Los Angeles, although originally an arid desert, is a huge huge parts of agricultural history of Western America. “By 1869, San Francisco possessed on of the busiest ports in the wold, a huge fishing fleet, and the western terminus of the transcontinental railroad. Los Angeles, meanwhile, remained a topic, suppurating stunting little slum.” The only water source of Los Angeles was the Los Angeles River, which was a small creek. Much to the surprise of the Mormons who bought the area, the land was perfect for growing oranges. This sparked the phenomenon of modern day Los Angeles. More and more people began to immigrate to Los Angeles, making it a boom-town, beginning in the early 1800s and transacting $100 million worth of real estate. The town was prospering, yet one thing stood in the way of success, the scarcity of water. If the population of Los Angeles continued to rise, the number of people inhabiting it and the amount of water that was available would be extremely out of balance. By 1900, Los Angeles’s population was over 100,000, and with in four years, it doubled again. It was then that the city experienced its first major drought. Instead of limiting the amour of water people could use, Los Angeles decided to “quietly” hire its own consultant to create a report on the options it had in its search for water. A $2,500 contract was accepted by a man named Joseph Lippincott, and although it was not illegal, it was a blatant violation of basics government ethic standards. To the people of Los Angeles, water meant money, and they practically ruined the ecosystem of a city because of it. I think the people of Los Angeles were money hungry, not thinking about what might happen if they continue using the water as if it was abundant. They didn’t consider the consequence of over use of water during a drought, which I can’t help to parallel to San Diego’s current situation. With the over watering of laws, the 20 minute showers, and the constant washing of cars during out current drought, there is no question about why our water is disappearing so quickly. I think we should look at the past and learn the value of water, hopefully teach the people of the desert how precious it is and how not to waste it.
Dams have largely impacted modern civilization by creating a more efficient way to contain water, but did we overreach ourselves building them? “Dams will outlast anything else we have built—skyscrapers, cathedrals, bridges, even nuclear power plants. A quarter million [dams] have been built in the United state alone. They are sixty stories hight, or four miles long; they contain enough concrete to pave an interstate highway from end to end. I think dams are a very modern invention in the way that the pros and cons are about equal. While dams can be very useful, they can also be very harmful. This is my opinion, but to other people, dams are looked at in different lights, and based on different people’s ideology and by they way they were taught to think, dams are good to some and horrible to others. Someone who’s job is to make and promote dams would see no problem with the damming of rivers, they would see it as an asset. On the other hand someone who is passionate about the environment and cares about the wellbeing of watersheds and other bodies of water might hate the damming of rivers and could think that dams only benefit those who make money off of them. In conclusion, whether or not dams are useful or harmful is based on who is getting money.
moldered-slowly decay or disintegrate, esp. because of neglect
debauched- indulging in or characterized by sensual pleasures to a degree perceived to be morally harmful
boom-town- a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity
sinecure- a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
flophouse- a cheap hotel or rooming house.
subterfuge- deceit used in order to achieve one's goal
ingenuous- (of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting
progressivism- happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step
Dams have largely impacted modern civilization by creating a more efficient way to contain water, but did we overreach ourselves building them? “Dams will outlast anything else we have built—skyscrapers, cathedrals, bridges, even nuclear power plants. A quarter million [dams] have been built in the United state alone. They are sixty stories hight, or four miles long; they contain enough concrete to pave an interstate highway from end to end. I think dams are a very modern invention in the way that the pros and cons are about equal. While dams can be very useful, they can also be very harmful. This is my opinion, but to other people, dams are looked at in different lights, and based on different people’s ideology and by they way they were taught to think, dams are good to some and horrible to others. Someone who’s job is to make and promote dams would see no problem with the damming of rivers, they would see it as an asset. On the other hand someone who is passionate about the environment and cares about the wellbeing of watersheds and other bodies of water might hate the damming of rivers and could think that dams only benefit those who make money off of them. In conclusion, whether or not dams are useful or harmful is based on who is getting money.
moldered-slowly decay or disintegrate, esp. because of neglect
debauched- indulging in or characterized by sensual pleasures to a degree perceived to be morally harmful
boom-town- a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity
sinecure- a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
flophouse- a cheap hotel or rooming house.
subterfuge- deceit used in order to achieve one's goal
ingenuous- (of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting
progressivism- happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step