The herald., 1897-10-02
Street Specifications Un-
fair to Local Firms
MANY INTERESTS CONCERNED
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Elk.
PECTED TO GIVE RELIEF
Downey Avenue Improvement Rec
ommended-Considered Vic
tory for the Adobe Route

Although the regular session Of the
board Of public works yesterday morn
ing was very short, much business was
transacted. All that was to be dore
was not reached during the session and
another meeting will be held this after
noon. AS was stated yesterday morn
ing, the boulevard subject proper was
not taken up although the board took
favorable action upon the petition of the
property owners along Downey avenue,
asking that they be allowed to improve
that thoroughfare.
The appeal of the Los Angeles Oil
Burning and Supply company for a
change in the specifications for street
work so as to make possible the use of
local asphaltum was taken under ad-
visement. These were the two most i'm
portant matters considered, but in ad-
dition. there were a number of street i'm
provement measures which were acted
upon.
AN ASPHALT KICK
At the opening of the session Attorney
Marble. representing the Los Angeles
Oil Burning and Supply company. ap-
peared to present the matter which had
been contained in the petition of that
company to the council. 1t had been dis
covered that the specifications for street
work expressly prohibited the use of the
kind of asphalt that the company man.
ufactures in large quantities. This, of
course, prevented the company's prod
uct from being used, and while they are
not in the street contracting business,
they were placed out of the market for
supplying the contractors with asphalt
here at home although they sold much
Of it in other places. The effect of this
apparent injustice upon their outside
trade was pointed out to the board 1t
being stated that a most natural ques-
ton was for prospective purchasers to
ask how the asphalt worked here where
it Is manufactured Mr.. Marble pre-
sented a number of testimonials show
ing that work dore with the company's
product had given entire satisfaction in
places where the wear uponi was much
greater than on an ordinary street. The
present rule prohibiting its use here af-
fected the oil producers as we'll as the
company. as they were unable to sell
their oils for the purpose Of making the
asphalt. He also submitted samples of
the products of the company and urged
that the clause in the specifica tions be
annulled so that the company can at
least have a charce of trying it's goods
upon the work done here. The board
took no action in the matter, but an
nounced that it would take it under ad-
visement.
DOWNEY AVENUE BOULEVARD
The petition of the property owners
along Downey avenue for permission to
improve that thoroughfare so as to make
it practically boulevard was presented
ard discussed at length. The following
report on the matter will be presented
at the next meeting of the city council:
'In the matter of the petition asking
that Downey avenue be improved, we
would recommend that the city engineer
be directed to present the necessary ordi-
nance for the Improvement of said ave-
nue. by paving with asphalt twelve feet
on each side of the roadway and by re-
moving the gravel for a depth of six
inches and replacing same with better
gravel, from the end of Downey avenue
bridge to the west side of the Mission
road, under the bond provision Of the
Vrooman act"
Several gentlemen who have been
working in the interests Of the two
boulevard plans were in attendance at
the meeting, possibly in the expecta-
tion of a decision on that matter, but
it was announced that no action would
be taken, as the boulevard question was
not to be taken up and there was moth
ing new before them to consider in this
connection. The gentlemen then with
drew and the board proceeded to the
transaction of routine business.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
had been referred to the. supply COM
mittee, was turned over to the board for
examination. A recommended ton will
be made that it be granted. Mr. Hewitt
desires to lay water pipe along Central
avenue from the city limits to carry
drinking water to place where he in
tends to prepare 1t for delivery to GUS
toners.
The matter Of the protests against the
proposed work on Loomis street, of
which there Is quite a number, were
referred to the city engineer.
The protest against the proposed grad
ing Of Railroad avenue, from San Fer
nando to Main streets, did not contain
a statement of the frontage represented
and the city engineer will be instructed
to ascertain how much Of the total
frontage represented on the protest.
The request of residents along Bon
ME Brae street, north Of First, for an
outlet over a deep ravine there was
sent to the city engineer for investiga-
ton, and if necessary to draw up the
necessary ordinance Of intention to i'm
prove the street.
The board will recommend that the pc
tition of the property owners along
Juarez street, between Eleventh and
Pico, for the improvement Of that street
by grading, graveling, curbing, etc.. be.
granted, and that the ordinance Of in
tentiOn for that work be prepared.
The request for protection from storm
water. filed by persons living on Shatto,
Orange and Ingraham streets, and the
suggestion that sewer be constructed
SO as to drain in all of those streets, was
referred to the city engineer for investi-
CATION The board then adjourned to
meet today.