Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-27
THE OUTFALL SEWER.
Santa Monica Enters a
Strong Protest.
1T DON'T WANT THE SEWAGE
The Matter Discussed at an Al
journed Meeting of the City
Council.

Fran kentield IN the cnalr, anu hoeole
Van Dueen, Brown, Hamilton, Shater,
Bonsall, Summerland, Wirsching and
McLain present.
City Attorney Mcfarland said that the
meeting had been set to allow the Board
of Education an opportunity to present
plans and specifications for the proposed
school buildings, in order than an ordl-
nance calling an election for bonds could
be passed. The plans were not ready,
and so nothing could be done.
The City Engineer presented map of
the proposed outfall sewer to the sea,
showing the names of the property
owners on the line. A short recess was
taken to allow an inspection of the map.
Upon reconvening, the following pro-
test from citizens of Santa Monica was
read by Mr.. II. T. Lee.
SANTA MoNICA's EARNEST PROTEST.
The Santa Monica Board OF Trade sends
greeting to the city of Los Angeles:
Iu the matter of the outfall sewer. the peo-
pie of Santa Monica protest against the deposit
of the filth of their sister city in the surf upon
the beach, which is the attraction and point of
value and advantage of Santa Monica.
The following considerations are respectfully
submitted to the authorities of Los Angeles,
with view to prevent further proceedings to
build an outfall sewer to the injury of Santa
Monica:
The outlet of the proposed sewer is within a
few thousand feet of the city limits of Santa
Monica.
No river or arm of the sea creates any cur
rent from the sea to carry away the disgusting
sewage which will be dumped upon the
beach.
south to north, or from the sewer mouth to the
city, for seven days out of nine; consequently
the sewage as fast as emptied, will be carried
to the beach at Santa Monica.
The beach at Santa Monica is what makes the
town the popular resort that it is. Its injury is
the destruction of the town of Santa Monica.
1t is not the sewage OF today only, but
eventually that OF great city of probably half
million of people upon which we must calcu
late.
That the damage to be anticipated from the
sewage of Los Angeles dumped into the bay
of Santa Monica where only coast or lateral,
and no outward current exists, is not imagin-
ary, the following citations will show:
The sewage of the City of Paris has de-
stroyed the purity and sweetness of the river
Seine from Paris to the sea-
The sewage of London, emptied at Deptford
into the estuary of the river Thames has rem
dered the water OF tn at broad arm OF the sea
foul and filthy to such an extent as to destroy
all the old water-side resorts upon 1t. The deck
of fasteamer or shtpis a sickening place to be on
for fifteen miles below the great outlet sewer.
The river Clyde has become an inky nuisance
by reason of the sewage of Glasgow.
These cities and many Others similarly sl.u-
ateQ, nave undertaken 10 OlVeft Unelr sewage
upon farms. not only to save the fertilizer, but
mainly to prevent the destruction of property
by the nuisance of the sewage emptied into
rivers or arms of the sea.
The sewage of the cities of Marseilles, of
Cannes and of Nice, in the south of France, is
poured out into the open Mediterranean sea.
The result is an intolerab stencil upon the
beach and sea front and a resulting high death
rate in these places All strangers fly from
them as early as MAJ Oh to avoid the dangers OF
further than Oakland and San Francisco. past
which places powerful current sweeps to-
wards the sea, we find their beautiful water
front sinking to high heaven and abandoned
instead of sought by those whose means psrmlt
choice.
If the use of sewage is being prized aud
sought in the rainy climates of Europe, and in
many places in our own Eastern States with
priced in a mild climate with a long dry season
like that of Los Angeles county?
The d idea of throwing away and wasting
sewage, the most prompt and powerful fer
idea of deliberately destroying the largest
most beautiful and most popular seaside resort
In Southern California, II seems to us can be
hardly further advocated since the facts are
pointed out
The town of Santa Monica is more intimately
interested in the welfare and prosperity of Los
Angeles than is any other place in the county,
The riches and growth of Los Angeles are the
riches and growth of Santa Monica. So, also,
Santa Monica as pleasure resort must become
more valuable to Los Angeles, with every addi-
tion of population to the latter city. 1t is there
fore of importance to o Los Angeles % that the at
jured, and its beautiful beach destroyed as a
resort.
proposed sewer is both more costly and less ad-
vantageous to the city than would be one dis
charging ils sewage on sewer farm, includ-
ing the price of the farm 1t is not for us to
point out the vast advantages to the city and
the whole county of the utilization of such a
farm. either for market gardening or for an
immense plantation OF eucalyptus trees. These
trees are strong absorbers of moisture, and
noted as disinfectants; and the district irri-
gated by sewage, If surrounded by belt of
these trees, would be entirely innocuous, and
the plantation itself would in a few years. yield
a large and steady income to the city.
But whatever use such farm would be put to,
it would be better than the wicked waste of
casting the most valuable fertalizer known into
the sea and to destroy the town of Santa Monica
and drive its 5000 inhabitants from their
homes.
Santa Monica presents its case to Los Ange-
les and respectfully requests due considera-
tion of this protest
With no intention to threaten our great
neighboring city, it seems due TO the common
interests of both that no money should be
wasted upon an undertaking that may never be
completed.
We therefore beg to say, in respectful and
friendly way that we fl mly believe our pro
perty and our homes will be destroyed by the
discharge of the sewage matter of the City
of Los Angeles into the ocean as proposed, an d
our happiness and our lives will be imperiled.
We therefore give notice to prevent, his great
wrong, we are prepared to go to the last ex-
treme that the law allows. We have secured
attorney and we propose to fight this
State and in the Federal Courts, and until
every possible action and legal remedy is ex-
hausted we will not submit to the emptying
of the Los Angeles sewage iHto the Pacific
Ocean in the vicinity of Santa Monica.
With full anticipation of friendly consd-
ourselves. Abbot Kinney, W. 8. Vawter, J. W..
Scott, II. A. Winslow, e. H. Sylvester, Il. J.Yaw-
ter j. ]. Carrillo, T. A. Lewis, of the Santa
Monica Board of Trade and committee of citi-
zens of the town of Santa Monica.
Mr.. Abbot Kinney said that nearly all
of the people who signed the protest were
citizens of Los Angeles as we'll as Santa
Monica, and be hoped that the matter
would be carefully considered.
Mr.. Shafer moved that the protest be
received and placed on file. Carried.
Mr.. Mcfarland said that the City En-
gineer had made new survey over the
route, 30 as to take the outfall fully mile
further away from Santa Monica. This
route would cost more, at least $15, 900
more, and it seemed to him that If Los
Angeles was willing to spend $l5 900 to
benefit Santa Monica, the people there
should at least meet the Council half
way.
Mr.. Franken6eld said that the outfall
would come out more than three miles
away from the Hotel Arcadia.
A recess was taken at this time, to
allow an examination of the map of the
proposed route.
Mr. 90 aaid fbat fba oantIan,ar \ od