ditches, and not above them. Even if so inclined, it would be physically impossible for city officials to take water belonging to the farmers.

At the southern end of the Valley there is a saline lake without an outlet, known as Owens Lake, into which unused water from the Valley ultimately finds its way. Water evaporates from the broad surface of this lake and is lost, a benefit to no one and the waste of a life-giving resource in a desert land. It is principally water which would otherwise have flowed to this lake which the city has diverted into the aqueduct for the supplying of its inhabitants. In so doing it is the view of the city officials that the municipality has not destroyed, but has created, having made possible the extensive development which has taken place within Los Angeles during the past fifteen years.

The interval between 1904 and 1923 was marked by the establishment of a status quo between the city and the Valley people. The city's activities were largely confined to the southern and sparsely settled end of the Valley, and ample water was available for aqueduct supply from what remained after all farm ditches were supplied. The population of the Valley doubled during this period, reaching a maximum of over 7,000. The assessed valuation of improvements and real.property increased to more than fourfold of its former value. The town of Bishop, the largest in the Valley, greatly increased in size, and in recent years the value of building operations has far surpassed that of any preceding period in the town's history. Automobiles are now everywhere in evidence, the number per capita equaling, if not exceeding, that in the most favored parts of California. Starting the scale are the Indians with Fords and second-hand Buicks, while the white population drive new and up-to-date models in medium and high priced cars.

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LL of this growth has taken place since the Los Angeles aqueduct was built. Some of it is due to the general growth which has occurred all over California, and some has resulted from the activities of the city. For example, a standard-gauge railroad 144 miles in length was built into Owens Valley to transport freight for the construction of the aqueduct, and has since continued in operation, affording access to outside markets for the products of the Valley and first-class transportation accommodations for people entering or leaving. To this improvement alone much of the growth can be attributed. In addition has come the tourist trade, much of it

from Los Angeles, attracted by the wonderful mountain scenery and the outdoor sports. With improved roads and better facilities for housing visitors, which are rapidly being provided, this trade will expand, affording a larger local market for farm products as well as a source of employment.

The population of Los Angeles in 1904 was 175,000. Based on the rate of increase during the previous ten years, it was estimated at that time that by the year 1925 the population would have increased to 390,000. As a matter of fact, the population has increased to over 1,000,000, the rate during the past few years exceeding that of any large city of the United States. With this expansion came an ever-increasing demand for water, and also a protracted drought with deficient snowfall year after year. Matters reached a crisis in the summer of 1923, when the “leavings" in Owens River were insufficient for city needs. More water had to be obtained. The first course pursued by the city was to buy irrigated lands with the ditches which served them, and allow the water to flow down the river to the aqueduct intake and be carried thence to Los Angeles, instead of spreading over farm lands in the Valley. City officials claim that this method was not successful, however, for the reason that the owners of intervening farm ditches unlawfully diverted the water thus released and used it for the irrigation of lands remaining in private ownership. Supplemental supplies were finally obtained by drilling wells at various points along the upper end of the aqueduct, and the dry years tided over to a return of normal conditions in 1926.

During 1923 and the following years the city has expended nearly $12,000,000 in the purchase of water-bearing lands in Owens Valley. The lands were all acquired by negotiation, the average price being stated to be nearly twice the actual value. The price paid in individual cases was determined by an appraisal committee of three leading citizens of the Valley. To many families who had been struggling for years under heavy debt, trying to bring their land to a state of production, the opportunity to sell was a godsend. Many of them remained in the Valley, renting their former lands from the city or living in town. Others bought land in localities more favored by natural advantages of soil and climate and left the scene of their past labors. The net result of these purchases has been a transfer to city ownership of approximately eighty per cent of the acreage of irrigated land in the Valley. The Board of Public

Service Commissioners of the city of Los Angeles has by official action declared its policy to be the preservation of 30,000 acres under cultivation, which area is said to equal that actually farmed in the past. It proposes to undertake a comprehensive plan of water conservation and to furnish at all times a full supply of water to this acreage. The exhaustive engineering studies recently made for the Board are reported to show that by proper conservation this can be done without jeopardizing the development of the Valley or the future supply of the existing aqueduct. It is planned in this manner to preserve and build up the agricultural communities upon which the towns largely depend for business. Many residents of the Valley believe, however, that the time will ultimately come when every available drop of water will be needed in Los Angeles, even if a second aqueduct must be built to obtain it, and that it is impossible for the city to make a permanent commitment. Much unrest has been due to this belief, men desiring to leave the Valley now rather than when they are too old to start again elsewhere. In answer to this contention the city officials point to the active steps which Los Angeles and other southern California communities are taking to obtain an adequate future supply from the surplus waters of the Colorado River.

THE whole story of Owens Valley

has not yet been told, but the chapters of the past three years chronicle the details of one of the most extraordinary sales campaigns of record. The prospective sellers include a small group of landowners and business men, the latter demanding "reparations." They apparently see in the city of Los Angeles an easy prospect with millions of money to spend. The city, as the "hoped for" buyer, claims it does not need or want the land, and could not legally pay "reparations" even if such were justly due. Furthermore, it is stated by city officials that the price asked is more than three times the value of the property. Notwithstanding, the Valley salesmen are determined to compel the city to buy.

The opening attack was a series of special articles in a San Francisco paper during the summer of 1924. These portrayed the city as a heartless giant, ruthlessly overriding and destroying, leaving ruin in his path, one to whom defenseless women and children were an especial delicacy.

The scene of battle was then transferred to a Los Angeles paper, where violent attacks were made on the Board and its officers, the conditions of the

city's water supply being described as precarious. Injustices were also stated to have been inflicted by city officials upon the residents of Owens Valley. Articles always ended with the assurance that if citizens of Los Angeles would look at the problem in a big, broadminded way and buy out the Valley farmers, the water difficulties could be instantly solved.

Simultaneously with these major attacks, the Owens Valley press was active in arousing its people by pointing out injuries which the city had inflicted upon them and urging them to action. This persistent effort bore fruit in the dynamiting of the aqueduct by a party of men in May, 1924, presumably residents of the Valley. The event commanded the front pages of all leading dailies in Los Angeles and headlines in papers throughout the Pacific coast.

FINALLY, as the summer wore on to

autumn and early mountain snowstorms gave promise of a wet winter with diminished prospect of sale, more vigorous steps were taken. The aqueduct waste gates were seized by a party of men, and the whole supply of 200,000,000 gallons per day was turned out onto the desert, where it found its way finally

over desert land to the dry basin of Owens Lake and was lost, benefiting nobody. This time the attention of the press was arrested, not alone on the Pacific coast, but throughout the United States. Even weekly and monthly periodicals gave space.

The apparent purpose of the leaders in encouraging spectacular acts of lawlessness was to command public attention. Thus they hoped to enlist the support of the business men of Los Angeles, who they believed would not countenance any policy or action by city officials which either brought into question the reputation of the city for fair dealing or broadcast a question as to the reliability of the city's water supply. The cutting off of the water, however, did not immediately interfere with the supply, as an ample reserve was held in reservoirs near the city, and the attempt to terrorize did not react as was expected. The American public, as a whole, are essentially law-abiding and frown upon disregard of the law and resent the forceful imposing of one human will upon another. A storm of disapproval arose from the citizens of Los Angeles and the predominant note of editorial comment, both local and National, was disapproval. Efforts of civic

bodies to inform themselves of the facts and endeavor to bring an end to the controversy, although promised, were withheld until the gates had been closed and the lawbreakers returned to their homes. Since this outbreak much additional land has been purchased by the city where offered at prices approaching that set by the appraisal committee. The latest dynamitings are believed to be incited by a few of the remaining landowners. who are holding out for higher prices together with some of the business men of the towns. The latter apparently fear that the temporary lull in business of the past year or so is but a forerunner of ultimate ruin, and hope to force the payment of reparations by a reign of terror.

City authorities state that they stand ready at any time to put into effect some plan which will preserve and develop the economic and social life which has been so laboriously created in Owens Valley by its residents. As time goes on it is probable that the better sensibilities which actuate a majority of the Valley people will become predominant. As the spirit of co-operation and confidence grows, a satisfactory solution will undoubtedly be reached. Meantime it is to be hoped that wisdom on the part of public officials will prevent bloodsh

the line of operations against Peking and against Hankow is regarded as the key to the military situation.

The forces under Yen Shi-shan are estimated at 100,000 to 120,000, a part of which is concentrated at Tatung, on the northern railway to Peking, through Kalgan. It was evidently upon his initiative that, following the Nationalists' victory, negotiations were started at Taiyuanfu (capital of Shansi), in which representatives of Chang Tso-lin, Chiang Kai-shek, and Feng Yu-hsiang took part. No information was given out about the purpose and outcome of these negotiations, but it became clear that no agreement could have been reached.

Later on a statement was made by Chiang Kai-shek that he was having no communications whatever with Chang Tso-lin. He also stated that Yen Shishan's attitude toward the Nationalists was friendly and he was going to cooperate with them.

has given up the offensive, and evidently is concentrating his forces on a line of defense which runs across the provinces of Shantung and Chihli, protecting Peking on the south and west.

Chang Tso-lin's forces consist of the Shantung and Mukden armies, and also of the troops of the two northern provinces of Manchuria (Kirin and Heilungkiang) and are estimated roughly at 200,000 to 250,000. With a view to unifying the Northern military command, a mandate was issued in Peking on June 18, on the strength of which Chang Tso-lin was installed as Generalissimo, Chief Executive, and Dictator of Northern China.

Inasmuch as the Marshal up to the time of the issuing of the mandate was the highest general and the head of the alliance of the military leaders of the North, the assuming by him of the new title can hardly have any practical value, and only shows his determination to continue the struggle.

move of the greatest importance, although not fully unexpected if one takes into consideration the co-operation between the Hankow and Nanking armies referred to above, and especially the previous career of Marshal Feng Yuhsiang, was made by the Commanderin-Chief of the Hankow forces. About June 20 Feng Yu-hsiang arrived at Suchowfu, the headquarters of the Nanking army, and after a conference with Chiang Kai-shek sent an ultimatum to Hankow demanding the expulsion of the Communists. Simultaneously both Commanders-in-Chief announced their decision to join their forces in the planned offensive against Peking, which was to be conducted under the supreme command of Chiang Kai-shek, with Feng Yu-hsian's thorough co-operation.

The armies for that offensive were being massed on the front SuchowfuChengchow and their combined strength, according to the statements made by the two Commanders, was about 250,000, equally divided between the two routes of advance. The advance was to begin in a fortnight. One of the reaso not starting the offensive im