Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-06
SEWER COMMISSION.
Reports of the Committees
Handed In.
THE INTERIOR SEWER SYSTEM.
Sewage for Irrigation Recommended
The City Should Own
the Works.


Hall yesterday afternoon at O'Clock,
Mr.. G. M. Wells in the chair, and
Messrs. Breed, Culver, Goode, Hamilton,
Hansen, Jackson, Jones, Judson, Knox
Sinsabaugh, Toberman and
Workman present.
The Chairman stated that he had been
attacked by morning paper for refusing
to allow Mr.. W. Ferguson to sit with the
commission. In support of his action,
which he regretted at the time, but
which was imperative, he read COM
munication from the Secretary of the
commission when it was first appointed.
proving conclusively that Mr.. Ferguson
had never been member. He referred
briefly to the loss sustained by the COM
mission in the death Of Mr.. B. Cohn,
one of its members.
On motion OF Mr.. ]. E. Jackson, the
Chair appointed Messrs. Jackson, Jones
and Knox as committee to draft reso.
luton of sympathy, and it was resolved
that when the commission adjourned it
did so out of respect for the deceased
gentleman.
None of the three subcommittee be.
ing ready to report, owing to the absence
of Mr.. Judson, o recess was taken for
about twenty minutes. On nre.convening
the special committee offered the follow.
ing resolution, which was unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS, Since the last meeting of this
commission, Mr.. B Cohn, one o. our mem
bers, has departed this life; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this commission hereby ex-
q ~ a 20 mil In rf,ft L:
appreciation of the public services of our late
associate. We recognize in his long-continued
public career as an official of the city of Los
Angeles, man who has rendered eminent
service to the people of this city, while his
knowledge of finance has always redounded to
the saving of public moneys, and his enlight-
ened judgment has encouraged Just and liberal
progress in the growth of more perfect sys
TEN OF municipal government. We deplore
the loss of such man as loss to the city at
large. and thereby testify to his public career
as an example worthy of emulation.
On motion of Mr.. E. N Hamilton, the
vacancy caused by the death of B. Cohn
was filed by the appointment of Mr.
William Ferguson.
Mr.. Culver, of the Committee on the
Utilization of Sewage, then offered the
original report of that con- mittee, a
lengthy document comprising seven
pages of printed matter, which, he ex.
planned, was signed by Mr.. Summerland
himself in the form of a minority re-
port. The report was read and placed
on file.
Mr.. Knox, of the same committee.
then presented the majority report,
signed by Messrs. Judson, Sinsabaugh
and himself. He said that it differed
only from the other report in that it had
been amended as TO the policy of the
commission on certain questions, notably
the outfall sewer. Mr.. Judson, who
sigued this report, had signed the other
report, but had withdra IN his signature.
The report, after giving brief history
OF the causes which led to the use OF
sewage for irrigation, says that with us
artificial watering by irrigation is nscea-
sity," and what would damage other
places "works wonders in fruitful pro-
ducts to US. In view of these PROPOSE
tions, our problem of sewage disposal is
reduced to the accomplishment of produc-
ing fair liquid result by precipitation,
straining or filtration. The elimination
OF storm drainage from sewage matter
and the water carrier system is contem-
plated in this consideration" The report
then speaks of the action OF the air on
sewage, and says "And according to the
testimony adduced before this commission
we believe that raw sewage cannot be
successfully or safely used unless the ut
most care and precaution is used in
handling it," The report further states
that it would require nearly 5000 acres
OF land for the disposal of the sewage of
a city of 200. 600 and unless thu solids
were taken out lit would be difficult to
estimate the number of acres it would
take in addition to use up the output"
The report speaks of separating works
and estimates the value Of the fertilizing
materials collected by them for a popula-
tion of $4,000 from $1G0, 900 to 5000 900
per year, and saye: 'Here where everv
drop of water is invaluable and the
supply is greatly less than the demand
therefor, it would bring revenue to the
city that would in large part, If no.
more than wholly, defray the expense of
the treatment for the removal of the
solids from the sewage. The following
conclusions and recommendations were
made at the close of the report:
First. That the city, If it makes any contract
for the disposal OF its raw sewage for iriigating
PURPOSES to any company, reserve the right to
acquire any plant that may be erected for its
precipitation, Qualification filtration or treat
ment, by giving FIVE years notice to said com
be granted for longer term. And that such
company, their successors or assigns shall sell
their plant and appurtenances to the city i'll
such case at sum to be agreed upon by two
commissioners, one to be appointed by the City
Council, and one by the said company and in
case OF a disagreement, third Commissioner
to be selected by the two. That such com pany
sh all bind itself In any contract made with the
city, for the erection of plant and appurten-
snces, not to acquire any patented proc ssses at
exorbltant cost and that in such purchase as
to cost and advisabiliy the City Council of tn 0
City of Los Angels shall have an equal vote.
Second. Your committee are of the opinion
that the city should fully control the purihca-
medical testimony tlken by this committee,
one-Dr. Dougherty-was opposed to the use OF
raw sewage, because, in his opinion, of the i'll
effects upon public health: while two-Drs.
Widney and Orme (the latter President of the
State Board of Health claimed that the most
eminent physicians and sanitary writers OF
Europe and America held to the opinion thar If
raw sewage was properly handled and utilized
within twenty-four hours thereafter before fer |
mentation and decomposition ensued,, it
That 1t should derive any benefit |
therefrom, If benefit there be, and II 1t proves |
otherwise than advantageou 1t is not within |
the province OF this committee to consider g |
Third. That in case OF any irremediable
nuisance being created by the use of sewage /
matter for irrigation, or should any local plant
for separating the solids from the liquid be de.
and mandatory order be issued for its dis. |
continuance, and should methods OF treatmen /
be incapable Of rectify ing the evil the city or
said company would be powerless to comply |
with the order without sea outlet, and any |
bonds given by any company handling the |
sewage could not abate what might be judged |
a public nuisance without q ready outlet to the |
sea.