 The Romance of the Ranchos, Los Angeles 1836, Citizens' Fight Mission over Water Rights, Owens Valley 1908, World's Greatest Aqueduct System Started, Colorado River 1936, Fight to Save Mighty Dam Project. The Title Insurance and Trust Company of Los Angles presents the Romance of the Ranchos, a weekly dramatization of the march of events which founded our Southern California of today. Each week, our wandering vicaro Frank Graham returns with another colorful and dramatic true story from the days of the Dones. Most of us paid a larger income tax last Monday than we ever paid before, and yet probably none of us ever paid a tax so gladly, for we know that much of it will go to pay for weapons and supplies that our armed forces will use against the enemies of our country. But even these new higher taxes are not enough to meet vital war needs. In a matter of months, we must equip ourselves to conquer enemies who have been arming themselves for years. We can do this through our purchases of defense bonds and stamps. This money will come back to us later with substantial interest, so it's an investment in our own financial future as well as in democracy. But the need now is urgent, so buy a defense bond tomorrow. And now here to tell us the story is our wandering vicaro Frank Graham. Buenas noches, señoras y señores. Tonight, our story is probably the most important story to each and every one of us of all the events we've presented on this series of programs, for it is the story of how a parched, semi-desert area was turned into a garden land for over three million persons, their homes, farms, and cities. It could never have been done without water. This is indeed a thrilling chapter in the romance of the ranchers. According to legend, when the prophet Mahomet was asked what was the greatest act of charity, the desert camel driver replied, to bring water to men. But more than charity, the bringing of water to Southern California was a necessity, for life in the semi-arid valley would be impossible for large numbers of people without an adequate source of precious water. And so water was the first consideration of the Spaniards who traveled north from Mexico, looking for possible sites for missions and queblos. They marked the site of Los Angeles as a possibility because of the Los Angeles River, which they call Rio Porcíncula, and a few years later in 1781, eleven families of settlers built their homes around the old plaza. Their first consideration was water. Huh, and they call this a river. See, of course it is a river. Oh, a brook, perhaps. A very small stream, perhaps. A tiny rivulet, perhaps. But a river. Huh, never. Look at it. A sick little trickle meandering along through an ocean of sand. Is that a river? See, it is. The Rio Porcíncula. There is more to it than it looks like, for under the sand and gravel a fine river flows. Huh? Under the sand? Under the ground? See, most of the water in this river is under the ground, seeping along through the sand. I never heard of such a thing. It's fantastic. Oh, it is true. Dig a hole in the sand there and you shall see. You shall strike water. Lots of it. Oh, I shall believe it when I see. Oh, very well. Be stupid if you wish, but do not be slow. Come, dip your oil into the water and we shall be getting back to the cueblo. And that is another thing. What is another thing? About this river. It is too far from the cueblo. Here we have to carry our oil as full of water a thousand varas to our houses. It's too far. Oh, you think we should move the river closer? Move the river? Ah, you stupid local. Of course not. We should move the cueblo closer to the river. Oh, and you are just as local. Pick up all our houses and move them? Besides, you want your house to be swept away when the flood waters come? Oh, see, that's right. I had not thought. However, think, my amigo, why do you suppose we built our houses on the high ground as we did to escape the floods, of course? Now, if we want the water closer, we must move the river to the poeple. Well, that is crazy. It does not make sense. How can you just pick up a river and move it? By building a tomah, a dam across the river and running part of the water into a zaha, a ditch to bring the water right up to the plaza. Oh, see, it could be done, couldn't it? See, it could be done, couldn't it? Of course it can be done. Already, the plans are being made and the Indians will start work with it a few days. Those early Angelinos built what they called the Madre Zanja, or Mother Ditch, which brought the river water to within a stone's throw of the plaza. From there it was carried to the various homes by the first employee of the Los Angeles Water Department, an Indian woman. She carried the heavy jars full of water on her head. But as the population grew and weathered the water system, improvements were made. And in the city council... But, Senorys, I object. This item of the budget is entirely out of line. I cannot let it stand. Which item, Senor Alcalde? Like this. You have recommended that the payers and hair will be doubled. See? That is right. Yeah, but that brings his salary to a fantastic sum more than mine. See? That is right. But, Senorys, am not I the Alcalde of the poeple? More important than a mere tender of the ditches? Well, no, Senor Alcalde. What? What do you mean? This Zanjero has the most important job in the pueblo. Now that we have many branched Zajas leading off to the outlying parts of the pueblo, there is constant work to guard them, to keep them clean and in good repair. Without this Zanjero, we have no Zajas. Without the Zajas, we have no water. Without water. Well, Senor, we have nothing. See, I know all this. Put this salary bigger than mine. I suppose next you shall want to pay the Americano who drives that rickety water wagon more than me. Oh, there is no need for that, Senor Alcalde. Already, from the weekly fees, the people pay him for his water. He makes more than you do. And it is humiliating. I resign. Slowly, more improvements were added. In the early 1820s, Joseph Chapman, the American who had once been a crew member of the privateer Bouchard, went to the Southland's first water wheel at the Mission San Gabriel. This was an almost magical thing to the early Californians, but soon other water wheels were being made for mills and the age of power was at hand. But it was still a thing of wonder to the Angelinos when one day they saw a strange sight on the river. I have seen many things which are strange, but this, this I cannot understand. He is very simple, my amigo. It is a wheel. Well, I can see that it looks like a wheel. It goes round and round. There is no oxygen pulling it. And it stands on the same spot without moving across the ground. But it is a water wheel. The force of the water moving downstream turns it around. You see? And it is not supposed to move from that spot. It is all very strange. But tell me, why is it for? Look, you see the buckets on each part of the wheel? See, I see them. You see that as the wheel goes around, the buckets deep into the water fill themselves and are carried up to the top. There, you see? They are emptied onto the wooden chute and the river is lifted 20 feet into the air. Now that whole hillside up there can have water for irrigation. You mean this thing lifts the river right up to the hill? See, I have said it. Well, what will they think of next? When the Pueblo of Los Angeles had first been founded, the waters of the Posse-Yunquella, or Los Angeles River, were ample for the needs of its population. Hence the proclamation of the King of Spain, giving them the right to those waters forever, meant little to them. But as time went on and the population grew steadily, it became more and more important that the young city have exclusive use of the river. And so considerable excitement was aroused when, in 1836, word was received. See, it is so. I have seen it with my own eyes. The Padres of the Mission San Fernando were built at dam across one of the springs which are the source of the river. They have cut off a great quantity of our water and they must be stopped. The excited authorities went to the governor. They were able to approach the Padres of the Mission. Welcome to Mission San Fernando. Gracias Padres. You know me no doubt. I am the Alcalde of the Pueblo. Sí, de Pueblo de Los Angeles. You have had a long journey. You will come inside where it is cool. Have a glass of vino. No, gracias. I come on business. You are in charge here? Sí, I am. Then I must ask you to break the dam which you have constructed across the mountain spring. Break it, senor, and why? You know that spring is the source of the city's river? You have no right to stop its flow. Isn't there some question? No, there is not. If the proclamation of the king of Spain is not enough then this order from the government of Mexico will be. You shall not impede the flow of the river again for the rights to its waters are all invested in the people of the Pueblo and always will be. But the rights to the water of the Los Angeles river were lost to the people for a time. Whereafter the Americans came and the population jumped to undreamed of proportions and the Zanfa system was proving inadequate and something had to be done. So in 1868 the city fathers made a decision. But gentlemen, do you see what you're doing? You're giving away to a private individual the most precious right we have Los Angeles has. Our most valuable asset. You're not being fair to the citizens of the city. We're not giving anything away, my friend. We're merely leasing the water in the water system to accompany your foot in improvements. Why not put them in ourselves? Because we haven't got the money. Besides, they can probably do it better than we can. I doubt it. Gentlemen, I feel sure that you'll regret this decision. If all the 30 years of this lease are passed, you'll regret it. So in 1868 the precious water control passed from the hands of the people of Los Angeles for a period of 30 years. Soon the city water company was putting in a pipe system to replace the old Zanhas. Wooden pipes switch when heated by the summer sun, often burst open and sprayed water over the streets. Later they built the first reservoir in Elysian Hills, the Buena Vista Reservoir. In about that time, a young Irish immigrant arrived in Los Angeles and got a job as a sanjero, helping to install the new pipes. It wasn't a big job, but as is often the case, this young man was destined to rise from it to great heights. One day, soon after, he started to work. He was digging on a dip. Stand up, Bill. Slow up. How do you find a tool? Take this pitch all by yourself? I guess I have been going at it, haven't I? I won't say I have. You've got more energy than all the rest of us put together. Oh, it's not that so much. I just got a rule I stick to. When it's time to work, work hard. When the whistle blows, go home and forget all about work. Relax and have a good time. Enjoy life. Well, it sounds all right, but you'll wear yourself out working the way you do. No, I don't think so. I won't say hard work never hurt anybody, but I will say it does most people good. Oh, and speaking of that, it's still time for work. But pardon me, I got a ditch to dig. All right, all right, I'll take the hint. But if you don't wear yourself out, you're gonna wear me out trying to keep up with you. There, there, young fella. You that's thrown dirt out of that ditch so fast. Who you talking to, me? Yes, you. I've never seen anybody shovel so fast before. You'll weigh yourself out. Ah, you let me worry about that, mister. Now get on with it. Can't you see you're interfering with important work? What's that? I'm interfering with important work. That's what I said. If you haven't got anything better to do than come around bothering busy people, we have. We're bringing water to the thirsty people. So get on with it. Hey, who are you anyway? What difference does that make to you? You tend to your business and let me tend to mine. Well, all right, sir, I'll tend to my business. Oh, step over here, young man. Oh, me, sir? That's right. Will you tell this energetic chap who I am? Yes, sir. Bill, he's the president of the water company. Our boss. Uh-oh. Well? Here, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Where are you going? I'm going to get my coat and then in to pick up my check. Oh, no, you're not. You stay right here. You're not quitting. Anybody who thinks that much of bringing water to thirsty people. Well, you mean you're not going to fire me? Fire you? I should say not. I'm going to make you a foreman. But I... Yes, and I'm going to have to watch you carefully or you'll have my job before long. Oh, by the way, what is your name? Why, uh... It's William Mulholland, sir. Matters affecting land ownership consist of more than recorded documents relating to particular properties. For example, while a deed may convey title to a lot, the legal bankruptcy of the owner of the lot would transfer its ownership just as effectively. There are many other matters relating to persons rather than to individual pieces of property, which also affect land ownership. Among them are judgments, powers of attorney and sanity commitments, guardianships and probate proceedings, divorce actions and property settlements. Therefore, to protect you when you invest in real property, the title, insurance and trust company of Los Angles must go even beyond its great system of indexing records, having to do with every foot of land in the county. It must also keep records of matters affecting persons, whether or not they own property at the time these matters arise. These personal records kept in a separate set of books called the General Index contain at present more than a million and a half different names. Against each of these names are entered facts, such as those that I have just mentioned, judgments, bankruptcies, divorces and so forth. Before the title, insurance and trust company of Los Angles issues a policy of title insurance for your protection. These records are checked to make sure that the person whose land you're acquiring has not been or is no longer involved in any such difficulty or legal proceeding which might cloud the title that he or she is transferring to you. Little did the president of the city water company realize that day when he raised William Mulholland from ditch tender to foreman, that he was a man destined for great things. But the young man began his climb quickly. Before many years had passed, he was the manager of the company. Through his efforts, the water system was expanded to meet the needs of a never growing population. Then, in 1898, the 30-year lease of the private company was up. The people of Los Angles attempted to get the rights to their water back. But the company which had invested so much in the system fought to keep their franchise. For four years, the fight continued. Finally, in an effort to place an accurate valuation on the system, a commission was appointed. And it came to see William Mulholland. These are all the records you have on the physical aspects of the water system, Mr. Mulholland? Yes. There they all are. Well, they're not very complete. I'm afraid we'll have to have more than this to be able to place a valuation on the plant. I'm sure you will. But I can tell you whatever you want to know. I trust my memory a lot more than I do any records. But Mr. Mulholland, I'm afraid that you... Oh, you don't think I remember every piece of pipe and how old it is? Every fitting, every hydrant, every gate valve? Frankly, no, Mr. Mulholland. I don't see how any man could. You have 325 miles of pipe here. All right. We'll get out of the map of the city and I'll show you. I'll give you the inventory of what we have from memory. All right. But you surely realize we'll have to check up on you. That's all right with me. I'll give you the inventory. Then you mark the points you want checked. I'll have them dug up and show you that I'm right. That's fair enough. If those points check all right, then we'll accept the rest of your inventory and congratulate you on a wonderful memory. William Mulholland was right. At every checkpoint, the engineers found his memory completely accurate and accepted his mental inventory of the stock of the company. They placed the value of the waterworks at close to $1 million. The company claimed $3 million, so they arrived at the compromise of $2 million. The voters of Los Angeles cast a huge majority for the necessary bonds. Once more, the people of Los Angeles own their own water system. Then, during William Mulholland's last days, as manager of the city water company, he received a visitor. Harold George, are you fellows over? Yes, Bill. They're all set up. Everything's ready to go. I want to thank you for rehiring all of the men who have worked here with us. It was fine of you. Well, there's nothing noble about that. They're the best, most experienced men we could find. Now all we need is a manager for the system. A manager? Yes. You don't happen to know somebody you could recommend to you. Well, any of the boys in the department would... No, I'm afraid just any of the boys wouldn't do. You see, the commission is hard set on a certain fellow, but we're not sure he'd be interested. Oh. Well, I should think any man would be interested in a job like that. You do? I'm glad to hear you say that. In that case, Mr. Manager, what are your plans for the department? George, you mean me? Why not? Hasn't this water system been your whole interest for years? Haven't you been responsible for success so far? Our deal, we couldn't any more do without you any more water. Will you stay? Will I stay? You said it yourself. My whole interest is here. Of course I'll stay. And you asked about plans, I have them too. George, we have to get more water. Los Angeles is growing fast, amazingly fast, but it can't grow much larger or develop much industry unless we get more water. You're right. The river supply is going to be inadequate before very long, especially if we have any more drought. But where are we going to get more water? Well, up in Owens Valley. Up there? Are you crazy, Bill? That's 250 miles away. Garza and Mauna will bring it down here. We'll build an aqueduct. But that's almost impossible. It would be the biggest engineering project ever attempted. All right, it's worth it. Well, Los Angeles is going to be the biggest town on the west, maybe in the country before she's through. So, in 1907, the city of Los Angeles embarked on the greatest engineering project ever attempted. Up to then, a 225 mile aqueduct costing $5 million, and planned to bring water enough to serve 2 million people. Five years it took to build. Five years of hard backbreaking work, digging, tunneling, cutting through desert sands and rocky mountains. Every day, new problems of engineering faced the directors of the project. For instance, it was the Antelope Valley Siphon. But, Mr. Mulholland, if you try to siphon up that distance over the mountain with a pipe 12 feet in diameter and miles long, you'll never make it. It just won't work. Why not? Why? Why don't we pump the air out of it? It's going to collapse. And a million dollars will be shot. No, I don't think so. We'll try it. All right, Mr. Mulholland. Maybe you were right. All the air pumped out? Almost. In just a minute. Wait. Look. Good lord, it's collapsing. Look, just as I said, that steel pipe collapsing like tissue paper. There it is, Mr. Mulholland. Months of work and a million dollars ruined. No, I don't think so. What? Turn the water into it. What why? I said, turn the water. Unless I'm completely wrong, the pressure of the water will fill it right back out again. Go ahead. Try it. And he was right. Antelope Valley Siphon stood up. The chief's revolutionary engineering ideas saved the day many times. And so it was a sort of a personal triumph that day in 1913. William Mulholland stood with a crowd in San Fernando Valley and watched the first water come tumbling down from his aqueduct into the reservoir. Mr. Mulholland, what a great day. Won't you say something to the crowd? No, no, thank you. But everyone's made speeches with you, and you're the one they want to hear. Oh, come on, just the short one. All right, all right. Quiet, quiet, please, please, quiet. Quiet. Here's Mr. Mulholland to say something. Quiet, please, please. All right, sir. Well, all I want to say is we all wanted water. We went a long way to get it. And now, there it is, take it. Los Angles had water. Water for two million people. And hand in hand with water went power. Electricity. For great city-owned power plants were built along the aqueduct. But as the years went on, Southern California experienced a growth which amazed the entire world. Soon it was apparent that even this great supply of water and power was not enough for the needs of the future. Mr. Mulholland and his associates took the lead in planning new torrents of the precious liquid. The Mono Basin project was added to the aqueduct. In the meantime, two giant water development projects were underway on the Colorado River. The greatest engineering projects ever envisioned by man. Boulder Dam was built by the federal government to control and conserve the floodwaters of the mighty Colorado and to provide a great power reserve for the Southland. At the same time, there was set underway the Water Aqueduct, the longest and largest domestic water supply system in the United States. To finance and build this huge aqueduct, Los Angles joined forces with 12 other neighboring cities and formed the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. In order to divert Colorado River water into the aqueduct, it was necessary to build Parker Dam. Several times during the years this dam was building, disaster threatened. Hurry up, men. Roll those trucks. More rock and dirt and fast. Water's coming up two feet an hour. Hurry up and go over the top any minute. Mister, can I help? I was just passing by. What's the trouble? Trouble? Brother, if the floodwater gets up over this Crawford Dam, it'll ruin two years of working, about ten million dollars. Good luck. How? Well, you see this Crawford Dam is diverting the flow of the river while we build Parker Dam down below there. The deepest dam in the world. And right now it's just a big hole in the ground. Two hundred feet deep. Two hundred feet deep. Sure, down the bedrock. If this floodwater gets through, it'll fill that hole up in no time. Holy smokes. Can I help? Yes. You can help by keeping out of the way of those rock trucks. I think they'll do the job. And they did. Another flash flood on the Colorado River had been whipped. Parker Dam was finished. The deepest dam in the world. Three hundred and twenty feet high and only eighty feet of it visible. Above the dam, the aqueduct's huge intake pumping plant was built and clear across the state of California. Three hundred and ninety-two miles from the Colorado River to the sea stretched a great aqueduct capable of supplying seven million five hundred thousand people's needs. Through one hundred eight miles of tunnels across burning desert lands up and over and around towering peaks. And in November 1939, deep in the heart of ten thousand foot San Jacinto Mountain, a dynamite charge blasted through the last ten feet of solid rock. There she is. The tunnel's through. And last the aqueduct is through from the Colorado to the cities of Southern California. After eight years of work, the world's greatest engineering project was finished. And a plentiful supply of life-giving water was assured for many years to come for all Southern California. Water for homes. Water for industry. Water for the irrigation which has changed the south land from a dry dusty plain to one of the most fertile productive garden spots in the world. And among many men who deserve the praise for these achievements one man stands out William Mulholland. He did not live to see the great project completed. To see a great boulder dam or parker dam rise. Or the great aqueduct pouring the water which was his life into the country he loved. But the people of Los Angeles remembered his part and by popular subscription they raised a beautiful memorial fountain to his memory. It stands on the spot at Los Feliz Boulevard in Riverside Drive where William Mulholland lived in a humble cabin when he was a ditch tender for the first water company. Such is the story of progress and such is the romance of the ranchers. Frank Graham will be back in a moment for a word about next week's story. Title Insurance and Trust Company of Los Angeles is happy to present for your enjoyment stories such as the one tonight highlighting the history of the development of water for Southern California. For water made possible the growth and progress of our community and thus made possible the development of the Title Insurance and Trust Company to the point where it is today the largest issuer of Title Insurance protection in the world. The next time you drive by the Mulholland Memorial Fountain at Los Feliz and Riverside Drive picture his early day cabin there and the spot will hold a new and inspiring significance for you. And when you see from the highway beyond San Fernando a section of the Owens Valley Aqueduct your knowledge of its thrilling history and new interest to the familiar site. In thus adding to the enjoyment that we all have in living in Southern California lies the element of service that the Title Insurance and Trust Company hopes to render through these broadcasts. Now what's the story for next week Frank? Next week Bob will open an exciting chapter in the history of early California. We'll tell you the adventurous story of one of the most notorious bandits of early days the renegade Joaquin Murrieta. It's a chilling thrilling true story that I know you'll want to hear. So until then this is your Wondering Baccaro Frank Graham saying Hasta la vista, señoras y señores. The Romance of the Ranchos a presentation of the Title Insurance and Trust Company of Los Angeles featuring Frank Graham as the Wondering Baccaro is dramatized by John Dunkel and produced by Ted Bliss with special music arranged by Gaylord Carter Bob LeMond speaking. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.