The Washington herald., 1909-04-25
$23,OOO,OOO FOR WATER
Los angeles to Tap Riper at Enormous Expense.
Conduit 24O Miles Long

had already surveyed the territory and
were preparing 20 recommend the con
stTuction Of great reservoirs for the re-
clamation OF the arid lands IN the Mojave
desert, but when the Los Angeles project
was laid before them and the principle OF
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der" was set forth they withdrew in
favor OF the greater projeet-the supply
ing OF 5o0.0oo persons in the san Fernando
Valley with the very essential Of their
material being: an adequate water supply.
Mr. Mulholland has direct supervision OF
the construction Ct the great conduit for
the city. and none Of the work viii be
done by private contract. Mr.. MulhollaRd
he's this to say of the engineering feats
involved.
Thirty-five Miles of Tunnels.
There VIII be about thirty-dve miles OF
tunnels. chiefly between Mojave and san
Fernando Valley. We shall use no pipe,
but expect 10 bring the water 10 Los An
geles BY a gravity How IN a concrete con-
dUit large enough 10 carry 3o.00o miner 5
inches Of water The tunnels win make
this possible.
Some Of the tunnels viii be immense
affairs. but the expense Of excavation
VIII not be as heavy as for railroad con-
structiou. We shall simply give the water
an opportunity 20 eat its own way into
the San Fernando Valley just as il prob
ably did a few thousand years ago with
out the sid Of electrical science. The fan
is SO great that by Installing an electrical
plant in the valley We can obtain enough
power 10 drive half a dozen of those tun-
neis al the same time. This viii mean a
comparatively cheap method Of constrUc-
ton
The estimate OF construction 10 b. ac-
CompIIshed during the next year. as re-
ported by Mr.. MUIhOnand. shows that
-el. .6t0 IineaI feet Of work is provided for.
II includes much Of the most difficult
work in the whole project and the ac-
complishment OF the quantity in the time
specified viii be a tremendous gain in
approaching the final completion e the
whole system Il means that il the work
laid out for the coming twelve months
is completed the whole scheme viii be
easily completed IN four years the ap-
prOximate time set.
Electric shovel TO Do Work.
According 10 the estimates. =. ISIS IineaI
feet Of the big task will be excavated and
lined tunnels. Ss148 lineaI feet excavated
tunnels and 1882 feet excavsted and
lined conduit This is distributed through
eleven sections Of the work IN the cele-
brated Jawbone division. the most diff
cult Of the whole number. the tunnel
work. aggregating 1913 feet. is 10 cost
81 1898 and IS the largest cost % any
single division. An electrical shovel was
placed in commission in this division jan
progress daily
In The Ai0jave division distinct fuan-
cisi gain was made in the conduit work.
which is twenty-eight miles long One
Austin and TWO steam excavators are AZ
work in this division and are expected
20 give A progress Of 600 feet a month.
and this viii complete the work IN two
years
Work or the various divisions IS being
rapidly pushed and an army Of workmen
numbering up into the thousands have es-
tablished temporary homes along the line
OF construction. Schools have been e.
tabIished az various points for the chill
dren OF the Workmen- and teachers have
been sent out from Los Angeles. so that
during their four years residence in the
wiids Of the desert there win be 70 lack
OF educational advantages.
With the exception Of ancient Rome.
no city OF ancient or modern times. so far
as known. ever boasted such a mammoth
supply OF water carried Tor 50 far a dis
tance- Already are Tho beneficial effects
being realized. Property values in Los
Angeles and vicinity have advanced by
leaps and bounds since the project was
decided upon. and this advance gives
every evidence OF being permanent