The herald., 1895-05-01

next Tuesday. Ex-City Engineer ]. H..
Dockweiler went along by special request,
he having designed the works for which
the land is needed and originally sug-
gested its purpose.
The land in qusestion consists of 312.s2
acres of land. lying on both sides of the
Los Angeles river in the Providencia
lanch.- and commencing at the point
where the river intersects the boundary
line which intersects the Provdentia and
los Feliz ranches. 1t IS about two miles
long and OF varying widths, being about
one-half mile wide at the widest point.
II runs to point about a quarter Of a
mile above the Tejunga wash, which is
the principal source of supply Of the Los
Angeles river.
The borings made on the Land show it
to be of gravelly formation and is
thoroughly saturated with water.
At the point where the water is diver
ted into the present main supply ditch a
knoll was assembled from which point
comprehensive view could be had Of the
entire tract of land desired to be acquired.
From this point of vantage the strategic
location of this land was we'll understood
by those present. The south boundary
OF the land runs along the crest of the
low range OF hills at the base of which
the river winds its course. Part of the
lduu 10 COfcTcu Will utdlJLy llN0 OAK
trees and very heavy growth of willows
This enormous quantity of these willow
trees would be sure indication OF a
large quantity OF water if seen from q dis
tance, and close observation shows
large quantity of water flowing in the
river, which makes it hardly possible for
a team to cross in safety. This tract of
land is certainly the key to the water sit
uation OF this city. as the greater portion
of the land lies betw cen the confluence of
the Tejunga with the Los Angeles river.
1t is proposed to build Conduit be
meath the bed of the river. running across
the stream and along with the stream so
geles river can be tapped if necessary.
At the place which has been selected
for the gate house or main collecting
chamber, a rocky bluff descends to the
waters edge and the greater portion of
the water. impinges against the base of
this bluff and the rock formation is such
that the safety of any structure ever built
make it. That this plan of securing water
by percolation will be successful was fully
demonstrated by an inspection OF the
present headworks of the Los Angeles
City Water company at Crystal springs,
situated at point three miles below. the
curing the water insures it being clear
and sparkling as it is delivered into the
cOnduitS through natures own filter
the river bed. A-52-inch conduit can be
filled with water at this point, which is
the size OF the proposed main supply
channel. The plans show. that the water
is to be carried along the line of the pres
ent main supply ditch in a masonry con-
duit to reservoir site No. I, consisting of
tract of no acres of land situated at the
northwest corner of the city.
The present main supply ditch is the
one which furnishes the water to reser-
voir No. 4. now known as Echo park or
Temple street, Westlake and Central parks,
besides supplying the zanja which runs
down Figueroa street. 1t also supplies
tile East Side park. in East Los Angeles.
and the Hollenbeck park on Bolye
Heights. The acquisition of this land is
necessary for the purpose of maintaining
the present headworks, which consist
only OF a brush dam thrown across the
river, which defects the water into an
earthen ditch. 1t will be recullected that
the city hfteen years ago purchased the
water right of the Los Feliz ranch but re-
cent investigation developed the fact that
upon the Los Feliz ranch. but was always
OH the Providencia, ranch, within the
limits of the land which it is now nee
essary to purchase. The present head ,
works were built by the Citizens Water
company. which formerly supplied An
geleno Heights and the high portions of
the residence part of Los Angeles and |
they paid rental Of IS per day to the |
owners Of the land for the maintenance
of the ditch and headworks thereon, thus |
plainly showing that the city, from whom
they had franchise and whose ditch |
they were using, had no rights there.
From an economical point OF view it |
will be a saving to the city to build |
headworks and ain supply conduit SO
that the water can be delivered into the |
city free from sand and debris, as the |
present manner of conducting the water |
from the river into the ditch causes the (
ditch to fill up with sand very rapidly, I
the expenditure of many !
thousands OF dollars annually to have it !