The herald., 1897-12-30
What Has Been Done the
Past Year
SUP. DRAINS SUGGESTIONS
THE BOILER INSPECTOR MUST
WAIT ANOTHER WEEK
Adams Vacant Place to Be Filled This
Morning-Water Conference
Next Week-Notes

The annual report of Street Superin-
tendent Drain to the city council for the
business year ending November 80, was
filed in the city clerks office yesterday.
The report is very voluminous, giving in
i detail almost all the information possi-
BILE about the work of the street depart
ment. The first part of it, in which the
recommendations are made to the coun-
Gil, is as follows:
To the Honorable City Council:
Gentlemen-I have the honor to submit
herewith the annual report of the work
done by and under the supervision of the
street department, from November 30th,
1896. to November 30th, 1897, together
with certain tabulated and written mat
ter appertaining to the Improvement of
our public streets, which may be of in
, terest to you.
In the consideration of this report it is
well to bear in mind the fact that the
force of this department is entirely in
adequate for the amount of work re-
uuired to keep our thoroughfares in good
o.
the streets of this city requires more
than one laborer to each thirteen miles,
and more than one team to each thirty
five miles of streets, which has been
about the average during the past twelve
months. 1t is utterly impossible tokeep
the streets in the condition demanded by
the travelling public with such an made
uuate force, and the time has come when
something must be done to remedy the
conditions now existing. Without the
cooperation of the city council no bet
ter results can be obtained, and l earn
estly urge that some means be devised
to materially increase the force of this
department.
The matter Of leaking fire hydrants
should be taken up, and provision made
for the proper care of the same. l am
Of the opinion that this matter should
be in the hands of the fire department,
and am certain that if means were FRO
vided it would receive due attention.
The division of street work into differ
ent departments is a matter the re-
Bponsibility of which rests with you.
The street sprinkling,. street sweeping
Ind all work done on the streets belong
III tuc SllcGL dCPeti tillCits anu Stiouit
come under the supervision of the street
superintendent By the present man
ner Of distributing the same much con-
fusion and question of responsibility
arise, all OF which is detrimental to the
welfare of good streets.
1t is question whether the same con-
Hitions exist in any other city in the
United States, and it has certainly
proved very unsatisfactory in our case.
| would, therefore, recommend that all
branches of street work be placed in the
street department, under the supervi-
sion Of the street superintendent, which
will settle the question of responsibility
bf the care of our streets.
In connection with the foregoing, /
would recommend that the streets in the
business district be swept by hand, and
am of the opinion that one man to each
block could keep the streets in a condi-
tion satisfactory to the public. THE
life of an asphalt pavement depends
largely upon the sweeping and sprinkling
1t receives"
The continued tearing up of pave
ments for the laying of pipes, side con-
nections, ETC., is responsible, in no small
IIledSuIt, lOI tflt COIlulllOA VI lllduy OIL
our paved streets, and some means
should be provided making it compul-
sorry for such work to be done before the
resurfacing of Spring, Main and Sixth
streets.
Another matter which believe can be
remedied by you is the tearing up Of
streets by the railway companies for the
repair of their tracks. Under the pres
ent conditions no permission is neces-
sary for this work, and excavations are
made, many of which are left months be-
fore repairing, thereby causing great
annoyance and danger to vehicles |
would suggest that all railway COM
panies, like other corporations and pri-
vate individuals, be compelled to apply
to the street department for permission
to excavate in any public street. and
that they be required to make sufficient
deposit with such application to guar
antee the proper and prompt repair OF
the same.
In a recent report from this depart
ment the number of street signs needed
to properly indicate streets was given
and the locations for the same are on
file in this office. 1t has been a number
of years since the present signs were
erected, and the few remaining, with
the many changes of street names
make it difficult, in some cases. for even
a resident to locate streets properly.
hope to see some action taken in the
near future to remedy the present condi-
tion in this matter.
l would also suggest that provision be
made during the coming year for the
construction of cross-walks, where need
ed, throughout the city. In the
eleven months of the present admins
tration 343 of these walks have been con-
structed, and it is safe to say that more
than four times that number are neces-
gary to meet the present requirements OF
our rapidly growing city.
During the past year this department
has COLLECTED more than $4,000 for con-
nections that have been made witt
bonded sewers, and as no estimate car
be made of the amount required for the
repair of public sewers, urge that this
money be placed to the credit of the
street department, to be drawn on as
may be necessary for the repairing oI
sewers. More than $500 has been ex.
pended in the past eleven months for this
work, and unless funds are provided il
will be necessary to cease these repairs
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. DRAIN,
Street Superintendent.
Then follow several long tables con
tanning q statement of tho eypapd;t,,ro