Year: 1875




and silver. 1t is brought from the El
Monte district and from the many
mountain cations lying north of the
city, necessitating its hauling by team
distance of from twelve to twenty
miles. The price ranges from ten to
sixteen dollars per cord for cut
stove wood, according to quail
ity from willow-the poorest-to
mountain oak-the best. There is an
abundant supply at the prices named.
Coal of a good quality which is
brought here from the northern parts
of the State brings, at retail, $50 per
ton. A large coal bed has been dis
covered in the county and opened to
sufficient depth to demonstrate its
good quality and quantity, but owing
to the fact that it is very difficult of
access the mine has never been worked.
The Southern Pacific Railroad own
the vein and, at some time in the near
future they hope to make rail connec-
tions with it which will make the
mine of practical benefit to the coun-
ty. Fortunately, nature has been
considerate enough since she did not
provide us with cheap fuel, to give us
climate which requires very little
artificial heat for the comfort of man.
In many families fire is never kindled
except for cooking purposes, the year
round. Still blaze in the CRATE or
parlor stove is very acceptable in the
cool evenings and rainy days of Win
ter, though it does not amount to ne
cessity as in the Northern and Eastern
States.


/ WATER.


Los Angeles is better supplied with
water for domestic purposes than most
other places of her size and popula-
ton in the country, enjoying all the
advantages secured by large cities in
their expensive systems of water
works. The Los Angeles Water Com
pany have a large reservoir short
distance north of the city, which is
supplied by ditch tapping the Los
Angeles river some ten miles farther
up. From this reservoir, water is dis
tributed in pipes with sufficient head
to supply the highest buildings in all
the main portions of the city. The
hill lots on the north are supplied by
another system of works which we
shall note hereafter. The water at its
source is from a pure mountain stream
and far superior to that obtained for
most cities. The connecting ditch and
reservoir are somewhat primitive in
their construction, however, with de-
ficient appliances for filtering, and
consequently the water as it comes
from the hydrant lacks much of its
pristine purity. Still, it will COM
pare favorably with the supply served
generally to drinkers throughout the
country, and when taken with a mod
icum of whisky does excellently. Ma
terial Improvements are contemplated
by the company, however, and within
year we expect to have system of
reservoirs and aqueducts unsur-
passed. The hill lots to which we pre-
viously referred, lie on the mesa
or table lands extending along
the northwestern part of the city.
The whole tract originally belonged
to Mr. Prudent Beaudry, wealthy
citizen, and now Mayor Of the city. A
great portion of the property is still
retained by him. BY his individual
enterprise, he constructed reservoir
with capacity of million gallons,
much higher than that of the Water
Company and capable Of supplying
the most elevated portion of his lands.
The quality of water furnished is much
better than that Of the Water Com
pany, being raised to the reservoir
from an exhaustless spring by means
of force-pump. The system of dis
tributing pipes is complete and every
purchaser of a hill lot from Mr.. Beau
dry is entitled to supply at the usual
rates without additional expense. The
prices charged for water are regulated
by the City Council, and schedule
has been adopted which defines the
Quid pro gao, SO that every man may
know his rights and obtain them. For
families the prices range from two to
five dollars per month each.


Besides these water-works there is q
system of zanjas, or water bitches
under control of the city, which sup
ply water for irrigating purposes.
This water also comes from the Los
Angeles river, and Is distributed to all
parts of the city and suburbs in guam
titles adequate to the demand. Each
irrigator is entitled to his proportion
of the water at rates fixed by the city.


GAS.


Los Angeles has q complete system
of gas works which now supplies a
never falling and good quality of gas.
The mains are extended through all
the principal business and residence
streets of the city. Owing to the
high price of fuel and transportation
the company is compelled to charge
what might seem exhorbitant rates for
the gas furnished. The price is fixed