Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-01

tts+E+.s + !. !. j. i
bers of the council, has submitted
report in which he says it will cost
$36, 100000 to build the great conduit
and bring the water to Los Angeles.
Mr.. Olmstead qualified his figures, how
ever, by stating that they were based
on the prevailing price of materials.
In this connection it is interesting to
note that Boston has just expended
$60,O0O,0O0 on it's Cochituate system.
viii Be Greatest Conduit
The Owens river conduit when built
will be the longest of it's kind in the
world. 1t will begin three miles south
of Charles Butte and extend to the
San Fernando valley where it will con-
meet with the citys present water
mains, a distance Of more than 200
miles. By one route which has been
considered the distance is PIT miles and
| by another 213 miles. The route to be
selected will depend on whether it is
found cheaper to build the extra four
miles of conduit for cutoff.
This conduit will be built entirely of
cement and be carried over the Tehach-
api mountains, which seems to have
been especially designed by nature for
| this purpose. The monster conduit will
| have a drop of one foot to the mile
| for the entire distance except at Little
Lake, where it will have an abrupt
fall and where it will be possible to
develop 10000 horse power.
viii Build Immense SIphons
TIL ebuilding of this conduit will be
one of the greatest municipal en-
gineering feats ever attempted and
while there are many difficulties to
overcome all engineers who have gone
over the ground declare these dift1cul-
ties are by no means insurmountable.
Tunnels must be bored, in some places
through almost solid rock, and inverted
siphons must be built to carry the
water across canyons in the Tehachapis.
At Jawbone canyon the largest of these
inverted siphons will be constructed.
This will be of 1000 feet pressure. The
next largest is at Pine canyon, where
an inverted siphon of 325 feet pressure
will be built. Pine canyon is sixteen
miles north of Mojave and Jawbone
canyon five miles north of Pine. From
Moiave to Jawbone canyon and in fact
from Los Angeles to the canyon, the
engineering work will be what Fred
Eaton calls "a puddin'." For about
twenty miles north of Jawbone, and |
especially through Red Rock canyon,
the work will be difficult as it will be
chiefly through solid rock The inten- |
ton is by no means to tunnel through |
this rock, but it must be cut into in
order to form bed for the big con-
duit. |
Will Develop Great Power Plant
Red Rock canyon is an important
factor in the Owens river scheme. This
is one of the most beautiful spots IN
America, and it is regrettable that 1t
is so inaccessible to the travelling pub
lie. 1t is Of limestone formation, OF
q deep red in color and is marvelously
carved and chiseled by the elements into
striking semblances Of castles with gl-
gantic pillars, facades and arches
None of the beauty of the canyon will
be destroyed by the engineering work
to be done in 1t for the city.
If it is found feasible by the board of
engineers which will pass on the pro-
ject, $4,000 horse power will be de-
veloped in this canyon. If this is done
but $4,000 horse power will be developed
at Little Lake in place of the 10000
planed for. Engineed Olmsted says
the city can sell the power at a tre-
mendous profit. If Mr.. Olmsted's fig
ures prove correct the power will in a
few years go a long way toward paying
the total cost of the construction and
Los Angeles will enjoy an unfailing
source of income for all time.
VIII Construct Railway System
Mr.. Olmsted has not estimated the
cost of developing this power but
claims it will be very small compared
to the net returns. 1t is estimated that
the profit from this source will be
greatly in excess of the total income OF
the city from taxes.
All estimates of the cost of construc-
tion which have so far been made pro-
vide for the city doing all work, even
to the making of the cement and the
building of a railroad for transporting
the materials along the route. With
sidetracks and switches this railroad
will be $50 miles long.
The estimated cost of this munic1pai
railroad is more than $5,000,000, but all
engineers declare that in the end this
method will be found much cheaper
than any other means of transporta-
ton. without the railroad 1t would be
necessary to carry materials over the
desert and through the owens river
valley by mule trains, most expen-
sive process.
It is planned to build three municipal
cement plants to manufacture the ce-
ment to be used in the construction
of the conduit. These plants Will be at
different places on the route and 1t is
estimated they can be built and oper-
ated for $414,000.
Great Saving on Cement
One and a half million barrels of
cement will probably be needed for
The conduit. 40 deliver cement at The