Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-29
They Are Indignant Over
Several Matters.
The Council and the Mayor
Criticised.
Opinion that the City Should Own
the Water Works.
Opposed to the Construction of Sewers
in Thinly Settled Districts-Schools
and Parks.

There was small attendance at the
meeting of the west end board of trade
last evening. President Register called
the meeting to order promptly on time.
Nothing of interest transpired until the
report of the water committee came up,
when Mr.. Van Dam stated that he was
anxious to know what was to be done
about the new hydrants ordered by the
council. Mr.. Ellsworth explained the
situation, as stated in the HERALD; also
that there were already fire plugs where
there we're four-inch pipes.
On motion, the board decided to join
the Crown hills board in petition to
the water company to lay four-inch pipe
to the places where the fire hydrants
are needed, and where they now have
two-inch pipes.
Mr.. Ellsworth stated that there was
an ordinance requiring the water COM
panies to lay nothing smaller than four
inch pipe, and that they should be re-
quired to comply with its provisions.
Mr.. Van Dam urged the desirability
of the plan for the city to issue bonds
to the amount of 81 100000 for the pur-
pose of constructing complete system
of water works, to be owned and oper-
ated by the city. He suggested peti-
tion to the council relative to the matter.
Mr.. Moss thought that bonds for such
an amount, limited to twenty years as
they would be by the charter, would
prove burden to the taxpayers.
Mr.. Van Dam stated that the city was
now paying the water companies
100000 a year, and such sum would
go long way toward paying the bonds.
DIR. Galbreth thought the present an
auspicious time 10 agitate the matter,
seeing that the franchise of one COM
pany had but two years to run and an
other six. At all events, the citizens
should take steps to prevent the renewal
of the franchises as they run out.
Mr.. Robinson stated that the water
companies had no privileges that could
not be terminated within years time.
Mr.. Ellsworth said, on the author
ity OF Mr.. S. M. White, the fran
chises of the water company could be
condemned at any time, but it would be
cheaper to wait until they expire natur
ally. In regard to the matter of expense
of constructing new water works, he
structed their entire systems out of the
water, and it was reasonable to suppose
that the city could use this money for
the benefit Of it's citizens to as good ad-
vantage as private corporations could
for their own personal benefit.
Mr.. Galbreth thought the city could
do better by buying up the property of
the old companies when their franchises
should expire.
Mr.. Register declared the present
pipes and works of the water companies
to be useless to any company contem-
plating improvements and extension of
the system. The best pipe is only of
sheet iron, incapable of standing any
considerable pressure.
After considerable discussion Mr.. Els
worth made the following motion, which
was carried unanimously: That COM
mittee be appointed to cooperate with
others in calling a mass meeting of citi-
zens to discuss the water question, ans
the advisability of the city issuing bords
to build system of water works, to be
owned and operated by the city.
Dr. Galbreth introduced the following
resolutions, which were also casried:
WHEREAS, 1t has been statea that one
of the water companies has Pesked for an
extension of the time of itg franchise
therefore
Resolued, That the west end board Of
trade protests against ,tlae extension OF
the time of any existing water company
in the city and further
Resoloed, That the council be requested
to deny any such extension of any water
company's franchise.
The park comImittee reported a con.
ference with the park commission sci
for today at 1D a. m.
Mr.. lnnes /stated that the governor
while visiting this city, had been taken
norH to every p3trk in the city except Elysian
Mr.. Register remarked that this city
would Have been disgraced if such a
poor Specimen of a park had been ex-
Wr. G. H. Sessions reported that the
owners of the Second-street park would
sell it to the city for $4,000 in city
bonds or other good securities.
The matter of the Temple-street cut
being brought up, Mr.. Register stated
that the matter would not need to be
considered for some time, as the abstract
t)f title of property affected by the cut
Was being prepared and would take some
time.
In the matter of sewers Mr.. Ellsworth
hauled the mayor over the Goals in a Wig
Prous manner for approving the ordi
dances requiring the construction OF
sewers in certain thinly inhabited dis
fricts
7 Mr.. Robinson said that it was the evi-
dent intention of the council to have a
sewer system constructed that would
necessitate the construction of the out
fall, which had been voted down at the
last election. Such course would pre-
vent the construction of water works by
the city.
Mr.. Van Dam entered an emphatic
protest against the course of the council
! in allowing the contractor an extension
Nof time in building the Alpine-street
sHhool, declaring that the delay was en-
tINrely unnecessary and only caused by
the discharge of part OF the carpenters
employed on the building.
Mr.. Ellsworth said that the west end
SHOULD have more representation in the
clty\ government. With one-ffth the
population and with one-seventh the
taxable property of the entire city, the
west end only had one councilmen. In
OLD tlI\pes taxation without representa-
tlon WAS styled tyranny in this case it
JG down., rinbf rohIo,rr oxo ;, N oo,,,