The herald., 1898-01-11

fall, and from the fact that as eacl
street is graded and improved, tn
water thereon is delivered to a centra
point much quicker.
The cost of such a system will be IL
the neighborhood of half a million o
dollars.
STREET WORK
During the past year there were com
pleted 1888 miles of streets graded ant
graveled, making total of 1887 mile
Of graded and graveled streets to date
The cost was S15S.203. During the yea
there were completed 2.S9 miles o
streets paved, making total of 1876
miles of paved streets to date. TIL
cost was S150,206 During the yea
there were completed 9.49 miles of sew
ers, making the total length of sewer
laid to date 1892 miles. The cost wa
SS3,41 The total amount of cemen
curb laid during the year was S6.S1 miles
The total amount of redwood curb lai(
during the year was 5.3S miles. Th'
total amount of cement sidewalk lait
during the year was S4.60 miles. Th'
total amount of asphalt sidewalk laiC
during the year was 0.S7 miles. The tota
amount of storm drains laid during the
year was 0.27 miles.
HOUSE NUMBERING
The house numbering maps for th'
newly annexed territory to the soutf
and west have been completed. They
show every lot with its correct house
number marked in red ink on each lot.
The house numbering maps for the
original portion Of the city are, in
great many instances, unsatisfactory
The house numbers are not marked or
each lot. but the block numbers only
are given at the nearest cross street
recurring a calculation to be made every
time a house number is wanted. In
other cases, owing to change in the
street names, cutting through new
streets, etc. the numbers are disar-
ranged, notably in the vicinity of Sixth
and Alvarado streets. Sixth street was
formerly Ward street, and its number
was 500, now it should be 900.
1 have received numerous complaints
the faulty system of house
numbering from the postmaster.
UNDERGROUND CONDUITS
The city should adopt general plan
for the underground conduit system,
within the conduit area.
AS conditions now exist, there is pos
slbility of ten different conduits being
laid on some streets within the district
by the following companies. The South
ern California Power company, San Ga
briel Power company, Los Angeles
Railway company, Traction company,
West Side Lighting company, Los An
geles Electric company, Sunset Tele-
phone company, Western Union Tele-
graph company, Postal Telegraph COM
pany, American District telegraph
Most of these companies will
be compelled to lay their wires under
ground, by virtue of the city ordinance,
and the city should compel them all to
use one conduit, which should also con-
tain the gas and water mains, otherwise
work of conduts.
STREET SPECIFICATIONS
We are at present engaged in revising
and preparing twenty-seven sets of spe-
to cover all the work of every
class and nature which the city usually
carries out. In preparing these the spe-
cifications on asphalt are the most trou-
blesome The present specifications, No.
rs, are so drawn that the producers of
petroleum asphalt claim that they can
not do work under them. These specitl-
cations, as your honorable body is
doubtless aware, were prepared under
the direction and with the assistance of
Prof. Price of San Francisco, the chem
list who was called in in regard to the
Main street pavement, and upon whose
report said street was condemned.
Unfortunately for the city, owing to
the state law, no guarantee can be given
for any pavement by any contractor,
otherwise the question of paving speci-
fcations would be a very simple one.
from the fact that the contractor would
pavement as he would be the one who
would have to keep it in repair and give
the guarantee therefor.
! would suggest that for all streets
which the city proposes to pave here
after, 1t invite two sets of bids one OF
these to be for the doing of the work as
prescribed by and in accordance with
the state law, and the other for the care
and maintenance of the pavement which
it is proposed to lay, for period Of tel
years, the payment for which is to come
out Of the general city fund. In connec-
ton with this second bid the bidder
shall, to insure the faithful performance
of this second bid, do one of two things
either file bond payable to the city ant
given by reliable bond indemnity com
pany, or deposit with the city treasurer
payable to the city, bonds to the amour
of 25 per cent of the cost of the street
of the city, county, state or the United
States.
I would suggest that your honorable
body take such steps as will have tbs
state law amended to the extent tha
all the work of construction, of whatever
nature, should be under the city en-
gineer, as under the present law the city
engineer draws up the plans and specifi
cations and the superintendent o
streets is the one who must carry on the
work Of construction and accept th'
same This brings about divided re
sponsibility and should be remedied
The superintendent of streets should b
charged only with the care Of the streets
and public works after they are com
pleted.
A summary of the statement of the fin
ances Of the department shows Tota
expenditure, S39,595.92; total returns
$6052.25; net expense, $33, ,543.67.
SHOWS A BALANCE
Revenue the City Has Received From
the Outfall Sewer