The herald., 1897-05-18

cussed, which had been prepared for
! presntation to the council
To the Honorable Mayor and Council of
Los Observation-Disclosures: The Merchants
and Manufacturers association having the
best interests of the city at heart, and be-
Ing urged by prominent citizens to exert its
influence towards ameliorating the pres
ent deplorable condition Of our streets
begs to offer the following suggestions:
| All progressive cities of the civilized
world are devoting far more attention to
good street paving and street cleaning at
the present time than they did genera
tion or even decade ago. Pavements Of
Belgian blocks or Of boulders that would
not have been criticised fifteen years ago
are not now tolerated in the business quar-
ters OF any ambitious, up-to-date city In
America or Europe. because they are
noisy. harbor dirt and are uncomfortable
Strangers arriving from eastern cities,
where the pavements are smooth, noise
less, clean and we'll cared, for, make fire.
quent comment to the detriment of Los
Angeles when they see the disgraceful
condition and experience the discomforts
of riding over our principal business
streets. This criticism applies primarily to
the broken surface and the numerous So
called chuckholes and secondarily to a
lack of cleanliness which results partially
from these holes giving lodgment to the
dirt.
Now. this discreditable state of things
exists In a city where the climatic condi-
tions are highly favorable TO keeping good
streets In order. We have no frosts to
heave the pavements ,and' no accumula-
tions of snow and slush ana ice to OBJ
struct travel or impede the work of clean
Ing. Besides we have wealth. prosperity
and "a healthy growth-elements Of prog
ress regarding which We are not willing
to admit that we are behind any other city
of 100000 inhabitants in the world.
Why, then. are we so far behind the
times and so far below the standard of
other. cities in regard TO the condition of
our streets? Manifestly the blame rests
somewhere. Can it be located? If we ask
the street superintendent for redress we
are referred to a clause in his report Of
January II. 1897, where he says:
"Sixth--In reference to the paved! streets
of the city. find that most of them are en-
tirely worn out. This is particularly the
| case on Spring street. between Temple and
Ninth streets, and on Sixth street, between
Olive and Flower streets. and in many
cases 1t Is but a waste of money to repair
them, the surface being so thin that a
proper bond cannot be obtained between
the present covering and the new ma
terial."
According to this testimony, Spring and
some other streets are, like an old pair of
shoes, beyond repair. But even If it We're
possible to repair them we are informed by
the council that there is no money in the
treasury for that purpose.
1t is evident then that we must look to
some other source for the relief we ask,
and we find 1t in the following provisions
Of the city charter. On page so, article XVI,
we read as follows:
Section 1863. Whenever It shall be
deemed expedient by the council to grade,
macadamize, gravel, pave, repave or other
wise improve any street, or the sidewalk
thereof. or both the council
may. by ordinance. declare its intention to
make such Improvement, and shall In such
ordinance specify the street or portion
thereof to be improved. and
the nature CT the proposed Improvement
and fix and determine the limits of the
district to be benefited thereby, and to
be assessed for the cost thereof. Such
ordinance must be published at least ten
days in daily newspaper published in the
city Of Los Angeles before 1t shall take
effect.
Section 40. Any of the owners of prop
erty fronting on the street to be improved,
or any, streets within the limits of the dis
trict Of assessment. may file witkthe city
clerk within ten days from the time the
ordinance takes effect, written remon-
STRANGE against the proposed improve
AhcHt, anu IL suCH Reconnaissance De SIsIlcu
by two-thirds of the owners of the frcnt-
age of the property on such street or
streets, further proceedings under said or
bdinance shall be discontinued.
Section III. If such remonstrance.
signed by two-thirds of such owners. be
not filed. the council may order the pro-
posed improvement to be made, and shall
thereafter, without unnecessary delay.
cause notice to be published in such news
paper or newspapers for such time and in
such manner as 1t shall direct. calling for
proposals, for the said work, and upon re-
ceiving such, proposals shall award the
contract for the said work as 1t shall deem
BEST subject to the provisions of this char
ter. The council shall have the right to
reject any or all bids, and may readvertise
for other proposals, and it may let the work
in such sections or parcels as 1t may deem
best"
Now in the light of these provisions of
the city charter, what is the first step to
take in order to relieve us from our di-
lemma? Plainly If the condition Of any
street Is such that it should, be repaved
the. council may, by ordinance. declare it's
intention to make such Improvement. The
ordinance must be published ten days in
a daily paper. and unless two-thirds of the
property owners fronting on the street file
with the city clerk written remonstrance
against the improvement within ten days,
the council may order the Improvement to
be made without unnecessary delay.
The way IS open and perfectly clear to
accomplish this greatly needed work. The
condition of the city treasury has nothing
to 60 with the question. 1t Is simply a mat
ter Of judgment on the part of the council,
and If that Judgment is in favor of decent
streets the council will order them re-
paved and the abutting property owners
will pay for the work.
As we have plainly shown that under the
provisions of the city charter the RESPONSE
bility of initiating the work of reform rests
with the council, we, the Merchants and
Manufacturers association, representing
the business interests of the city, and anxi-
Gus to preserve her fair fame, earnestly ap-
peal to your honorable body and beg you
to promptly take such steps and initiate
such measures as will give us the improved
pavements to which city of the rank and
pretentions of Los Angeles Is entitled.
This communication is addressed to YOU
in conformity with resolution adopted at
a general meeting of this association held
May II. 1897.
HI. w. FRANK. President.
WILLIAM H KNIGHT. Secretary.
]. B. Lankershim moved to postpone
the reading of the letter one week to
give the Main street property owners
time to protest, but the letter was adopt-
ed as read, after which the meeting ad-
journed.
Broke His Leg