The San Francisco call., 1904-12-15
BROKEN SEWERS
ARE EXPENSIVE
City Engineer Says More
Money Has Been Spent on
One Than New Drain Costs
CITES SPECIFIC CASE
Acquisition of Municipal
Water Supply Seems to Be
Farther Away Than Ever

CITY Engineer Woodward filed his
annual report for the year ending
June 80, 1904. with the Board of
Works Yesterday. The report states
that while the appropriation of the
office was the same as the year before
the business has greatly increased.
Street improvements aggregating
$5S6.343 81 in cost We're made and the
increase in the number of matters of
various classes referred to the bureau
for report has been about so per cent
The receipts from fees for lot surveys
have increased over $4,000. The re-
port continues:
The miserable condition of our
sewers will in measure be remedied
by the recent bond issue. One Of the
worst cases, that of Sixth street, was
not provided for and more money has
been spent for cleaning the sewer on
the one block between Folsom and
Harrison streets than would pay for a
new one. Some attention should be
given TO the matter of securing rights
of way for drainage purposes.
The specifications for asphalt pave
ment should be so changed as to all
low the use of California oil asphalts
when of proper quality. they having
proved very satisfactory for pave
ments Your attention is called TO the
damage resulting to pavements from
their improper use. Ordinances should
be passed at once providing for the
use of springs on trucks. regulating
the tire widths, limiting loads and
providing for a more thorough inspec-
tion of pavement repairs.
Among the various important mat
ters is the establishment and change
of official grades. An appropriate
charter amendment will be prepared
by this bureau to simplify the method
in order that we may be able to ac-
tually change the grade of street as
well as to effect a change upon paper.
Another subject for a bond issue
would be the widening of Sansome
street from Jackson northerly to the
bay This would furnish a much de-
sired means of approach to the water
front and relieve congested traffic.
The property TO be acquired could be
taken from the western side of the
street where the improvements are of
small value. The necessity for a prop
er bridge over the Southern Pacific
Railroad at San Jose and Mount Yer
non avenues is apparent to any one
who goes to Ocean View. 1t is hoped
that an appropriation for the i'm
provement will be made in the next
budget.
thousands of dollars spent. the engag-
ing of special engineers. the work in
the field and in the office, the visits to
Washington, the memorial to Con-
gress, it would seem that the acquisi-
tion of water rights on the Tuolumne
River as a source of municipal water
supply is farther away than it was
hoped when the subject was first con-
templated. The decision of Secretary
Hitchcock denying the application Of
San Francisco for reservoir sites at
Hetch Hetchy Valley and Lake Flea
nor is based upon an unexpected rea-
son. for it is difficult to understand
why San Francisco should be refused
its absolutely needed water supply be-
cause of the construction of two reser-
voirs or lakes in the summit of the
Sierras taking up less than four
square miles of the 1900 square miles
of the National Park"