The herald., 1893-07-11
THE COUNCIL FULL OF BUSINESS.
The Free Labor Bureau Con-
test Still On.
The Electric Railway Instructed to
Repair Occupied Streets.
Che Third Street Tunnel Matter Post
poned-City Engineers Reports.
Street Work = MisccIla-
ne0us Matters.

The city council met yesterday morn
ing in the city hall at 10 o'clock, all OF
the members being present, with the
exception of Mr.. Pessel.
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
The following message from his honor,
the mayor, was read, and referred to
the committee of the whole:
To the Honorable Council OF the City OF Los
Angeles;
The approach of the time for fixing
the tax-levy Or the ensuing year would
seem to be a proper occasion to call the
attention of your honorable body to sew
eral matters OF Importance to the mu-
nicipality.
The gratifying progress our city is
making in material advancement and
the increase of its population demand at
our hands additional exertion to encour-
age its continuance and great care in
the removal of any obstruction thereto,
burdens necessarily incidental to the
advantages OF municipal existence, are
sufficient of themselves without the ad-
dition OF others that are avoidable.
The improvement and care of our
streets Is perhaps the most important
matter under the control of the mu-
nicipality, and involves more considera-
tion and labor on the part of its officers
and employees than any other branch OF
its government; the extensive improve
ments that have been and are being
made arc gratifying evidence OF the
confidence Of the owners of the
abutting property who have to pay
the cost, but at the same time
the payment for such work is q se-
rious drain on the resources of our peo-
pie, especially at this time, and recon-
mend that, owing to the stringency OF
the money market, all unnecessary i'm
provements be avoided until the finan-
cial affairs Of our people are in more
settled condition; and also recommend
that so far as may be the improvement
of streets be done under the bond sec-
made that the bids for etreet work un-
where the work is to bc paid for
at once, because it is said the
bonds do not sell for full value;
this should not be the case, street
bonds with the ample security given
and the comparatively high rate Of in
terest are worth at least par, and there
should not be any difficulty in placing
them at that rate. In addition to other
extensive projected improvements, I
confidently rely on your energetic co-op-
GRAFTON in the work OF facilitating the
communication between different sec-
tions of the City by means OF the Temple
street and First street cuts and the
Third street tunnel.
urge upon your honorable body the
necessity of keeping in good repair the
improved streets, and can see no reason
why the paved streets. as well as the
gravefled, should not be repaired by the
street department. Such work being di-
rectly under the control of the munich
pality, should be better done and give
more satisfaction than ii done by con-
tract.
Complaints have been made of the
insufficient sprinkliug of the gravelled
streets, as not being sufficient to pre-
serve the surface intact and keep down
the dust, and also of the imperfect
sweeping of the bituminous paved
streets. the dirt being only par
TALLY removed therefrom. 1t has
been suggested to me, and I think
with reason that much OF the latter is
caused by the excessive sprinkling dur
ing the day time OF the bitumen. by
means OF which the droppings are
ground into the pavement and cannot
be removed by the sweeper. 1t has also
been proven thar water is injurious to
bituminous pavement, and / would
recommend for such streets less sprink-
ling and more sweeping.
The completion OF the outfali sewer
will allow the sewering OF large and i'm.
portant portions of the city that are now
deprived OF that necessity. This course
will involve the construction of numsr-
ous laterals, the cost of which will be
cheerfuily borne by the property hold
erso and the connection with which will
remove from our midst many serious
causes of disease and death. -a
Of late years American cities have
found no more profitable investment for
the money of the taxpayer than in the
extensions and improvement of their
parks, il would almost aeem as if the fu-
ture progress of city would be predi-
Gated from their extent and attractabil-
ity. In addition to the several small
grounds in different sections of the city,
we have in Elysian park a promise of
one Of the most delightful resorts to be
found in the United States. Money in
telligently expended on the improve.
ment OF this park will bs we'll spent.
HEALTH.
The increase Of our population during
the last three years from $4,000 to what
would seem to be conservative esti-
mate OF 10000 is largely due to the rep
utation OF Los Angeles as health resort
and we should take efficient means to
ensure our city against any diminution
in this regard.
The threat that has been held over our
heads for the last year or more of the
possible visitation OF cholera is MOTTO
be ignored, in addition to the thorough
cleaning of the streets, the proper in
spection od and cleansing where neces-
Gary Of private premises is imperative.
Yhis the board of health is attempting
to have done by means of q very inade-
quate force. This work should be done
cholera or no cholera, not once year
but once month at least. Ae it is now,
n1isances can follow the inspector on
his rounds as fast as he can have them
abated, there should be at least two in
spectors to each ward, and recommend
that it be go provided by ordinance un-
til the city is thoroughly cleansed.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Complaints have been made to me that
the Los Angeles Electric company do
not furnish the quantity of light re-
quired by their contract. This question
would eeem in the past to have been