Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-30
A WATER PROPOSITION.

with water. We shall not notice in de-
tail the plan which Mr.. Dockweiler
elaborates in his report; but will merely
say that it is more expensive one than
we believe the people would approve. 1t
includes pumping for the more elevated
portions of the city, and provides for
elevations which it would be premature
now to supply by this costly means. We
are, however, glad that Mr.. Dockweiler
has made this report. 1t will induce our
people 10 give timely thought to this
important subject, and will start thor
ough and exhaustive discussion of the
question in all its ramifcations.
Every body is certainly in favor of the
main proposition, that the city should
own it's own water-works, and that the
system should be such that the mains
would reach every inhabited part of the
city. There are elevations within the
pueblo limits that it would be folly to
include in the system of supply. For
instance, the engineer calls attention to
the fact that there are elevations on the
east side that are eight hundred feet
above the sea level, and there are also
points on this side of the river in the
Elysian park tract that cannot be much
lower. The less pumping and the more
service by gravitation will be the eco
nomical features of any plan which the
people generally will approve.
We must not forget, however, in any
system we may adopt that the advan-
tages of pressure sufficiently great to
make the hydrants take the place of en-
gines in case of confagratlon, are of the
first Importance, and that the economies
OF force of water that dispenses with
fire apparatus will we'll repay the extra
cost OF securing system with reason
able elevation. The hill portions of our
city that are covered with residences
will have to be provided with water, in
any system we may adopt, and the pres
sure that could be had from the upper
mains when opened into the lower ones
would be sufficient to give a hydraulic
force that would reach, through hose, the
highest blocks in any portion of the level
and business part of the city. 1t is
inevitable, therefore, that large pro.
portion of the water from the river shall
be introduced at the highest point posi-
BILE from the direction of the Feliz
ranch, so that the minimum of pump
ing would have to be done. The supply
for the lower portions Of the city can be
taken out at snc.ni points as will be only
sufficiently above these to carry out the
distributive service by gravitation. In
emergencies of fire, pressure could be OF
tanned, as suggested above, by opening
gate from the mains connecting with
the upper level, and thus receiving the
accession OF the entire force OF the fall
from the higher levels.
1t seems to US that a compound sys-
tenn developed upon this plan would
make a complete and efficient service
for the whole city. The east side could
be supplied from the systems on the
west side, without necessitating any
separate system for that section of the
city or, if that were found to be mex
pedient, the water for the east side
could be taken out at the same point
where the water would be taken out for
the hill portions of the west side, and
carried to reservoir on the east side
by an independent main at an elevation
high enough to meet all the wants oi
the east side.
If the city is going to be the owner oil
its own water-works. it is time we
should examine the subject in all its
the City Water company will be reached
in few years. We should, at as early
day as possible, determine the exact
responsibilities the city is compelled to
assume under the terms of that charter
The principal of these is the covenant
in that instrument by which the
city, ct its expiration, is required
to purchase the works of the
company at an appraised value. /
we are compelled to do so, then the
works of that company would necessa
rily form an important factor in any
plan that might be adopted. But, il
any event, the city will be compelled tc
provide full and efficient service fol
the hill portions Of the city. These are
now covered with residences, and the
assurance of good water supply woulc
greatly increase the density of the popu
lation OF that desirable section of Los
,norolns