The herald., 1897-02-06
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Number of Important Mat
ters Considered
AGAIN THE BOILER INSPECTOR
Protests Against Repeal OF the
Ordinance
MATEO STREET FRANCHISE
Mr.. Sumner Claims That All Bids but His
Own Are Irregular
They Do Not Comply W.. C Terms Of the
Advertisement
The Hatter Argued and Continued for Further
Hearing-Ths Street Sig, Franchise
Virtually Killed -Recommen.
datlons Adopted
They Do Not Comply W.. &C Terms Of the
Advertisement

The attendance at the meeting of the
board of public works yesterday morn
| ing was rather larger than usual, for the
reason that several matters outside of
the routine were to come up Chairman
Blanchard presided and Councilmen
Mathuss and Ashman were promptly
on hand. Several of the other members
OF the council also dropped in during the
course of the deliberations.
! Major f. F. c. Klokke headed dele
CATION that appeared before the board
and asked that the zanjero be directed
| to divert the water from the zanja on
the east side of Figueroa street from
Eighteenth street to the city limits to
the west side of the street, to prevent
| the overflow every time there was a
rain. This is a nuisance which has
| caused much trouble for years past. and
| complaints have come. before every
council, but nothing in the way of af-
fording permanent relief has ever been
done. Councilman Toll explained the
situation to the members of the board
and they finally agreed to consult with
the city engineer and the zanjero to de-
wise some means to do away with the
difficulty complained of.
The next matter to come up was the
ordinance introduced at the meeting of
the council two weeks ago to do away
with the office of boiler inspector and
board of engineers and which had been
postponed from the previous meeting.
Judge X. A. Ling again appeared before
the hna rH md of La,, ertb
the repeal of the ordinance. He ex-
pressed surprise that there should be
any desire to repeal an ordinance that
has been of great value to the city and
protection to life and property He
stated that the grade of engineers had
been raisd by the ordinance; that every
engineer now has to get certificate
from the board Of engineers. and this
means that such applicants must be eff
ficient engineers. He maintained that
during its two years of operation, while
there has beer an inspector, there has
not been a single accident
A j. Norton appeared as an engineer
irg expert to speak on the question. He
claimed that there were some defects
with the ordinance, but it was far better
than no ordinance a all. and if it should
be repealed he feared that they could get
no other to take its place. He suggested
tudb llt SuOulu Ut IlHllleu To
applications to the oil district, and that
its enforcement should be given over en-
tirly to the police department and made
practical in it's operation. He charged
that too many inefficient men are given
employment in the management of boil
ers to the danger of life and property.
He also charged that about one-fourth
of the oil consumed in this city is wasted
because of inetflciency of those in charge
of boilers.
After some further talk on the PROPOSE
ton the discussion was closed, and the
matter was taken under advsement.
The ordinance granting to certain
parties a franchise to erect sign posts
at street intersections next came up,
when A. j. Bailey, the originator of
the scheme, appeared and asked that
the proposition be allowed to go over
for a time, in order that there might be
a full consideration of the plan proposed
Messrs Dromgold and Miner also ap-
peared and addressed the board. They
asked that final action be taken at once.
and stated that they were opposed to
the whole scheme, as the street corners
would be obstructed by a number of un-
slightly posts that were not wanted by
anyone. A numerously signed protest
was also presented against he ordi-
nance. After hearing all remarks, on
whole matter was filed.
A member of the Engineers associa
ton at this point appeared and saidthat
Mr.. Horton had been delegated to ap-
pear and protest, on behalf of the en-
gineers against the repeal of the Ordi-
nance providing for a boiler inspector
and requiring stationary engineers to
have license. The gentleman failed to
show up. and he therefore wished to say
hot tho aupipearS ia UOred the Ofvli n a Dpa
as it stands, without change.
The protest of w. Noble against the
proposed Improvement of Peru street.
between Fourteenth and Washington
streets, came up next and caused con- |
siderable discussion. Mr. Wilbur ap-
peared, representing Sherer ct al, who |
ask that the improvements be made to |
conform to what they consider the prop |
er grade. This proposition met with op- |
position from an army of property |
owners in the neighporhood. These |
owners protested on the ground |
that the proposal of Wilbur would mean |
that all the property owners would be |
bound to raise their improvements to |
conform to the artificial improvements |
Of two individuals. Mr.. Sherer MAIN
aimed that he had made his improve |
nents in a legal way and according to
he grade as given him at the engi-
leer's office. 1t was finally decided to
'efer the whole matter to the city en-
,ineer to propose a grade suitable to all |
parties.
The matter of the Mateo street rail-
way franchise came up next. After con-
siderable delay this franchise was duly
advertised and five bids were presented:
T. W. Hinton. s1201 ]. A. Jeffries, $1017;
:. A. Sumner 1920; William Wood, $201,
Ind e. F. Groenend'yke, $257
c. A. Sumner, representing the Mateo
street c>snpany. appeared before the
'oard and proteSted against the accept
nee of any bids beside his own on the
round that the franchise as advertised
or sale required that evidence be pre-
ented with the bio of right of way Sc
ured. His was the only bid that COM
lied with the conditions strictly as ad-
ertised, and for this reason the other
ids were irregular, and his was the only
egal proposition. The other bidders
.skeG that the matter go over for time
Q give them an opportunity to inves-
igate, and the request was granted by
he board.
Tho fnl i /