Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-13
there was not water enough at any Other
point to occasion the least alarm.

point to occasion the least alarm.
THE STREET RAILROADS.
The storm got its work in on the cable
railways of the city, as might have been
expected. The Second-street road was
the only one that was not visibly
affected, and that was for very good
reason, which need not be stated.
The Temple-street line stopped at 9
O'Clock, owing to the fact that q
veritable mill race was crossing the track
in the neighborhood of Beaudry avenue.
The whole force turned out and worked
manfully at digging bitches and pump
ing out the conduit, and by o'clock the
cable was again in motion and the cars
carrying passengers.
Company would fill q volume. Il seems
to have received good deal more than
it's share OF the four and one-third inches
which were delivered to the city. The
trouble began at the Grand-avenue
power-heuse at about 8 O'Clock in the
morning. Anticipating difficulty, Mr..
Robinson had caused the bulkheads
stopping up the conduits where
they enter the power-house to
be put in place. A large posse
Of men was called out before daylight,
and they were put at the work Of con-
structing dams of sand bags all around
the building. All these precautions
proved of no avail. The water swept
over the dams and down the conduit into
the power-house. The pumps started up
and did all they could, but the water soon
began to work up in the pits to the level
of the machinery, and it became evident
that the unpleasant experience of last
fall was destined to be repeated.
The water finally rose to point about
three feet above the level of the main
floor, covering the great wheels almost
to the axles. The cables from this
power-house never moved in the course
Of the whole day. Between the engine
room and the boiler-room there is
. narrow passageway, which was
boarded up and calked as well
as might be, and thus the water was
kept away from the fires. Throughout
the day the pumps continued to work.
About o'clock Mr.. Robinson sent word
to Chief Strohm, of the Fire Department,
that he must have assistance, or the
building might be undermined, and fall.
After consulting with the Fire Commits
sioners, the Chief responded by sending
Number 8, which worked away as
sisting the pumps all day long. Toward
evening, when the rain ceased, the floor
began to appear in sight, dotted here
and there with the RATS and refuse of
sticks and timbers which had foated
about all day. The machinery
was covered with q thick deposit
of mud which it will take some time to
clear off. 1t now depends upon whether
the storm continues or let's up if the
cable will run today.
The Downey-avenue power-house is
better situated with regard to keeping
out the water than the Grand
avenue, bnt the food coming down the
hill proved too much for it early in the
day and during the morning the cable
lay idle. 1t started up in the afternoon
and ran q short time. No more difficulty
was experienced atlthe power-house, but
the large pit at the swing opposite the
Pico House filed up with water and il
became impossible to operate the cable.
1t shut down just at dark and did not re-
sumo again during the evening.
The water came into the Boyle Heights
power-house about noon and stopped the
operation of the cable. The rest of the
day was spent in pumping hard to keep
the water away from the machinery. In
several places the track leading to the
Heights has experienced washouts, and
it is not improbable that there may be 8
delay Of day or two before the cable
starts up again.
| At late hour last night superintend'
emit Robinson said that he hoped to have
| the main line Of the cable system in op'
Grafton by the usual hour this
morning IS o'clock. A large
gang of men were hard at work
all through the night, and unless an IN
usual quantity of water falls, the road
will be started ION time. 1t will be i'm
possible to start the Seventh street and
Boyle Heights branches today, but the
force of men will be transferred to those
lines as soon as the Downey-avenue and
| Graud.ayenue line ia in working order