The herald., 1895-05-09
A SMALL WATER FAMINE ON
Great Complaint of Its Scarcity
Throughout the City
L. A. G. WATER co. EXPLAINS
But householders Are Not AT All
Satisfied
edged, But the Price Is Not Reduced
Hair-MeanwhiIe, People Suffer

A rumor that is gradually swelling into
roar" of Indignation is pulsating the
atmosphere down town and is rolling up
against the stone walls of the Los An
geles City Water company's Off ce at Mar
chessault and Alameda streets.
And the "kick" that is heard at the
company's door is the complaint OF water
consumers all over the city that the sup
ply is inadequate for needs. and on top of
that the price looms up in the same old
figures. The downtown people in the
high houses have the most to complain
Of though, and numbers of the m-own-
ers and renters of business blocks, hotels,
etc.-have importuned the water compa-
ny for an explanation.
The complaint of Mrs. J. G. Phlbrook,
Hotel Corfu. the Virginia and the Hamil-
ton, will serve as fair example of the
many.
TO Herald reporeter she said. in sub
stance: 81 wonder what | can do to en-
large the water supply? The water won't
run at all on the upper story over at the
Corfu, and have to serve that floor bv
hand service every day. The same thing
is the matter at the Virginia and the
Hamilton. Then the pressure down stairs
is very poor and unsatisfactory.
But the worst of it is the water re-
quired for flushing the toilets is utterly
lacking, and many of my customers have
left or have been afraid to live in my
house, fearing evil results of what they
all think is really the unsanitary condi
ton of the houses But the same thing
prevails everywhere. and | don't know
what can do. 1t is dangerous to the
the sewer certainly cannot be well flushed.
"And. to cap it all, my water bill
stands just the same as when the supply
was up to the standard. 1t was high
enough then. but now l pay 500 month
for the Corfu and $40 each for the Vir-
ginia and Hamilton and they make no
reduction for inferior service"
There is great and serious complaina
from other blocks of stagnat:ng water
closets and deficient supply, and the same
growl at the high price tackled on to the
inconvenience. 1t Is understood that sew
eral little Indignation meetings have been
held and that beyond doubt the matter
when next it meets, and demand for
some redress and sanitary relief will be
made. But, as those interested say,
"Our tenants will all have left. and we
will all be dead, before anything will be
DONE"
was Immediately admitted that the sup
ply was short and that the sanitary pros
pect was dangerous. but relief could not
be given at once: A: W. Ryan explained
the matter to Herald repoter. by the
1st of June it will all be right again,
said ne. 1--WE have completed the tunnel
through the hills and the work on the
new reservoir is being pushed as fast as
money and men can make it go. It is.
as you see on the map, north of the Belle
vue- Temple tract amt has capacity. of
4O 600, 900 gallons; it will cost at the least
$3.50. 600 when completed.
"Th's unfortunate dearth of water has
been brought to our notice repeatedly.
especially since this hot spell began but I
see no immediate relief There are
different reasons for it, principally the.
rapid growth of the city and the sewer
system during the past year The sewer
requires so much for its flushing and the
average of $50 new houses we have to
supply every month. makes heavy
drain on our resources. But. as | say,
when the new reservoir gets into working
order we can kepe up with this great de.
velopmen1 and keep lead on it,