Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-08

one Of these is the outfan sewer.
Earring accidents. the sewer will be
completed next January. Work Is pro-
crossing rapidly and no accidents or
delays are anticipated. The financial
end, and not that of construction, Is
one which should concern the city coun-
Gil most. The amount estimated to
complete the sewer Is s614,4l4, while the
amount OF money In hand is only S292,-
3SS According to the city engineer,
1921, 500 Is needed to complete the sewer.
Another big undertaking Is construic-
ton of storm drains. In this appro-
priation there is an estimated deficit of
s60.000.
Two new bridges are contemplated,
and the chairman Of the board Of pub.
lie works says it is imperative that they
be constructed during the present year.
The amount set apart by the retiring
councilmen is $40. 900. The estimated
cost of the bridges to the city is $4,000.
Their total cost will be in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000, but the railway COM
panies propose to pay something like
$4,000 Of this amount There will be a
deficit In this work of $4,000.
I deem IL advisable to call attention
of the city council to these deficits at
this early date in order that prepara-
tions may be made to meet them Al
ready the board of public works has
been applying the economy remedy with
a view of having money on hand when
the time comes to prevent any delay in
this work. Having been made cogni-
zant of the real situation. your honor
able body will understand what
measures to adopt to insure the COM
pletion of those most important under
takings. The board Of public works has
suggested that as much of the deficit
as possible be saved by means of
economy and the balance be raised by
taxation next year. The suggestion is
one worthy of your consideration.
There are eighteen different storm
sewers contemplated. They should be
built as speedily as possible. They will
be begun as soon as bonds can be voted
upon and money raised. In the en-
gineers Office there are pending more
than 200 sanitary sewers. Sewers and
storm drains are needed almost as badly
as water for domestic purposes. Every
thing possible should be done by your
honorable body to facilitate the work
Orders have been given for the paving
of more than forty streets, covering
twenty-one miles. These orders should
be increased until all the streets be-
tween Temple and Washington streets
and Los Angeles and Figueroa streets
have been paved. Until a compact area
so large as that mentioned is paved it
will be almost an impossibility to have
clean streets. Opening and widening
proceedings of fifty streets are pending.
This number should be increased. taking
in the more important thoroughfares in
the business district, for many of the
streets are too narrow to accommodate
the fast-increas traffic. Grading and
cement work has been ordered on more
than 800 streets. These facts and figures
are given that your honorable body and
the public may realize the rapidity with
which the city is expanding, and the
great demand upon the street and en-
gineering departments.
Wants Board Consulted
The board of public works is a new
creation by charter amendment voted
upon by the people. Having, as II does, |
charge of all the work in the street, |
building and engineering departments. |
it necessarily becomes the most impor-
tant of all municipal departments. |
Duties of the three members demand |
that they be in close touch with work |
being done They should best know |
what is desired and needed in the de-
partments coming directly under their |
eyes. During the past year appropria- !
tions which the board secured for Ger |
tain work were cut down many thousand
dollars by the city council raising
boards knowledge or approval. In a.
way it crippled work of the board.
Inasmuch as this board is responsible
for these departments and is called
upon to make estimates of eXpendi- !
lures, L respectfully recommend that
your honorable body consult. and, as
far as possible. work in accordance with |
views of the board particularly so far
as it might refer TO the increase of
salaries. While the board might favor
increases at certain time it certainly |
handcaps that body to Unexpectedly |
cut down its appropriations.
The chief inspector of buildings, in |
his annual report, makes a recommen- |
dation in connection with the building
ordinance which has my approval, and
I urge you to adopt it, He says it'll
would be of great benefit to the en-
ployes of the building department if the
city created a permanent board of ap-
peal, to which all questions not covered
by ordinance could be referred and de-
cided. A great many vexed questions
could be adjusted in this manner salts
factorily, and, al the same time, tend
to make the upbuildng OF the city
easier.
Another recommendation is the in !
stallation of laboratory for testing the
various kinds Of material in construc- |
ton of buildings, particularly cement
used in reinforced concrete structures !
Such laborato might save the city a |
disaster such as occurred at Long
Beach recently. Three inspectors in !
addition 10 the present force are needed. |
Two of these inspectors should be Sc
lected with a view of devoting such por- |
tion of their time as is necessary 10 /
theaters and public amusement places. !
which I am convinced should come /
directly under the eye Of some respon- /
sible person or persons.
Finances of Los Angeles
The stTictest economy should be prac- |
ticed by the heads of ali departments. |
This year, as in past years, il has ap- !
peared impossible 10 raise sufficient /
money by taxation TO meet the demands /
Of the growing city. Each year a deficit |
has been threatened before six months /
had elapsed. This year will be no ex-
ception. Therefore l caution all Of |
hcials to proceed with the utmost eau !
tion and economy.
There is need Of a reform in the book !
keeping system Of the auditors office. /
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