Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-02-02

The River and other Items Of
Pubiic Interest.
For the second time within two years
we are again discussing and resolving"
as TO the best plan of protecting life, and
public and private property from de-
structive overfows; but after few days
of sunshine the resolutions viii doubt
less be forgotten. A few poles will be
driven in the sand, some plank laid
thereon for bridges, little sand will DO
piled up and rip-rapped with old tin
cans and other rubbish, serving admir-.
ably as levee during the dry season;
we will all settle down to our usual
craze for money making the major por
ton Of whom will be SO convulsed with
the ''real estate fever" that we will
never know there ever was food. In
the meantime the many visitors who
had either come to stay or enjoy the
winter will have become disgusted with
third rate hotels and filthy streets and
left with unfavorable Impressions. We
are no longer crossroads village, but
fast becoming a metropolitan city Of
worldwide reputation, and having no
rivals in its combinations Of attractions,
bidding fair to be substantial city Of
over 10, 900 population within the next
twelve. 1t beheoves us, therefore, to
exercise little farseeing financia. abili.
ty. The railroad can build levee for
less than one half what the city can.
After the embankment is thrown up Of
sand and boulders taken by scrapers
from the channel, forming railroad
grade, upon which the track can be
laid; then with dump.cars the river side
can be rip-rapped with broken rock,
say three feet in thickness; first, how
ever, forming base for this rock
by deep cut below the base Of the
levee and filling this with rocks. Over
all this there should be dumped the yell
low clay and gravel, all of which mate
rial can be had In the mountain at the
upper end of the levee. The planting
Of trees would be some protection it we
had any assurance that they would not
be washed out before they had time to
take root. Did not our Council make
mistake months ago when granting the
franchise to q railroad, in not requiring
them to complete this lsvee before our
past rainy season : think, sir, il you
were building a road, corn field full Of
Works" could not impede your "for-
ward march," if you really wanted to
march; but If you were simply playing
checkers with some other road, and
"would sell, then an extension of time
would pay you better than building o
levee. With reference to the width Of
the channel--the secret of success Of the
''Eads Jetty System" Of the mouth Of
the Mississippi, was to confne the water
to the narrowsst possible width, thereby
creating swift current that cuts out q
deeper channel, instead of . wide chan
mel for the water to run slow, leaving
its heavier deposit to form sand bars, or
to sway the water from side to side
to damage the levee. This Is par
tally demonstrated under the covered
bridge where the chaHnel is less than $50
feet wide. Then why make the river
bed wider than say $50 feet Straighten
the angles of the river a. much as posi-
BILE, build the bridge higher, set them
upon granite piers Of deep founda-
tons. When this is done and in complete
working order, will predict that there
will be- an immense increase in the
taxable wealth of the low lands.
Whether this work Is done by the
railroad or city. As am a property
owner in the flooded district |
/ make this suggestion for others con-
cerned, THAT we pay an extra or spe-
cial tax Of. say, fifty cents per front foot |
ko...-1. All. fu.J cxxd ~ -. IN .x.<~. thar,
double the value Of all property east Of |
Alameda street as soon a. substantial
levse is complete above First street. |
Then let the balance be paid by either |
the city or the railroad, or by both, for |
the people in the low lands pay their
pro rata for all public work done in
other portions of the city,"
With reference to street improve
ments, no one can deny that the
terrible condition and odor from our
streets in the business center for the |
past month has had an effect in more |
ways than one detrimental TO the best
interests of the entire city. Said streets |
should therefore be put IN . m"ae sub |
stantial and lasting condition at the |
earliest possible moment. After many
years Of costly experimenting st. Louis |
has adopted granite block ADD new
patent asphaltum street paving, costing |
about $45 per square foot for the for |
mer and $35 for the latter. which can be
laid cheaper here. The street improve |
ment Of various cities could be first in |
quired into by . committee for the pur-
pose, and inasmuch as this would be a |
general benefit to the entire city, an |
equitable proportion Of said cost should |
be paid by the city. To place the city |
authorities In . position to carry out
this and other needed enterprises which |
they are disposed TO do, the present city |
assessment Of 164 millions should be in |
creased at least three times that amount, |
and this can be done, perhaps. without
raising any assessments on our labor;ng |
class II the following items Just taken |
from the city assessment for 1885 are q
fair sample, "l33 lots in the Park Tract |
assessed to v. Beaudry ct a. 655, or sS5 |
per lot, are worth from $3.50 to 81, 900 |
each. The Is acres corner Of Main and |
Ninth street. assessed 10 A. Briswalter |
for $1,000 worth $50. 900. while the |
poor unfortunate widow who lost her |
property by the late food, corner WE'LL
and Center streets, was assessed at $500, |
worth at the time $50. To assess prop
erty at two-thirds of its actual cash |
value and reduce the rate of assessment |
will impress the stranger more favorably. |
JOHN r. Humphreys.
Calffornia Exccss In Everything.