The herald., 1895-02-28
Putting in Some More Valves
to Relieve the Strain
LARGE RANCHES USE WATER
A Big Standpipe Will Be Put in to
Overcome the Vacuum.
The Sewer Committee Of the Council Visits
the Big Ranches Where Water
Is to Be Used

The present sewer committee of the City
Council has under consideration some adj
ditions and slight alterations in the out
fall sewer which will add considerably to
the usefulness of that institution. The
additions are in the shape of two valves
which it is intended to put in along the
route and twenty-foot standpipe, be-
sides some slight alterations in the shut
off valve at the end of section four
1t was the intent of the original de-
signer of the plan of the outfall sewer that
it should be means of furnishing water
for irrigating many thousands of acres of
land between Los Angeles and the sea- as
we'll as to carry off the sewage of the city.
A number of large ranches and many
smaller ones align the sewer, or are con-
tiguous to it, and at convenient places the
necessary arrangements for laterals, and a
large number of hydrants have been put
in with the intention of supplying irriga
tion water for the thousands of acres of
land. The Centinela, ranch of $4,000
acres, and the Howard c. Bixby ranch
are two of the largest which can be irri-
gated from the outfall sewer.
From experiments which have been
made with the hydrants and shut-off
valves, it has been found that the arrange
ments for taking water from the sewer at
any location along the route are not yet
perfect
In order to force the water out at places
where the hydrants are placed, it is nee
essary to back it up from the next shut
off valve below, and it has been found
that the pressure on the pipe when this is
done becomes too great. Consequently it
has been deemed necessary to place at
least two more valves along the line and
stand pipe will also become necessary.
The Council will also probably allow How
ard u Bixby to make some slight altera-
tions in the shut-off valve chamber where
the conduit or lateral which will supply
their ranch connects with the main sewer.
Howard IL Bixby have expended several
thousand dollars i'll the construction of a
cement conduit and bitches to carry the
water to the 4000-acre ranch, and Daniel
Freeman, owner OF the Centinela ranch,
has also been to considerable expense thus
far for bitches and laterals.
Just now there is slight difference of
opinion existing between the owners of
the two great ranches, for it is impossible
to supply both with all the water they
could use, and the one who succeeds in
getting in first will get the most water.
Yesterday the sewer committee of the
Council, consisting of Councilmen King
cry, Ashman and Pessell, City Engineer
Compton, Mr.. Derby, superintendent of
the outfall sewer, and reporter of The
Herald made a trip over the line of the
sewer. The purpose of the trip was to To-
cate the exact places where the improve
ments shall be put in and to adjust some
Of the differences between the ranch own
ers.
The idea of putting in the new valves
originated with City Engineer Compton,
and he has already induced the Council to
pass requisition for one of the valves,
and it has been ordered. The cost of the
whole improvement will not exceed $2000
and the engineer and sewer committee
estimate that it will bring many thou
sands into the city treasury, besides OBJ
Waiting the danger of bursting the pipe.
For some time, when the water was
shut off in the valve at the lower end OF
section six, which is about two miles be-
yond Ingewood, "a continual humping
has been heard at the valve, and the
ground over the line of pipe would trem-
Engineer Compton explains this by
saying that when the water is shut off at
the valve and starts to run out at the
other end a vacuum is formed and the
air is bound to get into this from some
source. If there is two or three miles of
water to go through the air goes in bub-
bes and constantly rocks the pipe and
subjects it to severe strain. To relieve
this a stand pipe is to be put in just be-
low the shut off valve, and the vacuum
will be filled and the strain obviated.
Inc Two valves Will also relieve the
wooden stave pipe of the strain which
would be put upon it if the water was
backed up all the way. The first valve
which has already been ordered is for the
3s-inch pipe and will be placed near
hydrant No. A, on Idlewild street, in
lnglewood. 1t will arrive in few weeks
and be put in at once.
1.-THE public will soon know when it is
put I'M, said Engineer Compton yester-
day. 'We will have everything in readi-
ness p before f t., the valve is on the ground,
the pipe and make the connection"
The force of men which was at work on
the pipe where it had been leaking has
finished the job of tightening the bands,
and small force is now engaged in filling
up some holes over the tunnels where the
recent rains caused the ground to cave in.
The flush tank near Agricultural Park is
working in good shape now, and in fact
the whole institution is now in good run
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