Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-26

time, five years. The cost of complete
ly covering the aqueduct and building
additional storage reservoirs as ultl-
mately required can be provided after
ward from the revenues of the system.
What kind of an aqueduct will be
built?
With the exception of the first
twenty miles in the Owens valley the
entire aqueduct will be built of steel
and concrete. All tunnels will be lined
and arched.
How about the reservoirs?
The Haiwee reservoir will be built
Immediately. The three other reser-
voirs will only be constructed when
the necessity require.
Is there any aIkali in the bottom of
the Haiwee reservoir site?
Yes, a small amount on the surface.
These are soluble salts and will be
absorbed by the first water that is put
in it. This water then will be wasted
and the reservoir thus purified before
the rest of the system is completed.
Is the present city water works a
success?
Yes. Los Angeles purchased the
plant for $2,00O,0OO in 1902. Since then
water rates have been reduced 10 per
cent and are less than half the rates
charged by San Francisco, Oakland,
Alameda and Berkeley. In five years
the city has practically rebuilt and
greatly enlarged the system from its
own earnings The net revenue in 1906
was s652, ,416,72
Can the aqueduct pay it's own way
when built?
Yes. 1t can supply 100000 people
with domestic water. irrigate 10000
acres of suburban lands and develop
enough power to light and run the
city.
How about the power plants?
This bond issue provides only for the
construction of the aqueduct. The op-
portunities for developing power are
very valuable. The disposition of them
will be a question for the people to
determine at some future date. The
cost of the plants in the San Francis
quito canyon and conveyance of the
power to Los Angeles will be $4,500,000.
Their earnings should be sufficient for
all interest charges on the entire
bonded debt of the aqueduct and power
plants. The city alone last year paid
$156,000 for it's street lighting.
What benefit will Increased irriga-
ton do the city?
1t will convert $4,000 acres of land
now practically barren into orchards
and gardens. This will increase the
taxable property of the county ulti-
mately by $5O,O00,0O0 1t will provide
homes for $4,000 more people in our
suburbs. The gross value of these
agricultural products ultimately will
project and the benefits be widely dis
tributed.
What is the attitude of the federal
and state governments toward the
aqueduct?
| The federal government has given
great aid to the project by granting
rights of way for over $50 miles of
auueduct and extending forest reserves
The state has enacted favorable legis-
lation.
Will the $2s,ooo,o 900 of bonds be sold
Immediately?
No, the bonds will be sold only as the
money is needed to carry on the work
How will the $23,ooo,ooo be spent?
The great bulk of the expenditure will
be for labor. over 90 per cent of the
expenditure will be at home. With the
exception of the steel in the siphons
and the machinery equipment, the cost
of building, both for material and labor
will be distributed to Los Angeles mer-
chants and workingmen of this section
of the state.
Will the isue of these bonds be bur-
densome to the taxpayer?
Payment on the principal will be de-
| ferred until the aqueduct is in opera
tion, when it will pay for itself. The
average tax during construction, that
the issue of bonds will impose on a
residence property, assessed at $150C
and valued at $4,000. should be approxi-