Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-19

and is liable at any time to give out, and
as the supply of water is insufficient
with the pipes in active use, what will
be the result with a serious breakage?
There is nothing in the franchise of
any of the water companies wherein the
city can compel them to lay longer mains
or give increased facilities in event of
fire. There is nothing in any of the
franchises wherein a better quality of
water can be had only at the pleasure of
the water companies.
They must be uniform. The city can
build a complete system OF water works
at a cost not to exceed 81 5000 The
revenues of the three companies amount
in round figures to $430, 900 per annum,
or 5 per cent. on $4,000, 900. In other
words, every three and one-half years
we are paying for complete new sys-
tenn of water works of ample capacity in
the revenues paid these companies, and
have nothing to show for it.
A combination of the water companies
is now being formed to obtain control of
all the available water in sight, and the
city, before it is aware of the fact, will
be plunged into litigation over the claim
of prior rights to the water in the Los
Angeles river.
BY the city owning it's own water
works, main of ample capacity could be
laid to bring water into large number
OF parks to be established in the future
by the city. Encouragement would be
given for the beautifying of houses by
the putting in of fountains and of drink
ing places in various parts of the city.
An ample supply of water means better
| health, a more attractive place and lower
rates of insurance.
There is not single city in the
United States owning and controlling it's
own water works that would, under any
circumstance, sell out to a private cor
poration. But there are plenty of cities
that are claiming for the control of the
water works that are now owned by pri-
vate corporations. The city should at
once take measures to terminate the
lease of the water now held by the Citi-
zen's Water Company, and commence
to bring the water into the city and to
la pipes throughout the hill section,
and as soon as the lease of the City
Water Company expires, go to work
either by purchase or otherwise to own
and operate its own water works.
X X = X X
A petition containing ninetv-seven
names gathered in very short space of
time from the district bounded by Jeffer-
son, Main, Washington and San Pedro
streets, is herewith presented and made
a part of this report:
The City Attorneys Opinion.
City Attorney McFarland's opinion
was read, as follows:
As member of the committee appointed at
the last regular meeting of the council for the
| purpose of investigating and reporting the feas-
Ibil1ty of the city erecting its own water works,
| | huX tD folio G,,1 hat, h.
! water in the Los Angeles river belongs abso-
lutely to the city of Los Angeles; that in early
years the city had erected water works, which it
| leased from time to time to different parties,
and in 1868 the lease to the present City Water
Company Tor its assignors) was made, which
! lease was to run for the period of thirty years
from July 20, 1868 An attempt was made in
| said lease to create monopoly in said company
! by an agreement that the city should not grant
| to any other party the right to furnish water to
citizens of the city during the continuation of
| the lease, which provision, in my opinion, is
wholly void and contrary to public policy.
There was also proviso that at the expiration
OF this lease the city would pay the water com
pany the value of the Improvements made about
and upon the works, and providing for arbitra-
| ton to estimate the value, which provision |
am OF the opinion the city cannot be forced to
comply with, for many reasons. On November
! Company portion of the old works, and also
the right to take twenty inches of water upon
a provision in this lease that the water company
would sell the works to the city upon price to
be agreed upon by, arbitrator, There was also
a proviso that this lease might be terminated by
either party by giving one years notice.
Section of article XIV of our constitution
| provides among other things that the rates or
| compensation to be collected fer furnishing
water shall be regulated by the city council in
February of each year, and that any person,
| company or corporation collecting water rates
| otherwise than so established shall forfeit the
! franchises and water-works OF such company to
the city where the same are collected for the
public use. That both of these water companies
| have charged rates in excess of those fixed by
the council and have violated various provis-
ions of their leases is beyond dispute.
There are three methods that can be taken by
the city: First-Forfeiture OF the franchises and
works OF these companies. Second-Purchase
| OF the present works of these companies.
| Third-Erection of entire new works to be
owned and operated by the city.
-, The city owns ITO acres OF Land lying upon
| the northern boundary which was purchased
for reservoir purposes and is most admirably
situated for that purpose, being situated at a
the corner of Sixth and Main streets, and can
! be filled with water from the river by gravi-
tation by taking the same out of the river at
| present ditch of the City Water Company and
at which POINT there is a flow OF about 1900
inches of water, which can be taken out with
out interfering wirh the supply necessary for
the two companies. have been informed by
the city engineer, Mr.. Eaton, who has made
| some rough estimates, that a complete spstem
of water-works for the city, using this reser-
! voir, will not cost to exceed $1,250,0O0.
Whether the city erects its own works or pur.
|
how to raise the money for that purpose will be
| most important
Section 13 OF article XI of our constitution
provides, in effect, that no bonds shall be
issued by city unless the same shall be paid
within twenty years, and the act of March 10,
| 1889, providing for the issuing OF bonds for
| public improvement requires that one-twen-
| tieth part of such bonds shall te paid each
year; There is also provision that no city
shall incur Indebtedness for public improve
ments which shall in the aggregate exceed five
! per cent. of the assessed value of all the real
| We had in 1889 a debt for public improve
ments of $457,O00 and since that time we
have issued for schools, 100000; and for sew
ers, 1914 900, making a total of 81 O31 900
! The total of our assessment roll for last year
was in round numbers. SAG, 100000 Five per
cent. of this sum would be 50 ,20O, 900, and the
limit to the amount to which we could issue
bonds for public improvements. Should we
issue bonds to the amount of 81 $50 900 in
addition to what we have now it would make
total debt of 2,231 900.
In order to pay onetwentieth part of the
principal and the interest upon the school and
sewer bonds issued this year we will have to
raise an additional amount this year of $57 400,
and should bonds be issued for the erection of
water works we would have to raise the first
| year an additional amount of $125, 600 The
amounts to be raised in the succeeding years
! would be decreased as payments made
| upon the principal.
Whether it is advisable now to either
purchase the existing works or to erect
new ones is question which should
|