Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-04
THE SEWAGE OUTLET.
Councilman B. COhn's Views
on the Question.
OPINION OF SURVEYOR EATON.
A Matter Which Is of the Greatest
Interest to Citizens in Gen.
eral.

Mr.. B. Cohn, member Of Council from
the Fourth, "father" of the existant
City Charter, and municipal officer OF
acknowledged ability, said to HERALD
man who called upon him at his place OF
business yesterday, and asked him what
he thought of the present status OF the
sewer question:
''I think the proposition to give Los
Angeles system of sewers adequate to
the needs of the city has fallen through.
/, at least, shall cease making any further
effort in that direction until it becomes
apparent to me that the Council means
business, and means to give the people
what they demand, and what they
should have-a complete and perfect
sewer system at the least possible ex-
pense."
"What makes you think SOP" asked
the HERALD man.
"a variety of circumstances, respond
ed Mr.. Cohn." In the first place, the
cry of the people for the past two years
has been for a sewer system. Finally
the Council took the matter in hand.
Expert sewage engineers were employed
to confer and advise with the then City
Engineer, Mr.. Fred Eaton. A contour map
was made, plans and specifications were
formulated and next an ordinance COW
ering the question was framed This
work all failed in its purpose. No deter
mined action was taken and the matter
was left in statu quo, and would have re-
NAMED so but for the kick of the Vernon
people,"
''The next thing was reconsideration
of this sewer question. Then the kick
was made in the Council that the estim-
ated cost of the proposed Eaton system
was too great to be afforded. Next it was
found that Mr.. Eaton's plan was not
practicable because the outlet he had
planned could not be used. Mr.. Eaton
proposed to empty the city sewage on a
part of the Centinela rancho. The owners
of that property, in return, were to pay
the city a handsome bonus for the priv
ilege Of controlling the sewage, they
wishing to use it for cultivating purposes.
As the City Council had about concluded
to adopt the Eaton system it was found
that the Centinela people would not only
not pay bonus, but would refuse to al
low the sewage to be emptied on their
property. This Knocked out the Eaton
system"
ga long time ago, realizing that the
city at the present time could not afford
to incur an Indebtedness of over mil
lion and half of dollars for sewer sys-
tenn, went to work on my own account
to see what could be done. consulted
the best engineering authority and after
careful consideration found that this city
could be drained at an expense, to prop
erty owners, of $3.50 per front foot. /
found out also that an ontfall sewer, run.
ming into Ballona Lake, could be built at
an expense on the outside OF $3.50, ,000
That is to say that Los Angeles could be
properly severed and the sewage carried
to where tidal action would dispose of it,
for about $3.50, 900, or $797 900 less than
the cost contemplated in the Eaton plan.
As you know, my plan was submitted to
the Council. 1t was held by the City At
torney that nothing could he done with it
until the ordinances authorizing the con-
struction OF the system proposed by Mr..
Eaton were repealed. Other members
seemed to think $3.50, 900 for an outfall
sewer too cheap. Still others opposed
the scheme for a number of reasons. OF
course it didn't 60 through, and we are
as far from solution of the sewer prob
lem as we ever were."
"What prompted you, at the start, Mr..
Conn.," asked the HERALD man, "to de-
wise q new plan for sewer system ?"
Il did so because | was afraid to sub
init to the people proposition to incur
the vast indebtedness necessary for the
Eaton system. No mistaking it, money
is not loose. l was afraid the thing
would be defeated. Then, in my own
mind, knew that just as good a sewe,
system as is required could be built for
only half the amount the other was esti-
mated to cost"
"Will you give me the details OF your
SYSTEM"
Certainly. My system contemplates
just what Mr.. Eaton did as to the sewer
ing OF the city proper. 1t advocates the
districting of the city into four districts,
Just as his did. Next, it advocates the
payment by district of all expenses in
Cured in sewering su:h district. Each
district bears the expense of the
-ark done within its boundar-
les. It's is right, because each
district enjoys solely the benefit Of the
sewer system it possesses, ard all derive
benefit from the main outfall sewer to
the sea: II is on the same principle ss 80
all the levee districts in the mississippi
valley and here in this State. To sewer
each of these districts, according to esti-
mates have, would cost property own
ers about so per front foot"
"Now, as to the outfall, or main trunk
sewer. In this regard my plan differs
from that of Mr.. Eaton in five principal
particu!ars--cost Of construction, method
of construction, material used, mileage
of construction and outlet, or terminal
situation. Outside estimates place the
cost of the outfall sewer, as contemplated
by my plan, at $3.50, 900. The sewer con-
templated is to be cement pipe sewer,
laid in a concrete side-and- bottom bed,
the size of the pipe to be 80 inches in
diameter. The material used in the
sewer proper would be the finest quality
of cement pipe. The length of the out
fall sewer would be within a fraction of
fourteen miles, and its terminal would be
q point in Lake Ballona, where it has
been demonstrated the sewage would be
taken oceanward by tidal action"
"Where would the source of this out
fall sewer be located?"
"At San Pedro and Washington streets,
a location giving such sewer the highest
grade obtainable here. The highest
grade given the outfall, the better the
system"
''What would be the route traversed ?''
"The outfall sewer would run parallel,
almost. to the track of the Ballona branch