The herald., 1896-07-07
THE PROCEEDINGS
The Main Strest Paving Hatter- Correspond
ence on the Subject

ence on the Subject
1t was 10 minutes past o'clock when
the members of the city council filed
into the chamber and took their seats.
President Teed was in the chair, and
all of the councilmen were present, with
the exception of Mr.. Savage, who came
in later.
The minutes were read and approved,
after which the various salary demands
Of the city officers and the payrols of the
several departments for June were ap-
proved. as were also number of mis-
cellaneous demands.
Councilman Pessell moved that the
street superintendent report why the
- Improvement or Main street was being
delayed, and why the work could not
be pushed forward. Councilman Mum
son seconded the motion, and said that
anything that could throw any light on
this matter was of Importance. The
motion prevailed and it was decided to
send for the street superintendent as
soon as the sergeant arms put in an
appearance.
Councilman MuuSon moved that the
City Water company be ordered to place
fire hydrants at First and Bonnie Brae
streets. Burlington avenue and Arnold
street, Union avenue and Arnold street,
Quebec and Ocean View avenue, Bonnie
Brae and Fifth street Alvarado and
Fifth streets and Westlake avenue and
Sixth street. Mr.. Munson said that the
hydrants were badly needed at these
points, and on the adoption of the mo-
ton stated that he would follow up the
matter and see that they were put in.
MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENT
A short recess was then taken, after
which the street superintendent pre-
sented the following communications
on the Main street matter:
LOS ANGELES, July 3, 1896
To the Honorable Council of the City
of Los Angeles: Gentlemen-Owing to
the apparent dilatory manner in which
the contract for the improvement of
Main street from Ninth to Thirtysev-
enth streets are proceeding, the follow
ing communication was addressed by
me to them July l, 1896:
Western Contracting and Construc-
tion company room 1872 StimsOn block,
city: Gentlemen-You are hereby no
titled to confine your work upon Main
street within the limits prescribed by
your contract for improving the same.
and to place any portions of said street
disturbed by you outside of such linn
it's back in as good condition as you
found it. Furthermore. to prosecute
the work with due diligence from day
to day until the completion of your con-
tract, which in the opinion of interest
ed parties you are not at present doing.
await your further orders recommend
ing a method of procedure whereby the
completion of this contract can be eX-
pedited. Respectfully,
p A. HOWARD,
Street Superintendent.
Mr.. Howard said that he had received
the following reply from the attorney of
the company in the morning mail:
Los Angeles, Cal, July 3. 1895.
p. A. Howard, street superintendent
etc.-Dear Sir: Yours of July 1st, ad
dressed to the Western Contracting and
Construction company has been handed
to us for reply. We desire to remind
you that the contract for the improve
ment of Main street awarded to our
clients Is a large contract; that it is
prosecuting the work with all dill
gence. The parties in charge found
that it would be absolutely necessary
In order to do such job as they propose
to do under the contract to have a large
amount OF machinery, consisting of ma
chinery and engines for crushing rock,
a plant for properly heating and mixing
the asphaltum covering, and not being
satisfied to use any of the machinery
on the ground or heretofore used in SIM
liar work in the city, have ordered al
READY an OF the appliances necessary to
prosecute with diligence the work. The
order is being filled, and will within a
short time be on the ground. and when
SO placed we are assured that the con-
tractor Will be able to complete each day
at least 10000 square feet of the street.
In addition to this machinery. a largo
number Of blocks have to be procured
from the quarry for the purpose of law
ing cutters along the line of said street
This work is also progressing RAPIDLY
1t Is conceived by the contractor that
the only way to produce uniform heat
for heating and preparing the asphaltum
would be, instead of applying direct heat
to the material, to heat the same with
steam, and when these appliances are
procured, we are advised and firmly be-
lieve that the work will be completed
within short time, and that. when
completed, 1t will be job entirely salts
factory to yourself and all other inter-