Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-03-06
1he Rlvsr !, Yesserday.


AHERALD reporter yesterday made
an examination Of the Los Angeles
river from the East Los Angeles bridge
to First street. and noted its actions
and operations. In tho frat place, the
waters Of the Arroyo seco dash into the
river at . right angle from the north.
east, which carries the water Of the
river ON to the south bank, where it
strikes the solid levee made about Eve
years ago, which stands like rock. As
the new levee will when built Of the same
excellent materials by and by. The
water then rebounds and strikes the
north bank. which 1t has worn away
heavily behind the east end Of the bridge
and carried away at cast three or fonr
acres of land. 1t then strikes thicket
Of willows and evergreen turf and dashes
madly across to the west, striking the
opposite bank with terrible force just in
the rear Of the Chemical Works. the
stable Of which is partially undermined
and is liable to fall into the stream.
Here is where trees fastened to hawsers
should be thrown into the current 10
turn 1t back into its original channel.
But the trees are not there. The
land owners, instead Of planting
eucalyptus grover, which would be in.
valuable at such a juncture, have held
land as gopher and SOU 'rrel pastures.
that are not available in time Of
freshet, when stream has sirayed out
Of its bed and needs TO be turned back.
Ten men and four horses. with eucalyp-
tus or cypress trees, could have changed
the current and stopped the washing
away Of the soft gardens and vineyards
on the Hollenbeck tract The water
was not high, but the reflections made
by headlands and islands had sent it out
Of IL channel, and it was making an
other channel where the earth w.ss rich
and soft
At times the bank was carried away
very rapidly. falling into the river at the
rate Of foot in width per minute dur
ing part Of the day. Mr.. Mayes, who
had small house on the tract in line Of
the ravage, tore his hou;e down and
hauled it away ia pieces.
At the railroad bridge there was much
drift wood caught ON the piles, aud
large force of men was employed in get
ting 1t away, o business both arduous and
dangerous. A rise Of water at that
point, coming out Of the west end Of the
bridge, would overflow large tract Of
Land above Macy street, and then come
down Alameda street, but there is no
danger. unless driftwood accumulates
and dams the stream.
All rumors about the injury to the
covered bridge were groundless. The
bridge is all right so far. but the condi.
ton Of The street leading to it is simply
infamous, and should be improved at
once. The most important part Of the
brsakwater. made of sand bags, is all
right, while that made Of gravel has
very largely given away and permitted
the current to divide and come over oi
the west bank in partial force. Some
driftwood Of willows, tree that should
not be allowed in the city. caught against
the remaining portion Of the Also street
bridge and assisted in forcing the water
over the breakwster and against the
west bank.
From Aliso street 10 First street the
property owners have anchored trees
against the bank and these have done
good work in saving that locality, where
the greatest damage was done before.
During stay on the Hollenbeck tract
Of nearly an hour, the reporter did not
zee proprietor or person in authority
to take any measures for stopping the
destruction, which promises to be very
great. We shall see.