The herald., 1897-09-28
RESURFACING SPRING
NEEDED IMPROVEMENT WILL
PROBABLY BE MADE
Street Superintendent John Drain
Makes a Plain Statement of
Facts and Figures

The action Of the city council yester-
day in sustaining the protest against
the proposed construction Of a new
sewer on Spring street and the abandon
ment Of the proceedings in that matter
may result in the ultimate and probably
early, resurfacing Of that thoroughfare.
The connection between these two pro-
posed improvements has not been men
toned heretofore, and it was not until
yesterday that 1t was discovered that
one was at all affected by the other.
After the sewer matter had been dis
posed of to their satisfaction, several of
the protestants stated that they were
really willing now to have the street re-
surfaced, and more than one gave their
promise to assist in the work as much as
possible.
In order that they might not be
thought to be inconsistent in the matter,
those who made this promise did 80 with
the understanding that the councilmen
to whom it was made would not an
nounce their names until later. The
promise was agreed to, and the result
was an effort to keep the matter secret,
bue 1t accidentally leaked out. Just
how much Of the property is represent
ed by those who have now come over to
the side Of those who favor the work
of resurfacing cannot be stated, be-
cause Of this attempt at secresy, but
it is known that some of the most active
workers against the proposition are now
in favor Of it. Just what action will be
taken in the matter has not been de-
cided, but it Is expected that the ma
jority frontage on the protest can now
be easily overcome, and that the final
action of the council in the matter. when
it properly comes before that body, will
be to order the work.
In regard to the proposed resurfacing
of Spring street the following letter is
Of interest:
ITO the Editor Of the Los Angeles
Herald: In view Of the fact that at the
present time there is quite an agitation
concerning the resurfacing Of Spring
street, deem 1t my duty to present a
plain statement Of facts to property
holders on said street, as we'll as to the
general public.
Having been elected by the people to
serve them in the capacity of street su-
perintendent, and having no other OBJ
ject in the agitating Of this question
than the fact that have the interests
Of both property holders and tenants
at heart, desire to present few facts
to them for their mature consideration.
"In the first place, with reference to
the length of time that the pavement has
been laid, will say that it has been in
constant use since 1887, having been
submitted to a most violent test. The
specifications called for the thickness
Of the asphalt to be ~ inches, instead
Of inches, as has generally been re-
ported, the contract figure for the work
being rs cents square foot.
I specify this fact to show
the material difference in the cost
Of asphalting the street ten years ago
as compared to the present time. Mis-
representations Of all sort have been
made by persons who are not acquaint-
ed with the facts as to the extravagant
cost of resurfacing the street. I desire
to say that If the work is done in a rea-
sonable time. or within the next few
months, the work can and will be done
at cost not to exceed cents square
foot, or $1.7O a lineal foot. Having had
an extended experience, covering a Pc
riod of fifteen years, in the construction
of asphalt work, I have no hesitancy in
quoting figures on work Of this char
acter.
Now, Mr.. Editor I believe I have
placed myself squarely on record on
this matter. I contend now, as 1 have
always, that this work is much-needed
improvement, and should be done before
the winter rains set in, as the condition
of the street will be a menace to the
health Of our citizens.
JOHN H. DRAIN,
"Street superintendent
LOS Angeles, Sept. 27th."