Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-306) and index.

Documents the story of William Mulholland's Los Angeles aqueduct, the largest public water project ever built, describing how it transformed a small desert city into a modern metropolis. How dreams might end -- Distance between two points -- Luck of the Irish -- In mystery is the source -- Whose water is it anyway? -- A civil servant born -- Road trip -- Downhill all the way -- Remove every specter -- Have water or quit growing -- Brick upon brick -- First spade -- Best year to date -- Fair monetary recognition -- Fits and starts -- Fallout -- If you dig it, they will come -- Last mile -- Cascade -- In the shade of accomplishment -- Let the bombings begin -- Failure -- Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown -- City of Angels.