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274 HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COU TY
unfathomed basin of Owens Lake, from which today there is no 'known
outlet.
In these statements concerning the Owens River Aqueduct, I wish to
say that I am quoting freely, and frequently verbatim, from c1,uthoritative
published documents.
Fred Eaton was convinced from long and careful study of the Owens
River waters and the geological formations hedging it in, that the obstacles
standing in the way of making the old river available as far south as the
San Fernando Range, near Los Angeles, could be easily overcome by means
of tunnels and siphons, and thus be delivered to the City of Los Angeles.
He was also convinced that the project, if carried to a conclusion, would
develop electrical power of immense capacity.
Permeated to the very soul with this great dream, Fred Eaton came on
a fateful day to Los Angeles, and unfolded his vision to the devoted officials
in whose hands the destinies of the city were then entrusted.
Eaton submitted his idea in the greatest secrecy. His consuming fear
was that his great dream might become publicly known with the. result that
private commercial interests would seize upon it, and that the city-which
meant all its people-would lose forever the one supreme opportunity which
was its salvation.
Wherefore, with the utmost stealth, and as men going forth on a pro-
found secret mission, the discovery of which would spell disaster, the city
sent its engineers to examine into the whole project. And when the engi-
neers. had reported the project to be entirely feasible, the Board of Water
Commissioners secretly acquired all the necessary options on land and water
rights to safeguard the project from every conceivable angle.
The engineers estimated that to build the aqueduct an expenditure of
$23,000,000 would be necessary. The tremendous cost, almost unparalleled
in the history of American municipalities, and the boldness of the project-
bolder than British dreams of Egypt-did not for a moment dismay the
Los Angeles city officials. The officials knew their people-a people brave
to do, and long used to big achievement. And they laid the project before
the people with the utmost confidence as to what the answer of the people
would be.
I well remember that great morning in the month of July when this
thrilling dream of the Owens River for Los Angeles was first made public
in the columns of The Times, where it was published exclusively .. The
announcement sent a wild thrill through the whole population. And no
wonder. Here was deliverance and salvation. It was like that time in
Canaan when Joseph's brethren came back from Egypt laden with corn to
succor their famine-stricken homes.
I think it is safe to say that upon the first announcement of this great
news there were no discordant voices in the acclamations of joy with which
· it was received. It is true that later on the project was bitterly assailed
from various sources and by various selfish interests. Even to this day,
indeed, there are to be found those who will say that the Owens River
Aqueduct constituted an extravagant and useless expenditure of the
people's money. There are those who say that a sufficient water supply
could have been secured nearer at hand and at one-tenth of the expense
of the aqueduct. But these carping criticisms are so childishly founded