Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-07
The sewer Elections.

EDrToRs HERALD-As the time is ap.
preaching for a public expression OF
opinion, by way of the ballot box, on the
question of sewers and storm drains, it
becomes necessary that all concerned
should make up their minds, if they
have not already done so, whather they
vote yea or nay. l have noted, with
some degree of interest, the discussion in
the columns of the HERALD, and have
sought other means of posting myself
regarding the question. The conclusion
is now irresistible that the outfall sewer
and the storm-wster drains are done for
to certainty, as they ought to be, for
the present; if the interior system is
authorized by voting the bonds, it will
be scratch, as things now look. A de.
cided lack of the element of confidence
in those who are managing affairs is
great factor in the whole
contest, but the average voter,
who is a taxpayer, is not
fully convinced that an outfall system
strongly rejected a few months ago,
should be voted for now at an additional
cost of so many thousand dollars, at the
present time or in the present shape.
The old untruth will be sent abroad as
in the former contest, no doubt, that the
city has no sewers, which is gross mis-
representation, as the central portion is
well supplied. at great cost, and they are
all in good condition.
But it is the storm drain device with
which the writer hereof has chiefly to do
in this article, and he wishes to protest
as strongly as he may against the whole
so-callec "storm-drain" business, as q
self.evident and expensive folly, and a
failure beyond the possibility of doubt.
A storm drain is very we'll in most cases,
and will answer passing we'll when not
pushed too hard; but Los Angeles
was visited the past season with
three rainstorms of phenomenal
proportions, and neither one of them
could be handled by any system Of
drains which could be divised to 60
under the surface. This fact was made
very clear to all who had occasion to be
out in either of the storms; it is the part
of wisdom to make provisions for viei-
tation of the same kind in the future,
and it is not wise to fail to do it. A
canal the width of street and four feet
deep would hardly suffice to carry away
the sudden flood. The system recon-.
mended would carry but small part of
the last storm, and quite likely be COM
pietely ruined.
The natural thing to do then, in the
judgment of many, and this conclusion,
after part experience, cannot be gainsaid,
is to pave the streets along the natural
waterways, making the center of the
streets several inches lower than many
of the unpaved ones now are,
and let the water flow unimpeded to the
river as soon as it can. The whole sur
face of the hill section has been skinned
off in grading, with absolutely no pro-
vision to either care for storm-water or
dirt washings. This matter should be
looked into by a tax-ridden community
before it is too late. 1t looks now like a
stupendous piece of folly to undertake
an underground system. 1t has been
said that there is "noodle" behind these
three schemes; that the "boys" need
the money; that there is to be an cleo
tion bye-and-bye and another after that.
Perish the thoughtl No one in Los An
geles is looking for 'sboodle;" this whole
project is for the public good Jesse.
R.
Los Angeles, March 5, 1889.