Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-31
CRAVE DEFECTS IN MR.. DOCK
WEILER'S ESTIMATES.
No sure Guide for the TAxpayers-r
Leap in the Dark-Nefther Details
Nor Specifications.


The folly OF rushing headloD, 10, xa,.
project OF constructing q ss,,4.S. - ~ -
water works without hav enx s,ss ss ausn =,
the faintest idea Of tf q str,s,of the pro.
iect is exemplife ~ ~ u.s. xha =. ,..sa ~. PIT =,
the city engineer q Office In connection
with the pro. .,osed ysatef bonds. An in
vestisa''o 4 proves. that there have been
ne..n- nSn plans nor specifications prepared
sno'"1ng IN detp a the proposed project
rom winch ar ~ assumption can be had
90 70 now 10 .0cb the project will cost
1ne Guy. .hc scheme Of the projectors
90 SHOWN Delow is based merely on sur.
- hises n& hypotheses without any OF
Inose scientific data essentially neces-
9a.y tor great projects of this character:
" ~ ,avors of the chimerical scheme OF
.eres, who essayed to bridge the Hell
Aespont with bales of straw. Not only
from a scientific, but from common
sense standpoint, the ideas OF the new
water works projectors are ridiculous.
The following communication, giving
the result of an investigation by two
reputable engineers OF the alleged
''plans," explains itself.
Los ANGELES, Oct. 20, 1892.
To Whom 1t May Concern
GENTLEMEN: We have examined what
purports to be plans and specifications
for basing the expenditure OF $626,UU
for water supply, covering the ground
now occupied by the Citizens Water
company, such city bonds to be voted
on November 2, 1892. There is on file
in the city clerks Office only sketch
map, not course or distance given, to
what ie claimed to be the location of the
headworks, nearly 1000 feet over on the
Providencia ranch, which the city does
not own and must buy before it can tres
pass there, or have big lawsuit; this
meager map continues from that point
down to pumping location. There is
also on file what purports to be specifi-
cations. These two documents are all
that appear on file in the city clerks
Office, the proper official depository of
plans of contemplated city improve
ments. There is not single thing on
file that can be classed as details, plans
or data, upon which could be practically
based any construction or estimate.
However, on going to the Office OF the
city engineer, we were informed that
the plans required for the completion of
the work would be exhibited for our
criticism. Accordingly, Mr.. Dockweiler
brought out the plan showing the pro-
posed route between the headworks on
the Providencia ranch to the pumping
stations and reservoir. In reply to our
request for the details of his calcula-
tions relative to the flow Of water to be
obtained at the headworks we found
that no definite information had been
obtained, and the only data used was
based on the area of the rainshed, $50
square miles, and the state engineers
generalization of what the expected un-
derflow would be. On these very wide
premises conclusion was drawn, to the
effect that 10000 feet of open-jointed
piping would prove sufficient when laid
at depth OF II feet to supply AS cubic
feet per second; but whether this is
fact or fancy no soundings or
Investigations have been made
to decide. The estimated 5000,
we are led to believe as the result of
close questioning thereon, could only be
said to be the best guess of the city en-
gineer's Office, the plans showing no
basis or estimate whatever as to whether
they cost $35, 900 or ten times as much.
The conduit is to be laid in the bot
tom of the old Woolen Mill ditch, on q
grade partly of one in 1000 and partly OF
one in 1900, being in the one case 48
inches and in the other 81 inches dame
ter. It is to be circular and built of
brick or concrete, and to cost 81 per foot.
No specifications, sections or plans were
exhibited of this conduit nor has any
provision apparently been made for tenn
poraryk ykaworks, which will be undoubt-
edly required and of large extent to
meet the requirements of the vested
water rights now existing in the ditch.
These temporary works will, in our
opinion, be very large and should cut
quite figure in any estimate for con-
duit in any ditch. No provision has
been made for foundations for the con-
duit as the nature of the country may
require; nor are there apparently any
data from which the expense of such
foundations could be calculated. 1t is
also question whether, under any cir
cumstances, conduit could be laid in
this ditch without such vexatioue inter-
ference with the vested rights therein
as would lead to innumerable lawsuits,
expenses and delays.
The estimated cost of the conduit,
$l65 200, is, therefore, based on an en-
tire overlooking OF some of it's most ex-
pensive items OF construction.
The reservoirs consist of two, one at
an elevation of $50 feet, to contain
100000 gallons of water, the other at
an elevation of 525 feet above sea level.
to contain 10, 100000 gallons. The plan
for these structures are entirely lacking
in detail, and we are informed by the
city engineer that the estimated SAC, 900
was merely Jumped, apparently on the
scientific basis that they knew it could
be done for that figure. In our opinion
we see no reason why the two should
not be Jumped together at any other
arbitrary figure.
PUMPING STATION.
These works have been estimated
without any plans or sketches of any
kind for buildings, pumps, or boilers,
fittings or other details. Even the
nature of the pump to be used is still
undetermined, it apparently being the
intention to compel the contractor to
put in an efficient pumping system and
station for an arbitrary figure Of SAC, 900
regardless of proper investigation as to
whether the sum mentioned will buy 10
such pumping stations or only frac.
tion of one.
The distribution system is estimated
to cost $246, 200, but we fail to find
single detail on which we could
verify this most important item,
amounting as it does to 80 per cent of
the whole sum asked for from the citi-
rows Tho op1u ikoyo hoo~;r~