Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-02-28
TINE alvlR llvll.
where to Begin it. and How to Make
1.-THE Expense VIII be Moderate
and the Success Sure.

Where to Begin 1t. and How to Make
1.-THE Expense win be Moderate
and the Success Sure.
The nece sity Of levee to protect the
city from overflow is now admitted on
all sides, butthe problem to be solved Is
how to make it in the best and cheapest
manner. In other States such works
have been made at vast expense. but in
Los Angeles the materials for such
work are so conveniently situated that
the work can be easily constructed and
made permanent.
A short embankinent was made few
years ago between the East Los Angeles
bridge and the tunnel through which the
waters enter into the zanja Madre. This
embankment has stood firm ahd shows
no signs Of weakness. 1t can be raised
and extended to the covered bridge in a
substantial manner aud at very moder-
ate expense. During the summer. when
the water of the river is diverted into
the irrigating bitches. the sand can be
moved from the river bed to depth Of
about three feet and width Of 800 feet
and made to form vast bank Of sand
and gravel on each side Of the stream.
This bed Of sand and gravel would
form the rear portion Of great substan-
tial levee. On the top Of this lank, and
also ia front Of it, can be brought down
from the high hills on the bank OF the
river, on an inclined plane by the force
Of its own gravity. all the clay and rock
necessary to complete the levee and rip
rap the river side Of tho same. The
loaded cars coming down could haul the
empty cars up and avoid the need Of
teams. These hills are about 800 feet
high, and the earth taken out, while
forming solid levee and noble high
way along the bank Of the stream, can
be taken out 80 as to form vast space
for the making Of an immense reservoir
for the storage Of water for the City
Water Company.
Mature has paced the elements at our
hands to do this work. The hills are
made Of clay and rock, the latter very
easily broken, and at such height that
tramway would carry the earth and
rock to its destination without
expense, while the City Water
Company needs more storage room
to store water, SO as to permit the
sediment TO settle before the water is al
lowed to enter the mains Of the city.
There should be series Of those rsser-
voirs, SO the water would become clear
before it Is used for domestic purposes.
During the past three weeks the water
used in this city has beer. unfit for
healthful use without passing through
filter.
As result Of this plan. the city could
have clear water, safe levee, and
great highway for the people to travel
upon, free from any interference from
street or steam railways. A sloping
levee OF stone would not be disturbed by
the foods, and = channel 800 feet vide
and as nearly straight as possible, would
carry of all the water Of the Los Angeles
river, and the current so confined ~ouid
Aow SO swiftly as to keep itself free Of
debris.
The danger from the river now arises
from it's wideness, and not from its mar
rowness. It is too wide, so that the
current has not sufficient force to keep
itself clear. and leaves its debris often in
the middle of the stream. while the cur
rent goes off through the soft soil Of
orchards and gardens, instead Of carry
ing away ne gravel aud bouIders which
the Arroyo Seco has hurled into the
channel.
The descent Of the river is very rapid,
and all that is necessary to keep it under
control is to give it straight, high,
smooth sided banks. aud it will 60 on its
way with no harm to anybody. Twice
in the last ten years has more water ap-
peared in the river than appeare on the
18th inst, but the channel Mas then
deeper than 1t is now, and there were
less obstructions in the bed, and conse-
qusntiy no danger from overflow A
levse faced with stone will project the
city from danger, and the sooner it is
built the better.
From the composition Of the commit
tee sppoinsed BY the Mayor: ). Z. Hol-
lenbeck, J. F. Humphreys, A. F. Cor
oneI, L. D. Gavitt, R. H. Hewitt, to ba
advised by Messrs. Lambie and Kn6k,
engineers, We may get some relief, but
anything short Of strong levee is not
worth talking about. The Committee
on Ways and Means. Mesurs. @. H.
Hcwland, John @. Downey, W. H.
Workman. Il. D. Barrows and Prudent
Beaudry. will be likely to be very CON-
sentative in their recommendation.
In the meantime the City Council has
o committee that is considering the
question. The reports Of these commit.
tees win be looked for with much inter-
est. In the meantime the plan outlined
in these columns, Of running the hill
down along the river bank. and forming
. straight. deep channel. is feasible,
cheap and the best yet offered to the
people.