RAISING THE LEVEL OF A TOWN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12772, 25 May 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

RAISING THE LEVEL OF A TOWN.

At the present time Wilmington (Cai.), a suburb of "Los Angeles, presents a somewhat novel, appearance, as the greater portion of its buildings are elevated Bft above their former level on temporary timber supports. The reason, for raising the town is that it was situated on very low ground^' and when the adjacent harbor was being improved by dredging ■it was decided to utilise tho material for the improvement*, of the town. A bulkhead was erected round the land to be filled, and the discharge pipes from the dredger 'were laid over the streets and the vacant sites. The cost of the -harbor improvement > ■ which . is . ■ £58,000, has been as,sumed by. the city of , Los Angeles, tof ether with that of raising the houses, lost of the buildings were elevated on light frames of timber, but : the brick structures were placed, on substantial foundations, and m many cases were furnished With basements by. constructing a concrete foundation wall below the floor level, which was later buried under the filling. The owners of , vacant sites also built substantial basements iv preparation for future: struct tures. ? A f6W old buildmgs,' "which were not considered worth saving, .were allowed »to remain where they -were and to become filled with sand, almost up to the eaves.. ■ " ' ' -V. .;•'

Ari area of approximately : 20 blocks will have been filled when the i dredging has' been completed, and v 5pme ; .),, 200,000 cubic yards of material will! have been removed from the harbor bottom. As a .result of the work the to\frh will-he set high and' ory above the harbpl* . and, the principal streets . will be on a level with the docks .at .which, the /. steamers load and discharge tlieir' cargoes. '*"' '