St. Paul daily globe., 1885-02-04
LAST YEARS IMPROVEMENTS.
The City Engineer Reports to the Council on
His Work for 1884-Other Routine
Business
LEGISLATIVE BANQUET.

In the meeting of the common council last
evening the mayor was requested to tender
his excellency the governor and members of
invitation to a reception to be held on the
18th inst, and the president of the council
appointed Aldermen Van Slyke, Dowlan,
Starkey, johnson and Cullen.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
This board was directed to investigate and
report as to grading and curbing Grove
street; constructing sewer on Colbourne
street, from Seventh to jefferson avenue;
and grading Gaultier street, from University
avenue to the north end of said street,
in La Fond's addition.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The following miscellaneous business was
transacted: The market master reported re-
ceipts of $3.50 for use of Market hall for
January; city clerk was directed to purchase
for the board of public works six new aliases
Of st. Paul; order was drawn in favor of
Johanna Overpeck for S54; the building in
spector reported the receipt of $147 for per-
mits and fees; the fire commissioners were
carriages; Margaret Fitzgerald was directed
to be paid $780, so in full for all claims for
injuries from falling into coal hole on
Wabashaw street; the grade of Franklin
street between Irvine park and Ellen street
was ordered changed; the name of Bluff
street from jackson to Rice street was
changed to Central avenue; portion of the
Mendoza road was ordered vacated; no per-
mits are to be granted for erecting frame
buildings on South street between Willius
street and Maria avenue; the building in
spector was authorized to withhold permits
for raising buildings when he thinks they
would be unsanitary; Smiths re-
arrangement of Lafond's was ordered
changed to Dawson's third addition
the contract for the sub-structure of the
Robert street bridge was awarded to M. A,
E. j. and Michael O'Bren.
IMPROPERLY CONSTRUCTED SEWER coNNEc-
TIoNs.
The city engineer reported in regard to the
location Of improperly constructed sewer
connections throughout the city, a map of
Wabashaw street, and list of connections
on that street, as improperly constructed.
Several of the connections run back into the
blocks two or three lots, contrary to estab-
lished ordinances. All these connections
are in very bad condition, most of them hav-
ing been made with the old sewer on Wa
bashaw street, and never having been prop
erly connected with the new sewer. Re
ferred to the board of health and the city
attorney.
REFERRED.
Petitions were referred to the proper COM
mittees from Alfred Dufrene to move a
frame building; from George w. Cross for
permission to pave streets with asphalt; rec
ommending James L. Rand for testing gas
meters, and from c. Mccarthy for permis-
sion to quarry stone out OF Winifred street.
COMMUNICATIONS.
The st. CroiY Lum Der company sent in a
communication accepting the ordinance al
lowing 1t to enter on the levee in West St.
Paul; and contract for city printing was ap-
proved.
THE CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITAL.
The board of control, in lengthy comnu-
nication, asked the council for SIS, 900 with
which TO erect a wing at the present city
and county hospital, to be devoted TO the
treatment of male patients only. II this
com m odations will be secured to the city
and county for hospital purposes for the
next ten years or more. The communica-
ton was referred to the legislative delega-
ton.
ESGISEER's REPORT.
The city engineer presented his annual re-
port, which was very long. Inasmuch as
this report will be published in full on Sat
urday, and as q considerable part of it has
been published in these columns, only syn
opss of the report is now given. The total
expenditure in connection with the sewerage
department was 1897, 1895. The immense
amount of work, the engineer says, has kept
the force fully employed during the year, and
he calls attention 10 the cost of the depart.
ment as com pared with the work done. The
issuing of house numbers and permits for
various purposes, aud the fact that the rec
ords Of the office with reference to street
grades, lines, etc, are conveniently arranged
for reference results in the clerical force
being kept continually busy. OF the contract
work 1914, IA 53 were expended in grading
aud paving 1873 miles Of streets. Twelve
thousand seven hundred and ffty-fve square
yards of stone cutters were constructed.
Within district bounded by Third, Broad
way and Seventh streets, about oue-half Of
the streets are unpaved. The engineer
recommends more paving in this district
He does not like the present way of cleaning
the payemcnts by wettiug them and then
scraping off the mud. He has no doubt the
pavement would last longer with less spriuk-
ling. During the year 103, 705 square yards
of paving was laid all cedar blocks, except
a short section on jackson street. Owing
TO lack OF bonds, not as many
sewers were constructed as should have been
Where the streets are likely to be torn up for
sewers, water pipes, ETC., be recommends
pine blocks for pavements. The total
amount of sewers now in use Is 2S.75 miles;
CSC catch basins; 666 shafts or manhOes.
The engineer recommends that the method
Of contracting for sidewalks be changed so
as to admit of the letting Of contracts for
each class Of work so as to get closer compe-
tition in bidding. The Wabashaw street
bridge is now nearly completed In iron. He
calls attention 10 the fact that some OF the
piers were built up with very light facing,
backed with rubbish. and as this facing is Of
ST. Paul limestone 1t is in many places fall
ing TO pieces. II is evident that the piers
win have TO be either entirely reconstructed
or surfaced with some better material within
a very short time. The contract work for
the year has been very nearly completed,
there being only six contracts which expired
before the 1st Of January, 1885, that are nov
unfinished Mr. SOmers concludes by say
ing that con sidering tue amount OF work
done during the year this showing is very
satisfactory.
The \. NJ. c. A.