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1839 – California: A History Of Upper And Lower California From Their First Discovery To The Present Time, Alexander Forbes

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The first full account in English to relate exclusively to California, this book covers the history, climate, soil, natural productions, agriculture, and commerce, as well as the establishment of the missions and the conditions of the “free and domesticated” Indians. It includes an appendix on steam navigation in the Pacific.

1978 - January – Drought 77 Dry Year Program Report

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The objectives of the Drought 77 Dry Year Program were to identify critical drought impacted areas in Northern and Central California, to provide information to water users in these areas in regard to water conservation, to assure that the limited supply available was used in accordance with lawful rights, and to take enforcement action against violations of permit and license conditions, illegal diversions and waste or unreasonable use of water.

1912 - Report Of The Conservation Commission Of The State Of California

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The report prepared by the Conservation Commission of the State of California investigated and gathered data and information concerning forestry, water, the use of water, water power, electricity, electrical or other power, mines and mining, mineral and other lands, dredging, reclamation and irrigation, providing such information for the purpose of revising, systematizing and reforming the state laws pertaining to these subjects.

1921 - Third Biennial Report Of The State Water Commission Of California

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The State Water Commission, an administrative and quasi-judicial body having supervision over the acquisition and defining of water rights and the use of water from the natural stream channels and lakes of California, was created to carry out the terms of the Water Commission Act of 1913. The act provided for a definite record of water right titles and constituted a code of water law governing the use of surface water and underground water flowing through known and definite channels, based upon rights by appropriation. The third report of the Water Commission noted the increase in work in terms of …

1916 - Irrigation Districts In California, 1887-1915, Bulletin No. 2

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The 1916 report covers the establishment of irrigation districts between 1887 and 1915. Under the Wright Act of 1887, the State sought to conferred on farming communities powers of municipalities in the purchase or construction and operation of irrigation works. The report considered the old irrigation districts from the point of view of what seemed to have been their purpose. They were grouped as follows:

Districts essentially nonspeculative and· formed to meet a bona fide demand for new irrigation works: Orland, Kraft, Orland Southside, Central, Colusa, Browns Valley, Modesto, Turloek, Huron, Tipton, Tule · River, Kern and Tulare, Poso, Ama'rgeza, …

1919 - Summary Of The Annual Reports Of The Farm Advisors Of California, Circular No. 208

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The report discusses in some detail establishment of the Agricultural extension organization ultimately in every county by the placement of a farm advisor or county agent. In California, the local farm bureau acted as a cooperating agency through which the farm advisor could reach a wide range of activities; i.e., advice from the best farmers in the county as to what could be done and how to do it, ability to reach every community in the county, and provide a plan for organized self-help. The farm advisors coordinated the efforts of Federal, State and local agricultural organizations to encourage farmers …

1945 - Irrigation Requirements Of California Crops, Bulletin No. 51

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

This 1945 report addresses the issue of water being the limiting factor in the expansion of irrigated areas. The increasing cost of new projects not only approached the capital values that newly irrigated lands might profitably support but in many cases exceeded them and other benefits were evaluated to justify construction. Conservation of existing water supplies was therefore of the first importance in the economy of the irrigated west. Savings in irrigation seldom exist where water was plentiful but where it was scarce conserving methods were the rule, wasteful practices were avoided, and water was carefully applied. It was axiomatic …

1893 - Resources Of California, H. H. Markham

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

This 1893 publication that highlights the resources of the State of California was prepared in response to State legislation requiring that the report be prepared for distribution at the World's Columbian Exposition. It includes a description of each county, including area, population, chief industry, climate and soils, that would assist the intending settler "in forming his judgment as to which part of the State offered immediate advantages in the pursuit of the vocation he chose to follow."

1901 - Report Of Irrigation Investigations In California

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The 1901 Report of the Irrigation Investigations in California under the auspices of Elwood Mead, Expert in Charge was premised on the growing value and increasing scarcity of water creating, in turn, the need for better laws to control the distribution of streams in California. In order to promote the more rapid and successful development of the State's resources, the general conclusions of those taking part in the investigations indicated the need for and nature of the reforms required to put agriculture under irrigation on a ore enduring and satisfactory basis.

1982 - Grants Of Land In California Made By Spanish Or Mexican Authorities

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The 1982 California State Land Commission publication provides the historical background of landownership in California that led to the private land claims and subsequent patents issued. Contains discussion of the missions, presidios and pueblos. Provides a listing by each county of the name of the rancho (grant), patentee, patent date, patent number, watercourse, Township and Range, and the amount of acreage.

1893 - History Of Political Conventions In California, 1849-1892, Winfield J. Davis

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The manuscript and copyright of this 1893 book written by Winfred J. Davis was purchased by the California State Library with the proviso that the Library publish the book thereby ensuring that it was preserved and made accessible. The document details the history of the California Political Conventions between 1849 and 1892 covering, but not limited to, the conventions held by the Democrats, Whigs, No-Nothing Party, Republicans, settlers and miners, Temperance, Douglas Democrats, and Breckenridge Democrats.

1886 - The Irrigation Question, Memorandum Transmitted To The Legislature Of California, Wm. Ham. Hall

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

The 1886 abstract prepared by William H. Hall of a report he would write on the question of irrigation in California. Hall notes the lack of useful irrigation laws, the detriment, noting that English law of riparian rights should not become a rule of property in California. Hall discusses the need for irrigation in California to be a necessary common or public use of waters that would be founded upon public control of water supplies and this must rest on public ownership of streams.