Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-16
LAY MILES
OF STREETS
AND SEWERS
LOS ANGELES PROGRESS IS
SHOWN IN REPORT
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS HAS
BUSY YEAR
outfaII Sewer Finished and Permits
for Nearly $t4,ooo,ooo of New
Buildings Granted--NeW
Laws Needed

The annual report of the board OF
public works shows this record OF rapid
growth for Los Angeles
Fifty miles of streets have been inn
proved.
Forty-five miles of SAINT ry sewer has
been constructed.
The outfall sewer has been finished
and is now in service.
Permits for TOO new buildings were
issued for total valuation of $13,S51,-
154.
The street department constructed
more than 500 cross walks.
The expense of the street department
was kept within the budget estimate
made b. the council year and a half
ago.
Streets Big Item
Inspector of Public Works D. K. Ed
wards, in summarizing his work, says
The new streets, as shown by the
engineers report = twelve miles OF
pavement and thirty-seven miles OF
oiled and graded streets-and the large
territory in the southwest, voted into
the city when the ''shoestring" terri
tory was added, together with forty-five
miles of new sewers, have largely In
creased the work for which this de-
partment is responsible.
During the year this department has
spent something like $4,000 for sprink-
ling graveled streets with oil.
Early in the season this department
purchased two compressed air flushing
machines. The use of these proved sc
satisfactory in cleaning the paved
streets that we have purchased two
more, and I am glad to say that we
are now able to keep the uptown
streets washed off and so nearly free
from dust that 1t is sometimes not
necessary to send the sprinkler over
the streets in the main business parts
Of the city for day or two after the
flushing.
Machine sweeping is being done
since July l on the per diem basis In
stead of by the area. This may not be
a saving in money, but Is more salts
factory because the department can
order the machines on any street II
desires to have swept, whether 1t is
swept every other day or once a week
The general condition of the city
streets is fair The extraordinary
amount OF street paving near the CEN
ter of the city and laying of large
sewer system in the southwest and the
putting down of pipe by the new gas
company, in addition to the demand
for enlarged service by all the utility
companies and the changes being made
by the street railways, make 1t exceed
ingly difficult to keep the streets in
good repair or the dust settled.
Legislation Needed
Some legislation is needed along the
lines now contemplated, with reference
to vehicles on the street. Not only
should there be some regulation as tc
vehicles standing on the street, ol
heavy wagons being driven through
the congested part of the city wheI
not necessary, but there should also bt
some regulation as to the weight OF
the load that wagon should carry
with reference to the width of the
tire.
Some stricter ordinance with refer
ence to putting store sweepings and
paper boxes and bags and other rub
bish on the streets should be enacted
If possible, this department should
be put in position to enforce better
care Of sidewalks in the residence dis
tricts, especially in front of vacant
lots.
A number OF storm sewer districts
should be formed and storm sewers
built that the street main ntenance de-
partment might be relieved of the ex-
pense resulting from washouts and the
annoyance of complaints which come
to us on account of pools of water that
form at many points in the streets and
on private property.