The herald., 1898-11-19
The BIDS WENT OVER
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS NOT
READY FOR ENGINE SITES
CONTINUED UNTIL FRIDAY
Disappointed Real Estate Agents and
Others-Railroad Franchise Also
Unsettled

Bids for engine house sites were not con-
sidered by the board Of public works and
the members of the fire commission yester-
day, as was intended, but were held over for
another week. When the board convened
there were d score or more property owners
on hand, who had what they considered
choice sites to offer to the city at equally
choice prices. Up to the time OF calling the
meeting to order the board had fully en-
pected to consider the bids, but when the
members saw the crowded committee room,
where MANY of the stars OF the local real
estate market had gathered, they became
faint hearted. Responding to wink from
the chairman. the members of the board and
fire commission slipped quietly away and
gathered in the mayors office. There much
of their assurance returned and they pro-
ceeded to talk the matter over. 1t was the
general opinion that the boards were in no
position to hear property owners discuss
their respective properties. and would not
be until they in joint sessions considered the
bids relative to the size OF lots, etc. 1t was
the opinion of the board that at least 40 per
cent of the bids offered would be declared
unsuitable and thrown out without con-
sideration.
The board also decided that after the bids
had undergone this necessary test and the
surviving offers had been properly classi-
fed into districts, the boards would visit
each district in turn. Where one or more
lots met with their approval, the owners
would be notified to appear and argue IN
favor of their property. Until that time
the boards decided that they did not care to
hear anything from them on the subject
The board of public works returned as
quietly as it had left and proceeded to take
up the usual grst of business. After delib-
Grating upon a petition or two for few
minutes, Councilman Blanchard asked in an
apparently innocent manner what so many
gentlemen wanted. Several advanced quick
" and in one voice announced they had
engine house sites to offer
'lIngine house sites?" mused Mr.. Blanch-
ard ''Oh. yes: the board is not ready to
consider them yet. We have decided to
meet next Friday.
''No," he added eve don't care to have
property owners present. They Will be
called when they are wanted
Under the present plan of procedure.
which is a remarkably slow one, it will I've
several weeks. if not months. before the sites
have been selected. A member of the fire
department. yesterday leiidihtu tiibt' ~ WIS
improvement had been contemplated for
wears, and as the bonds had been passed
ard the city was paving interest on them.
he was of the opinion that the council should
order its committee 10 proceed with all pos
siblo haste.
After the selection CT the sites the boards
will then turn their attention to the plans
of the houses themselves. These will be of
the latest design and will be up to date in
every particular.
The following is list of The amounts al
lowed the several districts, with the eNcep-
ton of one in the vicinity of Pico and Sen
tous streets: District l. or East Los An
geles, $1,000; Second ward. or oil district,
Sl500: Third ward. business section. 100000
Bonnie Brae. $500; vicinity OF present
Ninth house, $500; district bounded
by Washington and Pico streets. Maple ave
nue. and Figueroa street. $500; Pico
Heights, $1,000; Hoover and Thirtysecond
streets or vicinity. $500; near Hoover and
Washington streets, $500; district IA,
bounded by Figueroa street Maple avenue.
Sixteenth and Thirtieth streets. $500; Sixth
and Seventh wards. $1,000 each: Main and
Alameda streets. south OF Washington
street, $1,000: Seventh ward. Sl500 vicinity
of plaza, $4,000; Boyle Heights, $1,000. The
total of the above is S37, 800