The herald., 1898-04-30
GIBBON MADE ROCK FLY
DECLAIMING THE VIRTUE OF
PoRPHYRY FOR PAVING
Rival Street Contractors Before Board
of Public Works-Bids Awarded.
Improvements Recommended


about the committee rooms yesterday
morning while the board OF public works
was in session. The improvement of Fig
ueroa street came up for discussion, and
rival bidders were there with pieces of
sample rock. A chunk of porphyry, of such
size as to hurt man if he accidentalls>
kicked 1t, was exhibited by Contractor
Austin, and it was labeled porphyry, pre-
sumably SO that the committee, who, it
might be taken for granted. Is not UP on
geology, would not mistake it for granite
rock, exhibited by an oppositionist and for
which Mr. Austin has not much respect.
Attorney Gibbon represented Contractor
Harmon, and It was he who, In behalf of
his client, made the rock fly. He had two
pieces Fin his hand and was telling the
committee of its excellent qualities, the
while. and unconsciously perhaps, pound
ing the two chunks together and making
the minute particles escape. Toll, who is
pretty long on height, had hard time
preventing his Uranium coming In contact
with the rock, while Messrs. Blanchard
and Mathuss, who have ample breadth.
were trying to compress their shoulders.
The committee can't be expected to decide
a geological subject on the moment, neither
contractors in hope referred the matter to
the city engineer for investigation, while
they acquaint themselves with geology
through the medium Of books.
A petition was presented signed by a
number of citizens living in the vicinity of
Seventeenth and Figueroa streets, asking
permission to construct cement sidewalk
on Seventeenth street between Figueroa
hoy
the argument all to themselves, for there
were some there as protesters. The latter
claimed that the location was in a sparselX
settled neighborhood and that the cost of
the improvement would fall on few. and
they could not stand for it now. Those IA
voring it said they could not see why the
progress of the work should be detained
because a very few did not approve of 1t,
while a majority of she frontage wished 1t.
The committee thereupon agreed to recon-
mend the passage of the ordinance for the
work.
Petitions for street work were Temporal
rily disposed of as follows Cement side
walk on Magnolia avenue between Six
teenth and Washington streets; filed. Ce-
ment sidewalk on Turner between Vignes
and Center; granted. Grading with nat
ural gravel or the material HoW III AudHiS
street between the east line of Congress
avenue and the west line of Hoover street;
referred to the city engineer for investiga-
ton and if practicable to present ordinance
of intention for the work. To have side
walk and curb on the west side Of Olive
street from Court to 120 feet south of it
conform with the balance of sidewalk and
curb on the same block; referred to the
city engineer for investigation.
Bids were recommended awarded as fol-
lows Improving Della street between
Elizabeth and Queirolo streets, to L. Bro
| die; to improve Date street between Macy
and Elizabeth strec1, to l.. Brodie; to i'm
prove Howard street between Also an6
| Macy streets, to the same contractor; tc
| improve Henry street between Eastlake
| avenue and San Pablo street. to c. Stans-
bury; to improve Vermont avenue from
Pico street to point 1000 feet south of Pico
street, to e. A. McCombs.
That petition of long standing from the
merchants doing business on Broadway
between Third and Fourth streets was ex-
posed to view, and few words in the
matter broached In hushed whisper, after
which 1t was referred to the superintend-
ent of streets for investigation and report.
This petition was first presented to the
council two weeks ago. 1t asks that bill
posting company that has an advertising
fence in this locality be compelled to re-
move It, as it was preventing business.
The fence stands out in the street beyond
the sidewalk.