Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-02
MR.. A. GLASSELL
On the Construction of the sewer
system of Los Angeles CITY,

On the construction OF the Se~oA
System of Los Angeles CITY.
This is most important subject, and
is now especially engaging the attention
of our City Council, as well as many
others of our community having regard
for the public good. The new Charter,
section 223, provides for the issuance OF
bonds to raise the money necessary Tor
the purpose ''of establishing and con-
structing system for the collection and
disposition of the sewage of the city,"
The practical question is now about to
be decided as to the best mode OF estab-
fishing and constructing that system.
Tt would seem obvious that such ques-
tion should be determined mainly by
engineers, by economists, by learned
physicians and experts, whose oppor-
tunities have enabled them to look into
those scientific subjects, involving as
thew do. intricate questions OF engineer
inc of hygiene Or health, of economy,
of financial benefits and profit to the
community by the proper utilization of
the sewage water and sewage matter,
In regar to the engineering question,
40 far as the system is located, in the
city proper, involving the collection and
drainin therefrom of the sewage mat.
ter, that has been properly left to, and
determined by, our intelligent and able
City Engineer, who has no doubt done
his work we'll in that respect. But the
very important economic, hygienic, and
engineering question remains, as to what
the charter denominates the "dispoSition
of the sewerage of the city.
An intelligent determination of this
question requires consideration Of the
conditions and peculiaIites of our
climate, soil, geographical surroundings,
etc., also the facts shown and developed
by the experience of cities in other parts
of the world, in reference to this subject.
In considering the peculiar conditions
of our section, and the experience of
other parts of the world, above referred
to, it may be well for us to remember
that most of us here have immigrated
from States and countries where rains
occur generally throughout the entire
year, where artificial irrigation is
unknown, and where the soil is generally
nearly saturated with rain water.
and that under these circumstances it is
to be expected that we should generally
he unacquainted with the conditions and
necessities of country like ours having
eight months of dry season in the year
without any material rain, and where
artificial irrigation is necessary for the
profitable production OF fruit or vegetable
crops. 1t is we'll. under these circum-
stance, to have our eyes opened to the
fact that we are now living in country
of different climatic, geographical and
geological conditions from the countries
where we were born, and especi ally to
be informed and to recognize the fact
that adjacent to this city, and along the
general courfe of our river outfall to the
sea, lie extensive plains of 10000
acres of dry, porous, sandy loan hunger
ing and thirsting for the sewage water and
sewage matter, which some of our other
wise intelligent citizens and Councilmen
seem to regard as a surplus incubus,
which they purpose to cast directly by
the way of the Cienga and Bellevue
swamps into the sea, at dead loss and
expense to the city OF $450,000.
The writer of this article, at the kind
invitation OF the City Council on Friday
last, partially expressed his views on
the subject, protesting against the
scheme above referred to, and among
other things then suggested that instead
of the course above referred to, the out
general direction of the course of our
outfall river towards the sea that it
should be close sewer until it passes
the scity limits and until it reaches that
porous, sandy lands, where no objections
could be raised to it's use for irrigation
and fertilization, and temporarily ter
minating in the sandy bed of the river
some miles below Florence, at which
point, for geater precaution, an open dry
canal of a half mile or more in length
could be made to receive and
absorb such surplus sewage as might not
be taken and utilized before reaching
that point, which contingency would only
happen in the wet season, when the
river would be sufficiently flowing to con.
duct this surplus sewage in its natural
outfall course into the sea.
So much in regard to the peculiar con-
ditions, or status, of our city and section
bearing on the subject.
In regard to the question as to the
profits, the hygienic effects, and general
comfort of the inhabitants in and around
the thus irrigated lands, to cite the
numerous high authorities on the sub
iect in Europe and America, which the
writer had intended to do, would make
this article too long. That branch of the
subject may be considered IN a future
article. Now, however, the writer takes
the responsibility OF asserting that, as far
as he has been able to examine the sub.
ject, the result of the reports of the
scientific, responsible committees and
physicians who have made the matter
a study and subject Of investigation, is to
the effect that such disposition and util-
ization of sewage as recommended in this
article has been proven by long expert.
ence in Europe and America to be q
source OF great profit and prosperity, and
without any detriment to the health or
comfort of the inhabitants of the cities or
of the thus irrigated lands, and that the
unnecessary throwing away of such sew
age into the sea is barbarism and wilful
destruction Of property unworthy Of any
civilized country.
ANDREW GLAssELL.
Encouraging the MOngolfan.
EDITOR HERALD-During a drive Of
several miles, yesterday, out on the line
of South Figueroa street, was some-