Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-08
PLAN To RE-OIL
MANY STREETS
CITY MAY USE LONG BEACH
METHOD
Board of Public Works Hard at Work
Preparing Budget of Street
Work for Coming
Year

Inc BOARD or pubic works had 1tS
attention drawn to what is known as
the Santa Monica method of oiling
streets and will ask property owners
who want improvements in their sec
tlon of the city to try the method that
is said to be in vogue at the seaside
city.
This is plan whereby the oil, after
being sprinkled on the streets, is raked
by a harrow and pounded by a tamp
at one and the same time, n machine
constructed for this purpose being
used.
The board will soon make trip to
Santa Monica to watch street work
being done in that city and If the plan
proves satisfactory, will ask that 1t be
used in this CITY
Hopes of the board to he able to oil
sixty miles of streets during the next
fiscal year have been rudely dashed
to the ground by the great advance in
the price of oil. Several proposals re-
ceived by the board yesterday morning
point to the fact that local oil pro-
ducers have again raised the price of
oil
Those firms who two months ago
were eager to sell the city the kind of
oil specified for street improvements for
"a cents, now demand 6S cents and
give no promise that they are at the
end of the price raising.
Outline Elaborate Plans
In May the board outlined elaborate
plans for street improvements during
the next year and among them was dis
cussed the feasibility of thoroughly OIL
ing at least sixty miles of graded
streets. Then there was sharp compe-
tition among the oil producers and
oil was offered at "a cents. small
quantity was purchased at this price,
but only enough to supply the i'm
mediate needs of the street depart
ment.
Later. when more oil was found
necessary, the board made the dis
covery that it had risen in price to 6S
cents a barrel. Confronted with this
fact the board was forced to forego
its hopes of making such extensive i'm
provements on oiled streets and will
have to revise them. The board has
laid no further plans, but expects to do
so soon.
1t is feared by the members of the
board of public works that the oil pro-
ducing companies have settled their
differences and effected a combination
to Loost the price of OIL at least so
far as the city is concerned.
Fear Combination Bids
While no sealed bids have Leen re-
Gently received, individual proposals
made by the oil producers have re-
luctantly led the board to this con-
clusion. Should this prove to be the
case, it will be in line with the policy
adopted by the street contractors and
almost every other line of business
with which the municipality has deal
ings.
Last year James Hanley, who was
then superintendent of streets, but who
since the inauguration of the board of
public works has become chief inspec-
tor, asked the city council for $4,000
for reoiing large number of streets.
This amount was cut out of his budget.
1t will cost double that amount to do
the same work this year at the price
now prevailing and should the board
finally decide to ask the city council
for the amount necessary on this
years budget it has little hope that it
will be granted.
Although the streets may not be
oiled after the plan of the board of
public works, it is certain that large
number of improvements will be made,
The contracts for paving Temple and
Olive streets and Central avenue have
already been let and several more paw
ing JODS are contemplated ullueI lile'
Vrooman act.
Specifications and ordinances for
paving Pico and San Pedro streets have
already been drawn and the prelimin-
ary work is well on the way to the
letting of the contracts
While the finance committee of the
council may hesitate at a very large
expenditure tor reoiling streets, it is
certain the needs of the street depart
ment will receive more attention than
they did at the hands of the same
committee last year.
Councilman Smith, chairman of the
finance committee, has said that the
street department shall be well cared
for, even if other departments have to
sail a little close to the wind. With
half a million more in taxes than was
at the disposal of the finance commit
tee last year, to be distributed among
the different departments, it is certain
the street department will receive its
due.
The board of public works must sub
NIT to the council an estimate of the
budget for the street department, build
ing department and city engineers de-
partment for the next fiscal year before
July Is, and the members of the board
have been deeply engrossed in the task
of preparing these estimates.