Wright Act of 1887 facts for kids
The Wright Act of 1887 was an important law in California. It was passed on March 7, 1887. This law helped farmers get water for their crops. Before this law, it was hard for small farms to get enough water. The Wright Act allowed groups of farmers to work together. They could form special groups called "irrigation districts." These districts helped them share water and build canals. This made farming much easier in places like California's Central Valley.
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What Was the Wright Act?
The Wright Act of 1887 was a state law. It was created to solve a big problem for farmers. Many farms in California needed water to grow food. But getting water to every farm was expensive and difficult. This law gave farmers a way to team up.
How Did Farmers Get Water?
The law let farming areas create "irrigation districts." Think of these as special clubs for farmers.
- Farmers in a district could pool their money.
- They could then build canals and ditches.
- These canals brought water from rivers to their fields.
- This meant even small farms could get the water they needed.
Where Did the Water Come From?
In California's Central Valley, the Act helped farmers use water from big rivers. These rivers included the Merced, San Joaquin, and Kings rivers. By diverting water, farms could grow many different crops.
Why Was the Act Important?
The Wright Act changed farming in California. It helped the state become a major producer of food.
Helping Farmers Grow More Food
With reliable water, farmers could grow more crops. They could also grow crops that needed a lot of water. This led to more food being produced.
- More food meant more money for farmers.
- It also meant more food for people across the country.
Connecting Farms to Markets
These new irrigation systems worked well with railroads.
- Farmers could grow huge amounts of food.
- Railroads then helped transport this food all over the United States.
- This made California's farming industry very strong.
Changes to the Wright Act
Over time, the Wright Act was updated.
Stopping New Districts
California made a change to the Wright Act in 1897. This update stopped new irrigation districts from forming for a while. The state wanted to make sure things were organized.
Who Manages Districts Now?
Later, in 1913, a new group was created. It was called the Irrigation District Bond Certification Commission. This group now helps decide when and where new irrigation districts can be formed. These districts are public groups. This means they serve the people and are managed by the state.
