The vast metropolis that is modern LA was only possible because of the actions of Joseph Lippincott, William Mullohand, and Fred Eaton and their combined effort to create the LA-Owens River Aqueduct. Lippincott as an agent of the US Reclamation Service was supposed to build a reservoir in the Long Valley that would supply the burgeoning farming community in the Owen's Valley with water. Lippincott however had no interest in this as he ran his own corporation whose biggest customer was the city of LA. Lippincott's conflict of interests would eventually become public knowlodge and he would resign from his office in disgrace. Eaton was responsible for buying up the water rights of many of the farmers in the Owens Valley under the false pretense that these farmers would be the main benefactors. Mullohand was Eaton's disciple and the LADWP, without his support the Aqueduct would not have been possible.
Though Mullohand would end up becoming the most important figure in the construction of the Aqueduct, he was initially against the project thinking it too costly. What if some misfortune befalls Fred Eaton before he is able to convince Mullohand resulting in Mullohand never supporting the idea and Eaton never buying up the water rights and Lippincott's conflict of interest was discovered earlier?
The Owens Valley community was growing, and quickly, in a few more years the region would have become a second San Joaquin Valley and it would have been impossible for LA to get it's water from region. Without the water LA would have been unable to sustain its growth.
LA is still going to be important as it's the end point of two transcontinental railroads, but it won't be the giant of OTL and it certainly won't be as inviting a destination. What would the politics of a California where LA is considerably smaller than its OTL counterpart be like? Would the state be more conservative as a whole? What city might take LA's place as the largest city in the West?
Though Mullohand would end up becoming the most important figure in the construction of the Aqueduct, he was initially against the project thinking it too costly. What if some misfortune befalls Fred Eaton before he is able to convince Mullohand resulting in Mullohand never supporting the idea and Eaton never buying up the water rights and Lippincott's conflict of interest was discovered earlier?
The Owens Valley community was growing, and quickly, in a few more years the region would have become a second San Joaquin Valley and it would have been impossible for LA to get it's water from region. Without the water LA would have been unable to sustain its growth.
LA is still going to be important as it's the end point of two transcontinental railroads, but it won't be the giant of OTL and it certainly won't be as inviting a destination. What would the politics of a California where LA is considerably smaller than its OTL counterpart be like? Would the state be more conservative as a whole? What city might take LA's place as the largest city in the West?