Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-06
TORN UP
At RAPID RATE
325 MILES EXCAvATED IN
FIVE MONTHS
Corporations Forced to Replace Bad
FiIling-Inspector Finds Many
Attempts to Evade Pay
ment of Fees

During the past five months 77S,OOS
feet of public streets have been torn
up by corporations and the city in the
extension of water, sewer and gas
mains and telephone conduits. This is
equivalent to an excavation eighteen
inches wide and 98.2 miles long. In
other words with 1876 miles of improved
streetse, one in every five has been
torn up since May /. This remarkable
condition of affairs is shown by the
report of Patrick Doyle inspector of
excavations, which was submitted to
the board of public works yesterday.
The extent of underground improve
ments during the period named is by
far the largest in the history of the
city.
There was excavation Of 300, SIT feet
by the water department in the exten-
sion of water mains, 132,073 feet by the
Los Angeles Gas and Electric company
357, SIT feet by the Edison, Pacific Light
and Power and the Home Telephone
companies and 69,150 feet for lateral
sewers.
Must Repair Streets
In some cases the streets have not
been returned to their former good con-
dition. The water department yester-
day was served with twenty-eight no
tices calling upon it to repair the
streets in as many instances. The fill
ing has been improperly done and has
resulted in sink holes. The street de-
partment is undertaking the oiling of
many of the streets where these condi-
tions exist and has asked that the re-
pairs shall be made Immediately.
The water department is required to
maket no deposit as a guarantee that
the work will be done satisfactorily
Public service corporations and con-
tractors are required when they take
out permit to give guarantee which
is retained by the city for one year.
This amounts to 80 cents a square foot
where the street is paved, 20 cents
square foot where 1t is graveled and 10
cents square foot where it is unim-
proved The city makes a charge for
excavations of 21a cents for each square
foot in all other classes of streets.
Try to Evade Rules
More than one utility corporation has
attempted to evade the payment of this
charge. The Sunset Telephone and
Telegraph company would have avoided
payment Of more than $500 month ago
but for the watchfulness of Doyle and
his assistants. Without obtaining
permit the company undertook to make
an excavation of 21,OOO feet. The COM
pany was caught in the attempt and
forced to comply with the ordinances
before being allowed to continue.
The Los Angeles Gas and Electric
company is another attempted violator.
When it was putting in its large main
at it's plant near the river it took out
permit to excavate 10000 feet. When
it's intention was discovered 1t had
already excavated $4,000 feet.
The ruling by the board of public
works that the guarantee shall be re-
tained by the city for one year after the
completion of the work instead of re-
turning it as soon as the street has
been returned to its normal condition
has resulted in much good to the city's
thoroughfareS.
In refilling contractors are taking
more care, because any defect which
becomes apparent during the following
twelve months is repaired at their own
expense.