Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-02-25
The Los Angeles City Water Com
pany.

Last Friday evening the Los Angeles
City Water Company made its report to
the City Council, showing its receipts
and expenses since the Company first
began to furnish water to the city in
1868. AT that tina the city was the
owner of the works, which had cost
about forty thousadd dollars, but which
had been source of expense and an
noyance to the city government. On
the 10th OF July of that year the city
leased the works to Messrs. Griffin,
Beaudry and Lazard, who afterwards
incorporated, with others,as the Los An
geles City Water Company. The Com
pany has had great deal to contend
with during the fourteen years of its
corporate existence, but now promises
to be pecuniarily successful. At the time
the lease, which was for thirty years,
was executed the water was taken from
the river near where the bridge to East
Los Angeles now is, by means of dam
and large water wheel which lifted the
water into a wooden fume, through
which and continuing ditch the water
was taken to a reservoir and thence dis
tributed through wooden pipes over
what is now a small section of the city.
This dam was washed away by floods
and obliged the company to construct a
ditch seven miles long. The old wooden
conductors were replaced by iron pipes,
new reservoirs were constructed, and
perfect system of water works inaugu-
rated, by which the supply would be
sure in case of fire. The Company
have expended about S435. 900 in
the construction of these improve
ments, and are now supplying the
city with sixty-iye fire hydrants,
which the city has free; water for four
teen school houses free; besides other
public buildings, and all the water re-
quired by the authorities of the city for
street sprinkling free. Also, public
fountain in the plaza. The company
has also paid in rent and taxes about
$50, 600, and is still pushing forward its
improvements.
During the present year there will be
expended twenty thousand dollars for
new e2.inch pipe between the present
main pipe and the reservoir, and ten
thousand feet more in enlarging and
completing its reservoirs and tunnel.
We feel justified in saying that the
gentlemen composing the company are
to be commended for their enterprise,
energy and faith in the future of our
city, which has enabled them to so cour-
ageously expend their time and means,
often at times when the prospect for re-
endorsement was most discouraging.
Questions have arisen at different
times calling for judicial construction
of the Company's contract and some
public excitement and bad feeling occa.
stoned thereby. These differences have
been in a great measure settled and the
desire of the Company, as shown by
their action and report to the Council
Friday evening, is to do all possible to
furnish water at cheap rates and pro.
mote general good feeling. While
there will always be those who will find
fault, we feel that we can safely say
that those who take great risks should
be entitled to at least fair profits. The
experience of the city in carrying on
the water works was unfortunate and
no fair minded man can deny the stock
holders of the Water Company right
to q fair return. This, so far, they have
not had. Henceforth, with reasonable
rates fixed by the City Council, they
expect and ought to reap handsome
reward