Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-11-10
THE SEWERS.
The Final Report Of the
Commission
TO BE PRESENTED TOMORROW
The recommendation of the Vari-
Gus Committees in Con-
densed Form.

w
the following present: A. II. Judson,
T.. M. Hamilton, William Ferguson, j
P. Culver, J. E. jackson, g. W. Knox
H. Sinsabaugh, J. E. Platter, and Coun
cilmen Brown, II amilton and Shafer.
Mr.. Judson moved that the vote
whereby the report of the Committee on
Interior System was adopted be recon-
sidered, for the reason that he did moi
consider it in the province of the COM
mission to say how the funds were to be
raised for building the sewers. Carried.
He then moved that all that portion
relative to the manner of raising funds
be stricken out of the report. The com
mittee was permitted to retire and recon.
slider it's report.
After q recess of ten minutes the COM
mittee reported the recommendation
back. 1t was to the effect that 5000, 900
be raised by bonds and that the other
money be raised by whatever means the
Council may adopt. The report was
adopted.
The report of the Committee on Final
Report presented its report as follows:
Conference.-The Sewer Committee,
constituted by the City Council and in
the manner authorized, has carefully
considered the main questions relating to
sewer system for the city of Los An
geles, and respectfully submit the follow
ing report:
We find that the healthfulness of the
city of Los Angeles compares more than
favorably with other cities of it's size,
both in this country and in Europe. A
committee of the Los Angeles County
Medical Society report as follows:
eve find the death rate of Los An
geles city for 1883 to be 8.5 per l 900 and
for the current year $3.50 per 1000. In
these figures are included all the deaths
of invalids from other States and foreign
countries, many of whom were in dy-
ing condition on their arrival. Los An.
geles has less general sickness, and con.
eeQuently lower mortality than any
other city of equal size in the United
States"
The consideration of most vital import
ance in extending the present system Of
sewers, system now many miles in ex-
tent, is to retain and, if possible i'm
prove, the healthfulness of the city,
!. g.: reduce the death rate. This can
be accomplished only through q sewer
system which shall embody only correct
sanitary principles and practice. To this
and we believe that sewers should not
be enlarged beyond their requisite ca
pacity as sewers in order to serve the
additional purpose as storm drains.
That all sewers should be small, to the
end that they may be flushed and kept
clean, and by small we mean size not
greatly in excess of the capacity required
for present use. 1t will be better and
cheaper to construct additional sewers
on parallel streets az the population in
crease5, rather than to endanger the
health of the public by largely antici
pating in the size of the sewers the
growth of the city, and the additions
will come when the city can better afford
the outlay.
Next to health the question of greatest
Importance is that of cost as affecting the
rate of taxation. We regard the rate of
taxation as inseparably connected with
the prosperity of the city, beneficial if
low, detrimental if high.
We can see no good in debt itself, and
recommend debt only to avoid greater
evils, hence would create the least
amount Of debt consistent with the pres
emit urgent demands for expenditures. 1t
is imperative that we bear in mind other
improvements needed by the city, the
Identifying of our parks, acquisition of
water works, ETC., ETC., and that we do
not too nearly approach the limit of tax.
alton. Therefore, in the sum named as
the maximum debt to be incurred, it is
not contemplated to construct all the
main sewers and storm drains that shall
become necessary for the city for term
t. I'D f,,%. 80 H.
opinion that larger debt than the one
named should now be incurred, believing
that the expenditure of this sum will
be amply sufficient for the purpose as
given.
In the division of the sum as between
interior sewers, storm drains, purifying
works and sewer mains without the city,
we make no recommendation beyond
merely estimating the cost of each class
Of work, as such recommendation would
only serve to embarrass the action of the
Council in perfecting the details of the
work.
In this land of irrigation it is unneces-
sary to advocate the value of water. 1t
is the life Of the country, determining it's
centers OF population and the character
and quantity of its products. This great
value to the sgriculturalist ia enhanced
rather than diminished when the water
becomes sewage; 80 S per cent of the
total is still water. which we must not
waste. This fact we distinctly empha.
size.s The water must be saved and used
to irrigate land, thus increasing our pro.
ductive capacity many fold, diminishing
the cost of many staple articles of food,
and adding to our population and to our
wealth. Thousands of acres are thirsty
for the water, but the injunction suits OF
the past and the offansiveness to the eye
and to the sense Of smell, deter many
owners of land from taking it as sewage
Our Investigations point to US the wis
dom of depriving it of it's character as
sewage by some msthod of Qualification,
whereby the solid matter shall be sep
arated from the liquid-a treatment Of
the sewage by some Of the modern pro-
cesses 30 as to render the affluent unob-
iectionable both to the user and to his
neighbors. The use of raw sewage will
always be accompanied with apprehen-
sions of danger and disease, and, more or
less, in accordance with the manner Of
it's use, it will be Objectionable to the
senses. We do not care to pass on the
mooted question as to the reality OF the
danger, but prefer to remove the cause Of
the objection, by some OF the modern
methods of removing the solids.
This we believe to be both practical
and wise, and further believe that the