Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-20
Board of City Trustees.

The Board of City Trustees met IN regu-
lar session at 10 A. N. yesterday, all the
members present.
The clerk of the water works reported
that during the past week the machinery
was in operation 1871 hours, and ll,oHU0O
gallons of water pumped.
resolution of intention was introduced
and passed for the Improvement OF y
street. from Tenth TO Fifteenth, by grading
and travelling the same to the official
grade, constructing paved cutters, stone
crossings. redwood curbing, draining cul-
verts and at Thirteenth street constructing
catch basins and connecting them with the
sewer.
The bond of George Miller, for the con-
structing of sewer in the alley from Ninth
to Tenth streets, was read, accepted and
placed on file.
The following communications We're read
by the Mayor:
SAN JOSE, Cal, January j., 1883.
To the Citu Clerk. SdcrdmsRtO-DEAR SIR: \
copy of the inclOsed letter has been sent TO the
members of the Legislature from this county,
and am instructed by the Mayor and Common
Council to request that you will present the
matters contained in the letter to your honora-
bic Board of Trustees with the request that they
will take action looking to the accomplishment
OF the object therein contained. Inc law has
been found here to work very unsatisfactory,
and it is hoped that some simpler and less eX-
pensive method for street Improvements may be
adopted. Hoping you viii present the matter
to the honorable Board at as early date as
possible am very respectfully yours,
W. f. ELLIS. City Clerk.
SAN JOSE, January u. 1885.
Gentlemen: By order of the Mayor and Com
mon Council of the City of san Jose, | write to
ask that you will use all honorable means to
accomplish the repeal of An Act to provide
for the improvement of streets, lanes, alleys,
courts, places and sidewalks and the construc-
ton of sewers within municipalities known
as the Nrooman Act), approved March ). 1888.
Under the provisions of this Act it is found
almost impossible to accomplish anything in
the way of street work, and what little is done
is very expensive. 1t requires an amount of adj
vertislng that is frequently more than p per
cent of the whole expense. To illustrate: We
have just received bids for one piece of street
improvement; the bid for the whole work and
materials amounted to S5Si. The bill for adver-
Using to be added to above and paid by the
property-owners, is STA. This is in Il case where
no protest had been made to the work, and is
probably as cheap as it Will be possible to go
through the almost interminable stages of ac-
anything in the way of street inn
proYement under this system. Aside from the
expense, the time consumed is another draw
back, as it requires from four to six months from
the passage of the first " Resolution of Inten-
ton" before work can be commenced. and
where protests are made, even where they are
oyerruled, from two to six months more.
Hoping you will see the importance of some
simpler means TO accomplish the results aimed
at under the law now in force, and that your
united aid will be given to the passage of an
Act more simple and less expensive, / am. YOUR
Obedient servant, w. +. ELLIS, City Clerk
The matter, after some discussion. was
referred to the Street Commissioner. 1t
was the unanimous opinion of the Board
that the Act sought to be repealed worked
well i'll Sacramento, and without it or a
similar law the Improvement of streets in
this city would be next to an impossibilitv.
They could not understand why the Coun
cilmen of San Jose should hayet to paw such
axorbitant advertising bills. The average
cost of advertising in this city was only
about $50. The Street Commissioner stated
hat during his term of office the Nrooman
Act had operated we'll He could suggest
l few changes that would be an improve
nent, but upon the whole as it now stands
t is good law and Just what this city re-
Iuires. He has levied street assessments
lnder that Act to the extent of $4,000, and
very cent has been collected and in nearly
Every instance cheerfully paid
The Board decided that Assembly Bill
No. al, introduced by Moffitt of Alameda.
vas 4 good one and should be supported by
he members of the Legislature from Sac
'amento county. 1t is for the adjustment
If those offices known as City Justices of
he Peace, and providing for the establish
nent of a new section of the Code of Civil
Procedure, to be known as Section 103, to
cad as follows: There shall be two Jus
ices Courts in each of the townships of
he State. and no more, for which two
Justices of the Peace shall be elected by
he qualified electors of the township, at
he general State election next preceding
he expiration of the term of office of their
predecessor or predecessors" The Act to
% into effect so as to apply to the next
general election held in this State.
After auditing a large number of bills
md ordering the same paid, the Board
adjourned.