William Mulholland - Water Superintendent

Water Superintendent

Mulholland, a self-taught engineer, was now laying the foundations that would transform Los Angeles into a modern metropolis. The growth of Los Angeles was limited because of its semi-arid climate with unreliable rainfall. The water system supervised by Mulholland began to irrigate large areas of previously arid land, which promoted population growth. The city's population doubled from 50,000 in 1890 to more than 100,000 in 1900. Ten years later it had trebled to almost 320,000.

To provide water supplies for the ever growing city of Los Angeles, Mulholland oversaw the construction of the 233 miles (375 km) Los Angeles Aqueduct; which opened on November 5, 1913. It carried water from the Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra to a reservoir in the San Fernando Valley. The project, which had required more than 2,000 workers, involved the building of 164 tunnels and more than 175 miles (282 km) of pipes and channels. At the opening ceremony, Mulholland said of this engineering feat, what has been cited as what may be the five most famous words in the city’s history, "There it is. Take it."

Mulholland's engineering work was made possible by the rights obtained by the city of Los Angeles to all surface flow water atop an aquifer groundwater without it being within the city limits. San Fernando Valley farmers offered to buy the surplus aqueduct water, but the federal legislation that enabled the construction of the aqueduct prohibited Los Angeles from selling the water outside of the city limits. This induced several independent towns surrounding Los Angeles to vote on and approve annexation to the city so they could connect to the municipal water system. These rural areas became part of Los Angeles in 1915. Other urban areas opted to join the network too, these were Owensmouth (Canoga Park) (1917), Laurel Canyon (1923), Lankershim (1923), Sunland (1926), La Tuna Canyon (1926), and the incorporated city of Tujunga (1932). By now the administrative size the Los Angeles had more than doubled.

The water from the aqueduct also shifted farming from wheat to irrigated crops such as corn, beans, squash, and cotton; orchards of apricots, persimmons, and walnuts; and major citrus groves of oranges and lemons. These continued within the city environs until the next increment of development converted land use into suburbanization. But a few enclaves remain, such as the groves at the Orcutt Ranch Park and CSUN campus.

In 1914, the University of California at Berkeley honored Mullholland with an honorary doctorate degree. The inscription on the diploma read, "Percussit saxa et duxit flumina ad terram sitientum" (He broke the rocks and brought the river to the thirsty land). Mulholland's public profile continued to grow. His offices were, at one point, on the top floor of Sid Grauman's Million Dollar Theater. He was even a favorite to become mayor of Los Angeles. However when asked if he was considering running for office he replied, "I'd rather give birth to a porcupine backward".

Mulholland's stature was also recognized internationally: he provided technical assistance during the construction of the Panama Canal.