The record-union., 1893-05-16
TIE AWNING QUESTION.
Citizens Who Claim Theirs Are Not
Dangerous.
Streets Without Well-Defined Lines
Excessive City Assessments and
Other Public Matters.

The Board of Trustees meeting opened
yesterday morning with a vigorous kick
on the awning proposition.
Z. 5. Lawson stated that he received
notice from the Inspector of Awnings
that his must come down, and asked the
ofncer if it was unsafe. The Inspector
evaded the question, and he asked Con-
tractor Croly to inspect the awning and
see if it was safe. Mr.. Croly examined it
and pronounced it strong and sound. Mr..
Lawson therefore did not propose to take
1t down at present. He expected to do 1t
of his own accord after while, but just
now, with all due respect to the board, he
should decline.
James G. Davis made a similar state
meat. and said that while he was oneiof
the first to sign the petition for the X
street improvement, and never stood in
the way of improvements, yet his avn
ing had also been examined and pro-
nounced sound, and with the street i'm
provement coming at the same time the
cost of taking it down made the burden
come pretty heavy. He thought it hardly
necessary to take down good awnings
just now, but it would be better to wait
Moreover, there We're numbers of avn
1ngs in the city which were far worse
than his, whose owners had not been
notified to remove them.
Trustee Con1lin thought the board had
no right to order awnings down without
cause.
The Mayor thought the board might as
well do away with the Building Inspector
II they were not going to back him in his
action. he would stick to him, anyway.
Some more discussion ensued, which
was ended by Trustee Conklin moving to
refer the matter to the Street Commits
sioner, which was done.
DISTRICT LINES.
A. J. Bruner wished to consult the
board with reference to ID street, from
Thirteenth to Sixteenth, with reference
TO determining where the line of d street
is. Various lines have been run at diff
1erent times. Thirty years ago a line
was run which has been followed by
various City Surveyors. The property
owners have for that period of time con-
structed their buildings and fences in ac-
cordance with that line, and if now COM
pelIeu to adjust them LO a new line they
would have to undergo a great hardship.
City Surveyor Bassett, he said, during
his term ran new line in a different
place, which, it is understood now the
street will be improved on. People on
the street are uncertain and afraid to
build, for fear that another change may
be made after the street is improved. 1t is
time the question was settled definitely
so that the friction between the Trustees
and the property owners could be re-
moved.
Judge Armstrong said he had had some
experience in this matter, and he thought
the best way TO settle it would be to start
from definite point and make a survey
according to the deed of gift TO the city by
General Suttor. The monuments which
stood years ago, before the city was built
up, marking out the streets and lots, are
all gone now, and no one, rs far as he
knew, knows 10 day where they were, or
knows of any definite point from which
10 start survey. He had talked with
sew yeral surveyors, and none of them
knew of any such point The lines are
established by the buildings which were
built years ago on the lots as laid out by
the early surveys. Under the Sutter
deed the city had the right to open and
condemn streets, but the board has no
right to go outside of that. There is only
one way 1t can do, ana that is to condemn
and purchase the property. Mr.. Smith
built his house at Sixteenth and L thirty
two years ago, on the old line, and the
new line takes six feet from him. If this
ls done, he must encrOach on someone
else. This would necessarily follow all
through the city, and although it will
would be bad for the property holders.
He was now preparing to fight just such
an encroachment as this.
Trustee Green said the only way he
could see to settle the trouble was to con-
denim the property and purchase it.
City Surveyor Boyd said that, as Judge
Armstrong had remarked, there was no
definite initial point left from which to
start new survey. The fire of Novemb Der,
1882, swept away the landmarks through
the city, leaving only the Lady Adams
building and a few others to go by.
On motion of Trustee Green, the matter
was laid over for one week.
OVER-ASs ESSMENT.
J. Popert complained that his store
property had been assessed higher this
year than last, although he had made no
improvements.
The Mayor said there had been several
similar complaints, and the board in
structed the clerk to notify the City AS
SCISSOR to appear before the board next
Monday and explain.
\ communication from City Assessor
Buckley, in reference to several excessive
assessments, was received later in the
day and laid over for one week for
action. The Assessor reported that Mrs
Quade's improvements should be reduced
from $500 to 5000. Also, that in the
case of NJ. a. Howard it was misunder-
SIOulu
be granted. The case of Mr.. Woodworth
was a clear case OF double assessment.
TENTH-sTREET IMPROVEMENT
George L. kuchler asked why the mat
ter OF improving Tenth street, from b to
e. had been dropped after being passed
regularly.
Trustee Green moved that the action of
the board in refusing to allow it to be
improved with gravel be rescinded. and
that the board advertise for Folsom gravel
1or that street.
The board refused to rescind its action.
A NEW VAULT.
The Mayor stated that it was necessary
to have new vault for the City Ceme-
terry. The plans were presented and he
said the cost would not be very great.
The matter was referred to the Mayor
to see about getting plans and specifica-
tions for having vault built at a cost not
to exceed 5000.
WANT Low LOTS FILLED.
4 petition was received from property
owners in the vicinity of Eighth and T.
streets asking that the board would take
some immediate action in regard to lots
l, ,, 3, and 5, the north half of
lot >, the north half OF lot 4 and
the south half of lots l and ,, between
Eighth and Ninth, ID and Il streets
where the water stands continually and
is menace to the health of the neighbor-
hood.
It was referred to the Street Commits
sioner.
FOR WATER PIPE.
A bid for l,2G0 feet of six-inch iron
water pipe at fifty-five and a half cents
Merrill Il Stetson. and the contract was
la1 them.