Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-23
Afternoon Session.

/
time.
Afternoon Session.
Council was called to order at 2
O'Clock, President Bonsall in the chail
and all the members present.
FIGUERoA STREET PAVEMENT.
The special order for 2 O'Clock. the
protests relative to the acceptance Of
work done on Figueroa street, was
taken up, and the protests read.
Hermann Silver, on behalf OF himself
and other Figueroa street property own
ers, addressed the council, and empha-
sized his written protest by most
| powerful address. He said that their
protest was made solely for the reason
that the contract for paving Figueroa
street had not been fairly carried out, it
having been agreed on the part of the
Bituminous Lime Rock and Paving COM
pany that the price for such paving
should not exceed 27 cents per square
foot; further, that the work had not
been done with proper materials nor in
proper manner.
Maj. Horace Bell appeared for him
self and other protestants. He stated
that q personal examination of the
grouting of the granite blocks of the
gutter showed that the work was very
badly done, so that the first slight rain
would cave in the cutters, as it did on
former occasion. He also objected
most strenuously to paying for the pave
ment Of portion of the street until the
railroad company had been compelled
to pave the twenty feet of dirt now
bumped up in the middle of the street,
and questioned the good faith of the
railroad company in promising to finish
the paving when the work already done
is paid for. He asserted that under the
charter the work could not be accepted
by the city until the whole street, from
curb to curb, and including the curbs,
is paved.
Mr.. Nettleton also spoke in the same
tone, urging the failure of the paving
company to comply with the specifica-
tions as sufficient reason Tor refusing to
accept the work. His own personal
inspection showed the quality OF the
bitumen to be poor, and the work Of
laying the granite blocks in the cutters
was badly done.
Assistant City Attorney Dunn ex-
planned that under the law the council
might accept, by ordinance, such streets
as had been improved in accordance
with the ordinance OF intention,
whether the improvement cover the
whole or any part OF the length or the
width of any street.
William Wright also claimed that the
bitches had not been properly grouted,
and that the bitumen was of poor quail
ity. Whether it compared with the
specifications or not, he could not say,
there being no samples of material to be
used deposited with the city engineer,
as required by law.
Major Bell asked permission to call
Mr.. Gilbert as an expert; which being
granted Mr.. Gilbert stated that he was
authorized by Mr.. Drane, manager of
the paving company, to guarantee to the
property owners that the cost OF paving
Figueroa street should not exceed
twenty-seven cents per square foot; that
he was in the employ of the paving COM
pany as solicitor for the contract for
paving this street, being paid one-half
cent per square foot for contracts OBJ
tanned. That since the acceptance of
the street by the street superintendent
he had examined the fronting of the
cutters and from Sixteenth to Pico
streets found it badly done. At the
Eighteenth street intersection the same
state of affairs existed. He also ex-
amined the paving, finding numerous
depressions where the pavement had
been laid on mud or wet and spongy
ground. Mr.. Gilbert made the sub
grade for Figueroa street, his contract
calling for the removal of earth to the
sub-grade, except when he was ordered
by Mr.. Drane to 60 deeper. He had nc
option in the matter and some wet and
spongy material, unfit for foundation for
pavement, was left. Street Superin-
tendent Hutchinson stated that during
the progress of the work Messrs. Drane
and Gilbert and himself remarked upon
the unusually satisfactory character Of
the sub-grade.
In answer to a question by Mr.. E. f.
Spence Mr.. Gilbert said that Mr.. Drane
had said in the Council that if the prop
erty holders would pay cash for the
work they could have the paving done
| for twenty-Heven cents per square foot.
Mr.. Crank, receiver of the Gable road
company, owning the road on Figueroa
| street, appeared before the Council and
stated that the contract had been let for
the completion of the paving of Figuerea
street from Pico street to Washington
street, the work to be done with con-
crete, base and granite blocks aligning
the tracks, In answer to a question Mr..
Crank stated the contract form was
twenty-eight cents per square foot, the
work to be completed by No
vember 1st. Mr.. Crank also
stated that the road was to
be fitted for electric cars and
that the cable company was ready at
any time to do its share of the paving
between Sixth and Pico streets when
ever the property owners see fit to pave
the rest of the street.
Councilman Rhodes moved that fur
ther consideration of the matter be de-
ferred until next Monday at 2 p. M,
and that on Thursday the members Of
the council visit the scene of the work,
together with the city engineer, the
street superintendent, and such experts
as the council or the property owners
may desire to employ. Carried.
| BILLS FOR STREET SWEEPING.
| The finance committee reported. rec
ommending the approval Of demand Of
M. @. Marsh for street sweeping, which
was allowed.
| Mr.. Rhodes moved that the school
4 lContinued on Seventh Page.l