Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-29
NOT MANY FOR 1T.
Leading Citizens Talk Sewer
Through the Herald"
THE ORC FINOS AGAINST 1T.
People Who Think it Will be and
Ought to be Defeated at
the Polls.

The first man interviewed on the sewer
last Saturday by the HERALD reporter
was Col. 1. r. Dunkelberger. The inter-
viewer went to the Bryson-B Bonebrake
building to talk to ex-Msyor John Bry-
son, and not finding that gentleman, Col.
Dunkelberger's name caught his eye,
and he took him. The Colonel has been
conyersant with the municipal affairs OF
Los Angeles for nearly twenty years.
When asked for his views on the sewer,
he said that is long story. But on
being restricted to special phases OF the
question, he declared that he was in
favor of building the inside system
first, and making perfect arrangements
for the outfall sewer while the inside
work was being done. He thinks the
present arrangements, which run for
dozen years, with the South Side
Irrigation Company will answer for a
time, while the sewering OF the
inside of the city ne regards as pressing
in it's Importance. The sewage Col.
Dunkelberger regards rs very valuable
for irrigation purposes, and no plan
sea, excepting as regards any surplus for
which there may not happen to be a
demand at the moment. Then as
dernier resort that would be properly run
to the sea. According to the views OF
this gentleman, the sewage should be
filtered go as to separate the solids from
the liquids. Use the liquid for irriga-
ton and the solid for fertilization. In
this way all offensiveness will be done
away. This is being done at many
places in the East and in Europe. The
Colonel thinks it will be an
enormous calamity if the dis
trict below the city is deprived
of its irrigating facilities, which will be
the case if the water is run to the sea.
Atlantic City, Colonel Dunkelberger re-
CARDS as the best severed city in the
East. When he was in Philadelphia
some years ago his physician recon-
mended him to 60 to Atlantic City for
this reason. He found the place as rep
resented. Its sewer system is perfect.
When questioned by the reporter as to
his connection with the West sewer sys-
tenn, the Colonel stated that he had no
such connection. He says the city can
devise filtration bed Of its own that is
as good, perhaps better than the West
system, so far as that part of the plan
= goes. In winter time there will be
water not needed for irrigation any
where. That is an additional
sewage. Under such a plan, the
do no harm, while the fertilizing por-
tions of which there never can be a sur
plus will be saved. If the proposition is
to vote the bonds in one lump for both
the inside system and the outfall sewer,
then Colonel Dulkelberger will vote
no. If the proposition is cut in two he
will vote on the inside system. He says
there is only one he has found on his
street who will vote yes on the plan as it
is to be submitted. He says running
sewage to the sea is a..failure everywhere.
It has polluted Boston harbor. 1t has
rendered many places on the Irish coast
most offensive. Ses water does not act
as solvent as many people think. In the
opinion of the Colonel Santa Monica will
sue for an Injunction on US, and get it.
Monterey Bay is in danger of being rem
dered unfit for bathing because the offal
of the village has been run into it for a
few years, and efforts are now making
to put the West system in at that place.
The Colonel closed by saying that the
solid portion of the 800 inches of water
now running into the outfall sewer will
not mount to over ten tons day, and
that with properly constructed filtrate
beds, three men will be able to handle it.
C. j. RICHARDS.
As the Colonel finished talking G. J.
Richards happened into the Office. He
said that it was the greatest piece OF
foolisbness he ever heard Of to spend
$500, GOO in order to throw away property
30 valuable as sewage. He also thinks
Mr.. Eaton ia little inconsistent in hie
plans, as the City Engineer proposes
first TO filter the sewage, and then run it
by SO expensive a conduit to the sea.
Mr.. Richards says "If it is to be rem
dered innocuous first then why not turn
the surplus into it's natural channel, the
river bed, or sell it for irrigation ?"
JOHN F. HUMPHREYS,
Ex-President of the Council, was met on
Spring street, opposite the Nadeau. de
was a member of the old Sewer Com
mittee. He said, in that capacity he
had gone over all the routes to the sea
by which an outfall sewer had been pro-
posed. As result of the knowledge
thus gained, he says he is opposed to
the Ballona route. 1t follows low ground
nearly all the way, and traverses
district where irrigation is not practica
BILE. Half the route is swamp land, and
on most of the other half water is found
at about six feet below the surface. By
going to Ballona the sewer will be
dead loss in reference to the country
around Florence, where nearly all the
sewage would be invaluable on the
light, porous soil. What ought to be
done is to take the highest short route to
the sea, and condemn right of way over
it. Build the sewer system while this is
being done, and then the outfall sewer
will be needed. All the rights ought
TO be absolutely secured. Mr..
Humphreys says the rights have not all
been secured by the Ballona route, ard
he told story of one farmer down there
who expects to get 5000 for allowing
the sewer to cross his land. Then the
ex-President of the Council is of the
opinion that the bonds should not all be
sold at once. Sell them as the money is
needed and thus save interest.
W. 8. ARNOLD.
W. 8. Arnold, a real estate dealer from
Pasadena, was with reporter and heard
Mr.. Humphreys talk. He said, you
seem to be making the same mistake in
the opposite direction that is being
made at Pasadena. That city is building
xnsxv H. Il.