Part 2/9:
The rapid expansion of Los Angeles can be attributed significantly to one critical element: water. The city, known for its hot Mediterranean climate, faced a pressing need for water to support its burgeoning population. Without adequate supply, the city's future was under threat. The vision of Frederick Eaton, a water engineer and former mayor, emerged as a solution to this dilemma in the late 19th century.
Eaton proposed a 400-kilometer aqueduct that would transport water from the Owens River, located far away in the Eastern Sierra foothills, directly to Los Angeles. However, the city faced a daunting hurdle—neither the land nor the water rights were owned by the city. Competing interests, particularly a farming community in Owens Valley, fortified the challenge ahead.