Year: 1875

more depressed portions of the city.
The steps necessary to prevent such a
calamity should be taken at once.
Our past immunity from danger
should not cause US to ignore measures
of the most common prudence. Un-
less some adequate precautions are Ia
ken, we may at any moment become
the theater Of q calamity which
would rival in extent and horror any
of those which have devastated other
cities more complely protected than
we. The first action that would seem
necessary is to define the lines of the
Los Angeles river carefully and perma-
nently, and to require any property
owners who have encroached upon
these limits by planting live fences, or
in any manner Obstructing the free
course of the water to at once remove
those distractions. Then If the west
bank were protected by a slOping levee
or embankment made ut a low stage of
water by digging a trench deep enough
to remove any danger of undermining,
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of the trench back to point above
high water mark, and covering this
sl0ping surface with trees-the tops
outward--laid in layers. in the same
manner as shingles are placed on q
roof, think the sand would, as the
water raised, be deposited among the
branches of these trees to such an ex-
tent that the very action of the water
would be constantly increasing the
barrier between ourselves and the
threatened danger. By carrying this
covering of trees below low water
mark all danger from undermining
will be obviated.


CITY BUILDINGS.


The incOnvenient and disgraceful
adobe huts which have hitherto done
duty as public buildings are not only
a libel on our civilization and inferior
to the public buildings Of any CITY in
the State Of our size and wealth, but
they are positively unsafe repositories
for the valuable public records which
they contain. The impression made
on the mind Of stranger by them is
not at all in our favor, the conclusion
that the character OF people is shown
by the style Of their public edifices
being at once drawn very much to our
discredit. During the year no less
than three committees from this C0un-
Gil have been appointed to confer with
the Board of Supervisors of the cOun-
ty in order ts arrive at some plan
whereby the city and county could
t,i I'D cs<sl. k,riIAipsr 20
our position and Importance demand.
The efforts of these committees seem to
have been barren of any practical re-
suits, and though recognize the ad-
visibility of the union of the city and
county in this matter, yet If the coun-
ty authorities are not inclined to meet
us at least half way. l would suggest
that your Honorable BOdy consider
the practicability of constructing a
City Hall without reference to the
county. There are numerous locations
which can be made available-amOng
which are the present Spring Street
property owned by the city and coun-
ty; the C0r0nel block near the plaza,
and the property still owned by the
city on Fort Hill. This last would
make one of the finest sites for q pub
lie building to be found in the State
A suitable building on any convenient
location would add greatly to the ap-
pearance and dignity of the city, and
subserve great public want.


LIGHT -POLICE-FIRE DEPARTMENT.


That the streets should be lighted is
a. fact which all admit. We are far
behind the age in this respect and the
safety and comfort of the citizens
would be materially advanced by the
adoption of some measures by which
at least part of the streets would he
redeemed from their present darkness.


The Police force has proven itself
quite efficient, and the city is in a
state of peace and order which will
compare favorably with that of any
other city in the State. Crime is
promptly punished, and habitual Of
tenders are required to labor in the
Chain Gang, by which means the city
receives some compensation for the
expense of keeping them and salu-
tory lesson is taught.


The effective force of the Ere De-
partment has been more than doubled
during the year by the addition of a
BaOcock Truck and new Steam Fire
Engine. With the sad example of
our sister city fresh in our minds it
behooves us to keep vigilant out.
look, and be prepared for any emer-
gency. Our tiremen have, in the past,
shown themselves brave and we'll
drilled, and while we trust that their
courage may not be put to the test,
let us exhort them to attain the high
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