Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-11
OUTFALL SEWER.
The Proposed OutfalI sewer for
Emptying the Sewage of this City
Into santa Monica Bay.

Into santa Monica Bay.
EDITORS HERALD-.Are we in favor of |
voting $4,000 for constructing that
sewer? If not, why not? We answer
no for the following stated reasons:
First. The proposed Ballona sewer
would cost an extravagant sum, /. e.,
$40 900, for sewer which Mr.. Eaton,
the City Surveyor, says will not empty
anything into the sea during mole than
forty days in the year.
Second. The proposed Ballona sewer
is unnecessary for the health of the city,
for MIR. Eaton admits that all the city g
sewage can be conducted by one or more
sewers with good outfall from the city to
the extensive plains of porous, sandy
land lying on and near the Los Angeles
river, in the direction of Florence and in
that neighborhood, where at least ten
thousand acres of porous plains and
sandy river wash stand ready to receive
and proftably utilize all of our sewage,
and much more if they could get it, for
all time. The sewage being thus trans
ported from our city and in a direction
whence the winds seldom blow upon us
effectually satisfies all the sanitary re-
quirements of the subject.
Third. The proposed Bsllona sewer
is not necessary in order to dispose OF
our surplus sewage during the said forty
days in the rainy winter season, when
Mr.. Eaton says it would be required for
that purpose, for by the system last
above referred to, the surplus sewage,
being deposited in the sandy bed of the
l. s Angeles river, would be immensely
diluted by the storm waters OF that
stream, and carried in its natural course
towards or out of the mouth of that
stream into the San Pedro bay, and
thence into the ocean. Mr.. Eaton says
the bed of the Los Angeles river, where
the sewage would be debouched into it,
and thence downwards, is 30 wide and
sandy and i'll defined, and intimates that
it is doubtful if the sewage, even in the
rainy season, would ever reach the mouth
of the river. If 30, SO much the better.
1t would then result that for the said
forty days in the year the sewage in the
rainy winter season would be generally
distributed over the immense sandy
plains and washes Of the river, where it
could do no harm to any one, and only
serve to enrich the lands on which it
lodged. And if, on the other hand, some
of it should be carried in it's diluted
shape through the San Pedro bay-in
those winter forty days-it could do no
damage to any one.
Fourth. The proposed Ballona sewer
would be immensely wasteful and iDjuri-
GUS to the prosperity and welfare of the
city of Los Angeles and its adjacent
lands. The sewage taken in that direc-
ton by that sewer will be either poured
into the sea or but partially used on
hard clay land where it is o. little benefit,
instead of being used on the. porous
lands in the direction where it is now par
TALLY used, to the great profit and advan-
tage both to the county and city. And
here, We may remark in reply to Mr..
Eaton's supposed difficulties in getting q
right OF way for O sewer, etc., towards
the Los Angeles river, that such diff.
Guilty would have probably vanished if
any inquiry or effort had been made to
obtain such right Of way. No land. owner
outside of the city limits could be hurt
by closed sewer running through his
farm, and il he should have the privilege
of using or buying the use OF the sewage,
his interest would make him consent.
And surely this imaginary difficulty lie
nothing compared with the difficulties
and heavy expenses of suspending the
Ballona sewer on trestle-work over the
Ballons slough, and driving it through
the sand hills and 800 feetinto the sea.
Fifth. The proposed Bsllona sewer
would not only be an unnecessary, ex
travagant and wasteful thing to the city
of Los Angeles, but an outrageous and
disgraceful menace and blot on the fair
fame of our cherished seaside resort
our now charming but trembling Santa
| ,Lo -,
the face OF imploring remonstrances,
ruthlessly eDdeavor to cast suspicion
on the virtue and purity of the bright
waters in which her citizens now so de-
| light to disport themselves.
Sixth. The proposed Ballona sewer
would always be an onerous and expen-
defray the necessary expenses of keeping
| machinery. And when we consider that
on restle-works-alw liable to settle
and get out of order we can we'll un-
derstand what an elephant we will al
ways have to feed.
Seventh. The proposed Ballona
sewer running along and close to the
Southern Pacific Company's railroad, is
|
age or leakage from any cause, to under.
mine or cause settling or break in said
railroad bed, and thereby cause an
accident to passengers, freight or cars.
For such accidents railroad companies
frequently have to pay thousands of
dollars damages, and in view of this
contingency, the Southern Pacific Com
pany required, before giving any right Of
way for such sewer, that the Council
should bind this city, for all time, to
pay all damages caused to passengers,
freight or trains by any defect or break
age, leak or defect in said sewer. This
obligation has been signed by our City
Council, and if this sewer ie built, an
other liability is imposed on our over
burdened city.
Eighth. The rejection of the Ballona
outfall sewer, and in lieu thereof the
adoption of the Los Angeles river for dis.
posing Of the sewage as suggested, will OBJ
viate and avoid all the objections, difficult
ties, waste, the continuous expenses.
liabilities and injuries above referred to.
Ninth. The adoption and substitution
of the Los Angeles river route would
save at least $500 900, which could and
should be used for extending within the
oit .to noaIaI int