Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-03
OCTOBER 8, 1909.
SEWERS AND SANITATION

ulouS centerS as a matter of sanitation
and convenience.
In the designing of a system for the
removal of sewage, sanitation and
convenience must be kept constantly in
mind, the former as the principal and
the latter as a secondary consideration,
details, of course, must rely princi-
pally upon the geographical condi-
tiOnS
The two essentials are that the sew
age, and all the sewage, be removed
without any delay to a point where it
may be properly disposed of, and that
the disposal shall lose permanently its
power to do harm.
In taking up the matter of the dis
posal of sewage, the first and most
important question will be the system
to be adopted, and this relies upon
the existing financial conditions, if the
financial limitations are such that the
engineer has to contine himself, the
system as a rule is generally imper-
feet, even if he is a man of we'll
known ability, as in such case he is
restricted and has to do the best he
can under the conditions.
All these matters were carefully
considered by the board of trustees
previous to calling an election to bond
the city for sewer purposes, but the
principal question that arose was the
final distribution of the sewage, the
opinions of those in power differing
as to the method.
Our city of Redondo Beach, situated
as it is upon the ocean, would nat
urally, from an economic standpoint
and following along the line of the
least resistance, pour its sewage into
the sea, thus saving thousands of
dollars, but this method, when pro-
no cd a Cnntin1nt
it that the idea was finally abandoned,
even under a proposed settling tank
system, which has been successful in
other towns similarly situated, and the
sewer farm project was finally adopted.
Upon the estimate of City Engineer
Henderson that a unit covering al
most the entire city would cost $780,
900, including a septic tank and out
fall, the trustees called the election
and the bonds were finally issued AL
though the plans and profiles We're,
practically speaking, completed, the
firm of Olmstead e Gillelen was en-
ployed as the constructing engineers
at a salary of 5 per cent of the bond
ed amount. This firm made few
changes and the contract was award
ed the California Pressed Brick COM
pany.
In the meantime new administra-
ton was elected, who took an active
interest IN the then almost completed
system and made many important
and in the long run, economical
changes, and while the system at pres
ent is not by any means perfect, 1t is
in good shape and successful.
The septic tank itself is not what
it should be, and in its present con-
dition will cost considerable for main
tenance 1t is an immense concrete
tank so feet wide by 100 feet long
and is made up of 10 different depart
ments, through which the sewage
flows, and is probably one of the
largest in the United States.
The engineers originally had planned
the outfall piping to be of wood ana
steel wood to be used for the pressure
portion and steel for the gravity. AS
tha distance to be pumped was 500
feet, the new trustees decided to nave
this piping changed, the wood to be
displaced by cast iron and the steel by
yitrified pipe This, accordingly was
done and while the cost was consid-
erablv more the move has proved
most economical one.
The system up to date has cost $fI-
600 and is money well expended.
The method adopted by the present
board for the making of the connec-
tions with the mains, While being op-
iected to by a number of our cltl-
zens. has proved fair and equitable
and within a short time every house
in the CITY Of Redondo Beach will be
connected up.
Taking everything into considera-
tion. our city sewer system is one
of the most up-to-date systems now
in use anywhere. s. d. BARKLEH.