The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-25
THE OUTFALL SEWER BURST,
Two Hundred Feet of the Pipe
Is Wrecked.
The Full Head of Water Was Too
Much for 1t.
It is Alleged That Poor Work in Con-
struction IL the Cause.-The Place
Whore the Break Oc-
CURED.

Ecbcub iuulChblOub arc bnbb hVou" AoO
feet OF the outfaIl sewer is complete
wreck. A break occurred some time
during Wednesday night and was re-
ported at the city engineers office early
yesterday morning. The full head OF
water which had been flowing through
the pipe all of Wednesday night was
Immediately turned off, but nothing
was done all day yesterday to ascertain
the extent OF the damage or TO repair II.
The break occurred about two miles
beyond the city limits on the place OF
William Holland. There are two
hyirants or wells this side OF the break,
and at the third hydrant. which is i'm
mediately in front of Mr.. Hollands
place, the water appeared upon the sur
lace to considerable extent, indicating
that a second break is located near
them.
The immediate cause of the bursting
OF the pipe was the turning on OF iuii
head of water about 5 O'Clock Wednes-
day by the city engineer. Several OF the
ranchers below the break. who use the
water for irrigation purposes, have been
complaining OF an insufficient How, and
it was the intention of the engineer to
test the pipe to its fullest capacity and
furnish the ranchers with all the water
needed.
Yesterday morning about B O'Clock
Mr.. Holland had occasion to cross his
paeture, through which the sewer runs,
and upon crossing the line he noticed
that the water had thoroughly soaked
the ground to the surface for distance OF
200 feet along the pipe line and Tor sew
eral Yards on either side. Holland inn
medistely informed a neighbor. l. w. La
Dow who informed the city engineer rs
500 as possible. Around the engineers
off 80 profound air of mystery prevailed
al day, but no intimation OF the state Of
affairs was given out to the public.
Beyond the shutting off OF the water,
the officials seem to have decided to let
the matter rest until today.
A reporter of the HERALD who passed
along the entire length OF the sewer as
lar out as the break, found nothing
above ground TO indicate the extent of
the damage except the presence of the
water as stated. The ground there is a
very loose, sandy soil. and IL must have
taken vast quantity of water to soak
the ground as it wac.
The statement of Mr.. Holland and
others who were on the ground when
the pipe was built and laid along this
place is to the effect that the work was
defective In several particulars. A poor
quality of lumber was used, it was
stated, and poor joints were made. Then
the presence OF go much moisture in the
ground there made it very difficult to
lay the pipe properly and just where
the present break is Mr.. Holland states
the pipe raised several inches before the
dirt was filled in over 1t, on account OF
the water washing the loose sand under
the pipe. When the first stream OF
water was run through the pipe it dam
aged the pipe along at this place.
1t is probable, therefore, that the pipe
being above level has great deal OF
debris and refuse matter from the inte-
rior sewer system. Some had lodged at
this particular spot, and when the full
head of water was turned on the pipe
would not stand the strain. There ia a
40-f foot pressure at this point under the
full head of water.
Another thing ia that the whole coun-
try thereabouts is almost a marsh; the
eeepage water from the Chinese gardens
above, which are frequently irrigated,
continually soaks the land, 80 that water
may be found six feet below the surface
anywhere. Thus it will be seen that the
sewer pipe has rested all the time in
simply bed of mud, and this must. of
course, make a very insecure foundation
for it.
The residents OF the neighbor hood
where the break occurred are all very
severe in their remarks in regard to the
manner in which the work on the sewer
pipe in that locality was performed, al
leging that in every particular the work
was done in q loose manner, and poor
material used Mansfield & Grant were
the contractors on the work.
Should the extent Of the injury to the
pipe prove to be as great as now appears,
it will cost several Thousand dollars to
make the necessary repairs. Pumps
will have to be kept constantly at work
while the work on the ditch and the
pipe laying is being carried on in order
to keep the ditch clear of water.
at the second hydrant the pipe is laid
at depth OF about IL feet. but at the
place where the greater part of the
brerk is the depth is not over five OF
ak feet.
There is bare possibility that the
whole trouble has been caused by the
gathering at this particular point along
the line OF large quantity of seepage
wafer and that the break is not as large