Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-17
I'm Spending this sum n Geners
system should be Decided On.

system should be Decided On.
In the bonds soon to be issued by the
city are s45. 900 for improving the sew
erage. This is one Of the most import
aut matters coming before the Council
for long time. The present lack Of
sewers in parts Of the city, and lack of
proper system In nearly all parts now
severed Is a continual menace to the
health Of the citizens. This danger will
grow with amazing rapidity with the
growth Of the population. In this con-
nection the first thing to do is to decide
on a proper general system for the whole
city. The young gentleman recently
elected as city surveyor is held to be
thoroughly qualified to do this work.
Now Is the time TO do it.
The streets are to be paved, and It
will save endless trouble and expense IL
the sewer system takes precedence OF
this other. Let good sewers be laid
first and then when the streets are
made, they will be allowed to remain un-
disturbed. But il the streets be paved
first, then when the sewers have to be
put Ia your streets must all be torn up
and much of the expense incurred sec
ond time. II things come in their nat
ural order this will be avoided.
That some proper system should be
formulated will appear patent to any one
at all conversant with the condition of
things in San Francisco to-day. The
Chronicle of that city recently took
the trouble TO Investigate this
" hole business, going to the ex-
pense of illustrating by elaborate
diagrams the way the sewer system
has been allowed to grow into indescrib-
able chaos in that large city. There
was no system devised at any time.
Each street was severed from time to
time as such action became pressingly
urgent, and always with reference to
that one street alone and no thought Of
its connection with any other. or with
any system Of general nature ever to
be devised. As very natural result it
was shown by the diagrams that an
eighteen-inch sewer was often found
emptying into one only twelve inches
in diameter. In another case q branch
sewer will be found emptying, or rather
trying TO empty, into main which IA q
foot or more above the branch ct the
point of connection. The sewers turn
at all sorts Of singles and curves from one
street to another. If the whole thing
were devised on purpose 10 prevent the
sewage from finding its way out of the
city, II 1t were intended to put all imag-
Unable obstacles in the way of its
progress. il it were intended to
keep the filth under the noses and
dinfng-rooms and sleeping apartments
OF the city to rot and tester and breed
disease with most fatal results to health,
then the thing Is very successfully
planned and executed performance.
1t is hardly imaginable that this Is the
purpose for which these $4,000 OF
bonds are to be issued by the city Of
Los Angeles. But II such deplorable
result is TO be avoided there must be a
generals lsystem devised for the whole city.
Spring street was severed few years
ago and already II Is said that the sewer
is not of sufficient capacity to do the
service required Of it. II seems hard,
in spite Of five years experience, to re-
alize how fast the growth OF Los Ange
les is and Is to be, and how large city
this is destined to develop into. Thal
this is to be large municipality must
be accepted as foregone con
clusion. For such q result pre-
paration must be made, and any
other basis OF action will prove 4
mistake OF disastrous effect. Long age
Col. Mendel, one Of the most thoroughly
accomplished engineers in the country
indicated the main features OF this sys
tenn. 1t would be well for the city
fathers to look into this very matter and
study up its merits. The present Coun
Gil will have the handling Of large
sum Of money. They will in
augurate some very important improve
ments. They have here an opportunity
TO signalize their term Of Office by an
intelligent exercise OF their functions
II they fail to use this large sum proper
ly they will probably not be forgotten
by q patient people. whose memory Il
as long as their forbearauce.