The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-19
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Important Report Upon Sewers and
PlankfnG.


Planking.
At the meeting of the board of public
works Yesterday the most important busi-
ness was the presentation Of report by
Commissioner Hebron, as a committee
Of one, TO be transmitted TO the city coun-
Gil. 1t is as follows:
We feel constrained to call your attention
once more to the absolute necessity which
exists, in the opinion of this board, for the
adoption of some plan By which the cos. OF
stree: paving and planking and the cost OF
branch sewers can be assessed TO the owners OF
property benefited. In view of the present con-
dition of both the sewer fund and the street
fund, it is impracticable and unwise for the
city 70 continue 10 burden itself with an indebt-
edness which is properly chargeable to the
owners OF property benefited. In the matter of
sewers we would state for your information
that the total cost OF the Lake Union sewer tun-
mel will be in the neighborhood of $4,000. OF
this amount $4,000 was raised by the sale of
bonds; OF this money s6s,ejs has been spent in
the construction and repairs of branch sewers.
This lett available for the construction OF the
tunnel $3.50, OF which amount S34,5s0 has
already been spent, leaving balance available
OF s67o5 II will require to complete the tunnel
about $4,000. The comptroller's report, jan
uary !, ls92, shows q surplus IN this fund of
only s22,l2S55 When il is considered that
tunnel must be constructed for the south part
OF the city. the expense of which viii have TO
be paid by the city al large, ana whichwill cost
about 100000, 1t seems clear that prudence and
good policy both would require that the cost Of
branch sewers be assessed to the property BEN
ehted- Inc same reasoning applies to the
planking of streets. II the city is to continue
TO plank and pave streets at the general expense
1t viii necessitate an unwarranted expenditure
OF money, and it will be impossible for this
or oy ala hot
elimination in favor OF one location as against
another, since it will be impossibility TO
plank and pave all of the streets that are petit
toned for. II uniform system of assessments
Tor Improvements of this sort were adopted. IL
would result in great saving 10 the city and
would relieve the board of public works and
the city council from the necessity of favoring
one location as against another. We would
urgently recommend, therefore. that hereafter
no branch sewers be built at the public expense
and no street paving be paid for out OF the gen.
e-al fund. We have taken the liberty OF urging
these suggestions upon your attention by virtue
OF the charter provision which makes il the duty
OF this board TO report to the council upon mat
tiers of this nature, which in their opinion de-
mand attention.
The contract for the suction pipe for the
Lake Washington extension was awarded
TO Moran Brothers, and that for the
ctIAiHtT 10 Marley brothers. Inc OIler OF
the Oswego Iron Works, Oregon, for %
inch caSt-iron pipe was accepted at $fl. 30.
Bids for boilers were sent in as follows:
Williams & Groat, Portland, Or, Si9S;
Puget Sound Machinery Depot, $3.50;
Washington Iron Works, $685.; Erie City
Iron Works, 1923; Moran Bros, 1865.
They were referred TO superintendent of
buildings.
Petitions for lights on Tenth street, at
Union and University, for plank walk on
Squire avenue, from Madison street to Re-
publican street, and several others of a
minor character were referred for report.
The Seattle City Mission asked the city
to give work to several men in need of
assistance. 1t promises to lodge and board
them for week for one days pay. The
board will try the experiment.