Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-20

sons.
For the second time in a few years
Los Angeles has experienced the dis
ters Of food. During the twenty
fours hours ending at noon yesterday
something over three inches OF rain
fell in the city and its immediate
neighborhood, and doubtless the
downpour in the adjacent mountains
was much larger. The Los Angeles
river soon swelled TO a flood, and the
Arroyo seco poured into 1t tumult-
uous stream that even exceeded the
volume Of the river proper. BY four
O'Clock yesterday morning the Hood
had attained the proportions OF that
Of two years ago, and possibly even
exceeded IL. BY five O'Clock the
bridges began to go. The Arroyo Seco
dashed over towards the bluff at the
foot OF which the Southern Pacific
track is located and tore up the road
bed for distance Of fully half mile.
Swelling in momentum on its course
towards the ocean it swept away the
depot Of the San Gabriel Valley rail-
way, dashing that edifice against the
East Los Angeles bridge and carrying
away considerable portions of Il, in
cluding a street car. As we write the
only bridge left intact is that at the
foot Of Macy street, and il is 80 inse-
cure that travel has been interdicted
over it. Much property has been
lost, both public and private. Acres
ON acres OF fine orchards have been
swept away, many houses have been
demolished, and the telegraph and
telephone wires have been prostrated
in every direction. The lowest esti-
mates OF the pecuniary damages run
up into the hundreds of thousands Of
dollars. The saddest thing about Il
all is that II is pretty well ascertained
that five human lives have been lost,
two Of the bodies having been recov-
cred which are lying at the morgue.
The HERALD has little heart for
e. durE. ny aty such melancholy
tiincs shis, but the lesson of the dis
aster will only have been half learned
If the City Council fails to realize its
grave neglect Of duty in not building
or allowing to be built substantial
levee along the river banks. Two
years ago the HERALD insisted upon
the necessity Of going at this wsrk in
earnest, and there was a practically
unanimous sentiment amongst our
people back OF the efforts Of the news
papers. Instead OF devising a solid
and substantial scheme of leyees n
great deal Of money was spent TO no
earthly purpose. Any one familiar
with the immense force of food
poured into narrow gorge from
extensive watersheds realized how
futile the work ordered by the Coun-
Gil would be proved to be the moment
it was called upon to sustain any
severe test. In ordinary years we
did not need this child's play, while
in such seasons as those Of two years
ago and now the work done was
simply a mockery. There is set
tled and serious demand now that we
shall have no more trifling with so
vital a matter. What is needed
what we must have-is system of
levees and bridges built on the most
approved engineering plans. These
last should he properly rip-rapped
and buttressed and be provided with
wide and high arches of solid mason
ry. They would come cheaper in
the end.
The one thing apparent to-day is
that the money spent by the Council
two years ago was absolutely thrown
away. II might just as well have
been carried down to the river bed
and dumped into the stream. That
would at least have admitted of some
enterprising people fishing ii out
again and applying it to some less
absurd use. We want levees and
must have them. The remedy against
such disasters as those OF yesterday
is in our hands and ought to be APP
piled.