work on Southern Pacific Cutoff
The San Francisco Call - 02 August 1908 |
F. S. Edlnger, vice president and general manager of the Shattuck-Edinger construction company, whois building the road from Mojave to Owens Lake for the Southern Pacific, said yesterday:
"We have completed 45 miles of the road out of 139 to be built, and the work wlll be finished in 14 months. We have a long tunnel, some 4,500 feet ahead of us, and we are now engaged in building a temporary track over the mountain, so as not to delay construction. This tunnel is at El Paso pass and will take 400 days to complete. The road. will be a high speed one and will be the short route east from Los Angeles. It is the intention, I understand, of the company to connect the road with the narrow gauge, that comes south as far as Keeler. That road will be standardized.
"No, we have not as yet received that contract. This new line will be a splendid property, as it is being solidly built with heavy rail, and the grade is easy, about 4 percent being the steepest. We consider we did some pretty smart railroad building. Our first contract was for 23 miles of line. We got the contract, on April 27, and on May 7 had 800 head of stock and 400 men on hand and completed 23 miles by May 30, and in order to do that removed 300,000 yards of dirt." |
Why Not Settle the Matter?
Commits Suicide in Front of Funeral Parlors
Inyo Independent - November 1933 |
According to publicity material released by the Los Angeles City department of water ad power to metropolitan district newspapers, the recent Southern Sierras purchase, along with optioned lands to be bought, bings the city into ownership of what they term "98 percent of the water bearing lands in Mono Basin."
Practically the same small ration of lands remain privately owned in Inyo county, most of which are incorporated in the present water suit against the city.
With such a small proportion of lands left unpurchased in both counties, it seems strange that the City does not execute its purchase rights, clear up the matter once and for all, and settle a dispute of many years standing.
According to our informants, the purchase price asked by remaining land owners is not unreasonable.
In the same publicity release to city papers, department officials declare that acquisition of Mono lands gives the city an adequate supply of water until Colorado river water is available. That being true, then the interesting question follows: What will the city do with Inyo-Mono water when the Metropolitan aqueduct is completed? By the city's own declaration, Colorado River water will be more than enough to meet ciy needs for many, many years to come.
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STEP TAKEN BY VALLEY TO COLLECT
Owens Valley Residents Organzie Association to Deal with Los Angeles
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SACRAMENTO, June 10. - The first step was taken today by the residents of Owens Valley, Inyo county, to avail themselves of the new law enacted by the last Legislature, which enables Los Angeles legally to reimburse the property owners tor damages caused by the appropriation of waters of the Owens River for domestic purposes, when articles of !ncorporation of the Owens Valley Reparatlons Association were filed with Secretary of State Jordan.
Senator Inman and Assemblyman West, who, with Dist.-Atty. Hession of Inyo county, are attorneys for the association, filed the papers. Headquarters of the corporation is in Bishop.
Inman declared that it is proposed to have all property owners with a claim against Los Angeles for asserted damages as the result of the water controversy to assign their claims to the associat!on which, in turn, wlll seek to settle with Los Angeles city, either by arbitration or in the courts. He estimates there are 1000 claims totaling between $2,000,000 and $4,000,000.
The directors of the association are J. S. Eastman, S. H. Ayers, T. F. Hutchinson, F. H. Arcularius and T. G. Watterson, all of Bishop. |
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Laying the Cottonwood
siphon on a steep hillside - 1908 |
Laying the Cottonwood
siphon - 1908 |
Open canal in the Alabama Hills - 1912 |
Steam shovel excavating the canal in the Alabama Hills - 1912 |
Steam shovel excavating the canal in the Alabama Hills - 1912 |
Model 60 steam shovel excavating the canal in the Alabama Hilla - 1911 |
Open canal in the Alabama Hills, 33 ft across / 12 ft deep - 1912 |
Alabama Hills section of the aqueduct. Steam shovel No. 12 |
Cottonwood conduit showing forms - 1907 |
Beginning of the Cottonwood conduit showing the end of the siphon - 1908 |
Covers lined up for placing on the Cottonwood conduit - 1908 |
Cottonwood conduit showing forms in place - 1908 |
 Placing cement on the Cottonwood conduit - 1908 |
Cottonwood Creek crossing the Los Angeles Aqueduct - 1912 |
Black Rock Springs, Owens Valley - 1907 |
Colonel Sherman Stevens sawmill on Cottonwood Creek - 1908
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Cottonwood Creek near the diversion dam - 1907 |
The Sierra Nevada near Diaz Lake, Lone Pine, CA - 1912 |
Freighting team in Owens Valley - 1907
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Crossing Shepherds Creek near Independence, CA - 1906 |
Flooding from Tuttle Creek, Lone Pine, CA - 1906 |
Stream gauging on Owens River - 1909 |
Diversion canal in Owens Valley - 1906 |
Owens Valley Los Angeles Aqueduct regulating gates |
Owens Valley Los Angeles Aqueduct intake gates under construction - 1912 |
Inspection trip of Board of Engineers in Owens Valley - 1906 |
Opening the head gates to the Los Angeles aqueduct in Owens Valley 1913
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Floating dredge in Owens Valley- 1912 |
Owens River at the diversion point - meandering through Owens Valley - 1906 |
Oak Creek crossing 1907 |
Owens River at the aqueduct diversion point between
Independence and Big Pine - 1906
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Owens River below all diversions - 1906 |
Cottonwood construction camp - 1907
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Owens River below all diversions at Independence bridge - 1906 |
Cottonwood Creek area |
Digging machine in Owens Valley - 1913 |
Dredge No. 4 in main canal in Owens Valley - 1908 |
Gauging across the Owens River - 1907
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Artesian well near the Los Angeles aqueduct in Owens Valley.
That is the "best well but has a small flow." |
Control gates near the intake of L.A. aqueduct above
Independence, CA - 1913 |
Crossing Rock Creek near Tom's Place in Owens Valley - winter 1906 |
Dredge No. 1 in Owens Valley - 1908 |
Enroute to Downers Camp - Owens Valley - 1907 |
East Side Canal - Owens Valley - 1907 |
Loading the Traction Engine on the SP flat car at Owenyo - 1909 |
Aqueduct works camped out in Owens Valley 1907 |
Men in mess house - 1908 |
Portable houses for aqueduct workers - 1908 |
Wildison's Store - Mammoth Mountain area - 1907 |
Cement mixer in Owens Valley - 1912 |
Engineers planning the L.A. Aqueduct to Owens Valley - 1903.
(L-R) John R. Freeman, Joseph D. Schuyler, J.B. Lippincott,
Fred P. Stearns,
William Mulholland
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Completed aqueduct section in Owens Valley |
Pouring concrete on the floor of the aqueduct in Owens Valley |
Dredge #1 in Owens Valley - 1908 |
Dredge No. 4 excavating the main canal in Owens Valley - 1909 |
Dredge No. 1 in Owens Valley - 1908 |
Tramming cement for the Cottonwood conduit with "burro power" -
1908 |
Owens River north of Independence |
Downtown Bishop, CA - 1929 |
Owens River winding its way through Owens Valley |
Regulating gates on main canal in Owens Valley - 1912 |
Transformer float for Dredge No. 4l in Owens Valley - 1909 |
Water flowing into the canal in Owens Valley - 1912 |
Completed Cottonwood power plant
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Roberts ranch in Long Valley - 1906
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Branding at Eaton's Ranch -
1907 |
Cottonwood Creek
flowing towards Owens Lake - 1906 |
Mixing and placing concrete in the Cottonwood conduit - 1908 |
Alabama Hills development tunnel - 1906 |
Hoisting apparatus for Cottonwood conduit construction - 1908 |
Downtown Bishop - 1929
Photo Description Reads: The City of Los Angeles, which on April 11, 1929, had already invested more than $18,000,000 in Owens Valley land purchases, will lease back to the original owners all the properties it buys, merely holding water rights to provide control of the watershed which supplies the Los Angeles Aqueduct, it was announced. Here are some properties on a street in Bishop which may be purchased. |
J. D. Blacks "Cash Store" in Bishop, CA - 1930s |
Aqueduct construction camp near Big Pine - 1912. |
Threshing machine in Bishop- circa 1920 |
Completed Los Angeles aqueduct between Independence and
Big Pine - 1912 |
Wastegates at Cottonwood Creek - 1912 |
Dredge #1 in Owens Valley - 1908 |
Inside the Cottonwood Powerhouse - 1909 |
05/21
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