Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-08
THE COUNCIL.
A Number Of Matters At
tended to Yesterday.
The First Street Grade Again
Postponed.
Numerous Ordinances for the New
Sewer System Adopted.
The Mayor on the Census Returns-Re-
ports of Committees Acted Upon.
Reports of Officers.

The Council met yesterday morning,
President Frankenfeld in the chair, and
Messrs. Bonsall, Shafer, Brown, Van
Dusen, Hamilton, Summerland, Wirsch-
ing and McLain present.
The City Auditor returned without his
approval the demand of S. X. Adams
for painting at the old city hall.
Mr.. Summerland moved that the de-
mand be passed over the veto of the
Auditor.
A short discussion followed, in which
it was stated that Mr. Adams had de-
clined to carry out his part OF an agree
ment whereby all the workmen were to
be paid.
to /.
Mayor Hazard sent in the following
communication
There are many inquiries from the
census bureau regarding the financial
condition and other matters of our city
that will be of vital Importance to us in
the coming census report. The annual
reports of the city officers have not been
published since 1886, and the informa-
tion required is not easily obtainable,
As Congress has made no provisions
for obtaining this information, but will
rely on such information as is furnished
by the various municipal officials, some
provision should be made forthwith
whereby this information should be fur
nished the department, otherwise the
reports will not contain the facts in re-
gard to the growth and development of
the city SO essential to us.
The blank financial inquiries from the
bureau have been in the hands of the
Auditor for months, and he informs me
that he has been and is still unable to
do anything in the matter, and we can
not afford to let this matter go by de-
fault. An appropriation of $50 ought to
be ample.
Referred to the special committee on
annual reports.
The reports of the City Engineer and
Street Superintendent were read and
adopted.
The Street Superintendent asked that
the City Clerk be instructed to adver-
tise for bids for pipe to be put in the
Arroyo de Los Reyes storm drain. So
ordered.
The reports of the City Clerk, City
Tax Collector, Water Overseer, Chief OF
Police and City Assessor, upon the col
lection of moneys, were read and referred
| to the finance committee.
The City Assessor reported that he
had appointed A. w. Ellis to fill the po-
sition of F. II. Teele, who had gone back to
the Auditors. Appointment confirmed.
A communication was received from the
ri hof he oil Il
| to place signs on the electric light poles
in front of the city hail. SO that the at
tention of strangers might be called to
the fact that the library was up stairs.
On motion of Mr.. Van Dusen the request
was granted.
An ordinance granting permission to
property owners to grade part Of Ward
street was read and adopted.
An ordinance preventing persons from
playing drums, ETC., on the streets, or
from singing on the streets without first
having obtained a permit was read and
adopted.
A contract with Frick Bros. to con-
struct portion of zanja No. was read
and approved.
The City Attorney advised that the
Street Superintendent be instructed to
remove all distractions caused by the
dummy road on Belmont avenue and
Temple street. Adopted.
An ordinance creating free employ
ment bureau was read and rejected by
vote of ayes to noes, it requiring
six votes to adopt an ordinance.
The report of the Board of Public
Works as published in the HERALD was
read and adopted.
The board recommended that grade
of in 10 be adopted for First street,
between Flower and Broadway, as this
would not interfere if in the future a
tunnel is decided upon. Received, and
the matter postponed for week.
The report of the finance committee
was read and adopted.
Mr.. Van Dusen moved that w. W..
Smith be employed by the Street Super
intendent for 30 days at So per day.
Smith was in the employ of the city
when he was hurt by the falling of a
plank. The motion was carried.
Mr.. McLain moved that Mr.. Foster be
allowed TO place grating in his side
walk. Carried.
A petition for an electric light at west
lake park was denied.
The report of the Board OF Public
| Works upon the First-street grade was
as IOllOWS.
The Board respectfully states, by way OF in
| formation to the Council, that there are three
distinct issues made up in this question.
| First-Those of the property owners between
! Broadway and Flower street. some of whom
prefer a traffic grade but nearly all of whom
| have signed an agreement or petition for grade
of about one in ten feet.
Second-Those of the property owners along
| the line of First street. from Flower to the west
city limits being nearly three miles OF frontage,
who want. and are willing to pay by assessment
| for traffic grade OF one in twenty-five feet.
Third-The property-owners interested IN
preserving u traffic grade on Pearl street, which
would be destroyed by anything else than a
traffic grade on First street. because OF the fill
necessary at the intersection OF First and Pearl
streets as suggested by the ordinance recently
passed by the Council.
Thus we see nearly three miles OF frontage
on First street, together with the frontage on
Pearl street, arrayed against anything else than
u traffic grade on First street. This amount OF
| frontage, compared with that OF three or four
blocks is so Overwhelming that it would seem
to preclude any other than traffic grade If any
work or change of grade is contemplated west
of Flower street. The board recognizes the fact
that traffic grade is a necessity, and that it is
imperatively demanded, through the first Hill
| by the very large and rapidly growing district
west of it, Many of the property owners ask
ing for a grade Of one in ten admit this, but
claim that, if attempted at this time, it would
simply result in nothing being done whatever
The property owners from Broadway to Flower
street have, for several years, been industriousy
ut work to get something done, and the present
compromise grade of one in ten is the best re