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<br /> <br />CHAPTER ONE <br /> <br />A Brief History of California's <br />Water Supply and Development <br /> <br />Introduction <br />In the 19th century, some argued that the settlement of the western <br />United States was a futile enterprise. One of the influential opponents <br />to westward expansion was Daniel Webster, the prominent senator <br />from New Hampshire. Addressing Congress, he said- <br /> <br />Wbat do you want of that vast and worthless area, that region of <br />savages and wild heasts, of deserts, of shifting sands and whirling <br />wind, of dust, of cactus and prairie dogs? To what use could we <br />ever hope to put those great deserts and those endless mountain <br />ranges, impenetrable and covered to their very base with eternal <br />snow? What can we ever do with the Western coast, a coast of <br />3,000 miles, rockbound, cheerless, and uninviting?! <br /> <br />While today this limited vision seems surprising, even difficult <br />to understand, a century and a half ago these were legitimate ques- <br />tions. Indeed, without the development of technology to transport <br />vast quantities of water, California might have remained much as <br />Webster described. This book begins with a discussion of Cali- <br />fornia's water supply and the history of its development. This <br />background is an essential element in understanding California <br />water law and policy. <br /> <br />1 Kinney, Irrigation and Water Rights, second edition, San Francisco, <br />California. Bender-Moss Company, 1912, page 216. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Without the development of technology <br />to transport vast quantities of water, <br />California might have remained much <br />as Daniel Webster described. <br /> <br />1 <br />