The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-30
OLD HISTORY
The Agreement of Thirty
Years Ago
WATER C0MPANY'S CONTRACT
WITH THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES
The Document Signed by Mayor Ag-
uilar and Messrs. Griffin,
Beaudry and Lazard


signed July %, 1868. will no doubt be
read with interest,":
This agreement made and entered
into this goth day of July A. D., 1868, be-
tween the corporation known as the
mayor and common council of the city
of Los Angeles, and their successors in
office, for and on behalf of said city of
Los Angeles, party of the first part, and
John S. Griffin, Prudent Beaudry and
Solomon Lazard, residents of the city
and county of Los Angeles, state of
California, party of the second part, wit
nesseth: That for ard in consideration
of the yearly payment of one thousand
five hundred dollars per annum in
gold coin. such payments to be made
upon the first day of January of each
year, after the signing ard approval of
this ordinance ard contract, until the
conclusion of the term Of this contract:
and the further consideration that the
said parties of the second part will sur
render to the said party of the
first part and cancel all claims
they now hold against said city
for repairs of said water works, and
eight thousand dollars, a little more
or less; and for the further considera-
ton of the said parties of the second
part, shall make the following improve
ments about, in and upon the said
water works at their own proper cost
and expenses, to wit: Lay down in
streets of said city, twelve miles of iron
pipes of sufficient capacity to supply
the inhabitants of said city with water
for domestic purposes, ard shall erect,
or cause to be erected, one hydrant, to
be used as protection against fire, al
one corner of each cross street of said
city, where the water pipes now are, or
may hereafter be laid by virtue of this
contract, and shall, within one year
from the approval of this contract and
ordinance, erect, or cause to be erected,
an ornamental foun tain upon the public
plaza of said city, of such design as
the mayor and common council shall
direct, at cost not to exceed ore thous-
and dollars; and shall within two years
from the approval of this contract and
ordinance construct, at their own ex-
pense, such bitches, fumes. or erect such
machinery in connection with said water
W
of said city a constant supply of water
for domestic purposes, and shall con-
struct reservoirs of sufficient capacity
for that purpose. The said party of the
first part, for the above consideration,
and one dollar in hard paid, the receipt
is hereby acknowledged, hereby
covenants and agrees with the said
party of the second part, their heirs, ex
ecutors, administrators or assigns, to
deliver and concede to the said parties of
the second part, their heirs, executors,
administrators, or assigns, the exclu-
Sive use, control, posse ssion and man
agement of the Los Angeles City Water
works, so called together with all and
singular, the pipes, fumes, wheels and
other personal property composing and
appertaining to said water works, in
any manner whatsoever, with all the
rights easements and privileges and
covenants as described and contained
in a certain instrument Of lease, execut-
ed by the mayor.and common council of
the said city of Los Angeles of date Oc-
tober sixteen, A. D., one thousand,
eight hundred and sixty-fiv to Jean L.
Sansevaine, for the period of thirty
y
this contract ard ordinance, with the
right to sell and distribute water for
domestic purposes. and to receive the
rents and profits thereof for their own
use and benefit except as hereinbefore
provided, hereby giving and granting
the said parties of the second part, their
heirs, executors, administra tors or as
signs the right to lay pipesip any and all
the streets of said city and to dig and
make all necessary excavations for
that purpose, and the right of way
through, upon and over land or streets
belonging to the said city of Los An
geles, with the additional right to take
water from the Los Angeles river at
point above or near the present dam;
provided, always that the said parties
of the second part, their heirs, executors,
administrators or assigns shall at no
time take from said river for the use of
said water works more than ten inches
of water, without the previous consent
of the mayor ard common council of said
city; and that they WILL within sixty
days from tie date hereof. select the
point from which the water will be
taken from said river. The said party
agree with the said parties of the second
part, their heirs. executors, admin
istrators or assigns, that at the expira-
ton of the period of thirty, years from
the execution of this instrument they
will pay to the said parties of the sec
ond part, their heirs. executors, admin
istrators or assigns. the value of the
improvements made in, about and upon
the said water works, in pursuance of
this contract, the same to be aecertained
by arbitration, in case the parties can
not agree upon the value thereof, the
said party of the first part and
the parties Of the second part,
their heirs, executors, administrators or
assigns, to choose one man each, and the
two men thus chosen to select a third
man, and the judgment of tho three men
thus selected shall be final in the
premises. And the said party of the
first part hereby covenant and agree to
make no other lease, sale, contract
grant or franchise to any person or per-
sons, corporation or company, for the
sale or delivery Of water to the inhabit-
ants of said city for domestic purposes
during the continuance Of this contract.
always without prejudice to any rights
already granted. And the said parties
OF the second part, their heirs. executors.
administrators, or assigns, hereby cove