Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-18

during the next year. 1t Will ueseI
In which YOU cannot afford to make mistake
You have recently had presented 70 you ~, ~
of dispensing with an outlet to the sea, anu ao,
special committee composed OF repui;aSatgI paa;s atIamt
City, New Jersey, to inspect the Wes' sews
system, have returned favorable rePot th
While fully recognize the great vslue ne VI sen ~
age by some method Of precipitation OF tn
solid matter, 1t does not seem TO me tne propt p
thing at this time to experiment. Mo She G sy
tenn of sewerage Is universally apP,ueaDte, apP, an ~
that which may do for one place VIII nos 40 10
another under totally different conolIons
Public health and economy are the ca.oins IN
in the design and execution of any sewerag
system. There are many ways oi preclpi.autiin
the solid matter of sewage ana there Is notnln
ing. so If the municipality is determined +
make an arrangement of separating the liqui'
from the solid matter of the sewage the CIT
SHOULD retain the entire mansgemenbt bnd snH ere n
derive for itself such profit as tneIe may Ce y
1t. The proposition Of the Pacific Sewerag
Company Is in my opinion too mucn ~ iavo W.,
of the company. At little greater cost an out
fall sewer might be carried to the ocean ant
thus avoid the complications which may aris
from scheme OF this nature.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The equipment Of the Fire Department has M
largely increased during the last year. ITS EN-
cheney and promptness, discipline ana gooo
work at fires Is highly commendable. Seventy
| five men, including the Chief, Assistant Chlei
Engineer and Electrician comprise the force
Seven fire engines, one hook and ladder truck
and eight hose carts are in use, OF which three
engines and two hose carts were purchased
during the past year. The total expense OF
this department for the year was $55, 5,0O2.5O
of which $33 ,O75 was paid out for salaries.
losses By vi ire es amounted @ ITO to $500 900, largely
covered by insurance l would suggest to still
further increase the efficiency Of the depart.
ment, that another hook and ladder truck be
for the storage of hay and supplies in quantity
be established. The salaries Of the Chief and
Assistant Chief Engineer should be increased
The probationary period allowed the Rich
mond Fire Alarm System will expire during
January and would caution you to see that
the terms of the contract between the company
fore any more money is paid. l would point
out that the contract calls for a non-interfe1ing
system. In q system of this kind there is In
chanism which will prevent the cIsshing Of
two signals sent in at the same moment. As at
present arranged the system is not non inter.
fsIing.
THE CITY SCHOOLS.
Some immediate provision should be made
to accommodate the great demand for better
school facilities At the close of the last school
year Gune 80, 1885, there were 80 rooms in
use. By the end of December the school se.
commodations will consist of 100 rooms In.
Guiding rented rooms and others which
must soon be discarded as totally unfit for
school purposes. Five four-room and two
two-room schools have been added this year.
There was an actual attendance of $500 chill
dren. 36 per cent OF whom are half day scholars
II after discarding rented ro ms and others
totally unfit, IS rooms were at once placed at
the disposal of the Board of Education, the
number OF scholars to room would be about
ON December 1st the sum Of $7l, ,532, which
does not include their apportionuaent of the
delinquent city taxes or the Boards allowance
from the county and State during the current
year. While the current expense for salaries
is heavy, 1t seems to me that there should be
sufficient margin to permit the immediate in
crease OF school accommodations. ! would
be so shortened that the summer vacation do
not exceed two months and the spring and
Christmas vacation do not exceed two weeks.
THE CITY's HEALTH.
The general health of the city is good, and
uring the past year the death rate was only
8 10 per cent, on an estimated population of
80 1000. The total deaths from consumption
were 1O2, of whom 90 were invalids from the
resort and had residences of less than one year.
The following table shows in a more detailed
manner the number and cause Of deaths in this
Typnoids fever sRs Pss' S. yyphod maara fever
2, pneumonia 35, Brights disease 1s, heart
disease 81 bronShitis IL, paralysis ls. appo-
inanition 40, old age 33, congestion of brain
~ poisoning IL: suicide a. gun wounds 9,
liver 16, alcoholism 3, membraneous Group %,
typhus fever 3, dentidon 8, convulsions "a
cholera infantum 0, other causes 81. Total
deaths 673. Estimated population OF the city
80,OO0,7
CITY FINANCES.
The City Auditors and City Treasurer's re.
ports will give detailed statement of the
nil fuf Hnn Thn hon In6 1nh% %.fA l..
S467 900, of which the total interest of $780,
24O Is paid. Cash on hand December 1st was
1890, ,s36 81. The total tax levy being
from licenses and other sources will, it is esti-
mated, fully cover all expenses OF expenditures
for the coming year.
CITY PARKS.
The parks of the city should receive your at
tention. The Sixth-street and Plaza Parks
illustrate well what can be done with little
money in q short time, and the Westlake
Elysian and East Los Angeles Parks can easily
be made an ornament to the city. The con-
venience and importance of parks as promen-
ades will increase as our city builds up more
closely and property becomes too valuable for
residences, and the planting of shrubs and
future beautifying of the land set aside for park
purposes, would not cost much, and hope it
will be done.
MANUFACTURERS
Some action should be taken to define the
limits of certain portion of the city where
could be allowed In my judg-
ment reservation bounded by the river and
Alameda street should be designated by
ordinance as the proper place for the location
Of all of the manufacturing establishments of
this city. This would relieve the more clearly
residence portion of the city Of many places
which have been found Objectionable.
The building ordinance should be recon-
structed and strengthened for the protection of
the city from fire by encouraging better class
of architecture and keeping out of those por-
tions of the city embraced within the fire limits
dangerous structures.
RETRETCHMRNT.
There is an unnecessary and heavy expense
In the Street superinteDdeDts and
City Surveyor 8 offices, and l would suggest
that you establish these offices on more econ
omical basis which could be done without in
thesleast impatring their eficiency,
would recommend, also, that in the passage
of all ordinances more attention be paid to |
detail, and also that all bills presented to you
be scrutinized and acted upon by you only afte
close investigation.
While 1 have undoubtedly been guilty of
errors during my incumbency, I 60 out of office
with the consciousness IS of having tried to do my
duty to the city, and think that a great deal
has been accomplished during my term. ~Tnel
large amount of street grading and paving done, |
which in the latter case amounts to four miles;I
the opening of many new streets, particularly |
Los Angeles and Ninth streets: the building of |
a handsome City Hall and a fine Court House
the erection Of numerous business blocks and
residences: the building of bridges and via
ducts across Buena Vista, Kuhrts, First, Seventh
and Ninth streets and DOwney avenue the con-
version of the ordinary horse and mule street |
car roads into one magnificent cable system,
complete; the entrance OF the Santa Fe road
into this city, thus bringing in q strOog com
petitor for traffic, and the building OF the South
ern Pacifc,s fine Arcade depot on Alameda
all Ind ftxJn ~