Michael,
Who is the author of the book you recommend, "King of California"? I'm still using Marc Reisner, Cadillac Desert, and would be happy for more references....including David's new book.
Thanks,
Ann
At 07:08 PM 9/9/2006, Michael Perelman wrote:
David, please tell us more about your book.
I don't disagree with you whatsoever. As a grad student in agricultural economics,
I was appalled by the fact that Midwestern US agriculture was in fairly rapid
decline while California agriculture was booming -- which was made possible only by
hugely subsidized water. Producing specialty crops in California made sense.
Oranges will grow easily in Kansas, but we even grew sugar beets in California with
subsidized water.
Cotton in the state was an enormous consumer of water. I highly recommend the book,
King of California, which details the water shenanigans of the Boswell family, which
merged with the Chandler fortune (from the Los Angeles Times and various land deals)
in later years.
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
michaelperelman.wordpress.com
