Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-19
CLEAN
FIESTA STREETS
BOARD OF WORKS ANSWERS
CRITICISMS
Mayor Harper Tours the City to Learn
Exact Conditions, While coun-
ell Pushes the Good
Work Along
3 o 9 @@@%@%@~% 100000
5 PROMISE GOOD STREETS
. IN LESS THAN MONTH


10 IN LESS THAN MONTH Z
o
O with reference to paved streets (.
@ down town we expect to have them Z
o In n fairly good condition in less (.
@ than four weeks. and in this con- Z
@ nectiOn will state that since De- z
o cember last we have had to ex- (.
o pend nearly $4,000 in resurfncinx z
@ streets that the city hns accepted (.
@ by ordinance, owing to their &
@ wretched condition. This was &
g done under contract and has made {.
@ big hole in the repair fund. e
20 The Inspector of public works IL (:
@ in constant communication with Z.
q the railway people, urging them to e
@ prosecute the repair work on their e
@ lines with the utmost diligence, G
@ and is assured by them that they &
O will do so. 9
@ We are also refusing to issue G
@ permits TO open lines for cOnduits G
@ In the paved streets down town, g
@ which could not be restored with G
@ i'm n short time and before the 6
@ Fiesta. 9
o The above was contained in a g
@ public works and adopted by the G
q council yesterday. G
@ o @%%%@@@%~ 100000 Q
Mayor Arthur c. Harper, who has
taken up the good streets campaign
in earnest, yesterday spent much time
automobiling over the city to learn
the condition of some Of the thorough
fares.
Though reports are coming in from
the police, taxpayers and others in
response to the request of the mayor
for direct reports concerning the streets
he prefers to give them personal at
tention by seeing the worst places.
The board of public works yesterday
presented to the council a statement
of the situation with the promise that
the downtown streets will be in good
order for Fiesta week.
The following is the report which the
council adopted:
No Increase In Force
"The board of public works respect
fully calls your attention to the fol-
lowing facts in connection with a rec
ommendation made this morning that
your honorable body authorize the en-
ployment of additional teams and driv-
nance and inspection.
THE appropriation made last August
for this bureau was based upon an
estimated increase in the street force
of about 10 per cent to meet the con-
increasing work in the street
department.
Shortly after the appropriation was
made the laborers' wages were in
creased about 121s per cent, but no
additional appropriation was made by
the city council to cover this increase.
On this account and also on account
Of the anticipated deficit in the outfall
sewer fund the department has sought
to get along without materially in
5reasing it's force.
December January and February
have been very wet months and much
Of the labor of the department has
been expended in keeping the cross
walks cleared off and mud hauled
from the downtown streets.
During this prolonged wet spell
traffic could not be held back and the
Did graveled streets were cut up worse
than in many years. The heavy down.
pour of rain within the last thirty
days has guttered out many of the
streets and undid much of the work
that had been previously done by the
department.
Rainy Season Nearly Over
1.-The rainy season is now probably
nearly over, and the department is
first giving attention to the most i'm
portant traffic streets, on which work
is being pushed with the utmost vigor.
with the present force it is i'm
possible to get most of the streets in
fair condition before the date of the
next Fiesta.
''In the past years the street depart
ment has, under emergency provisions,
put on a score or more of teams for
a month or two in the spring to help
out the regular force.
I'VE are desirous of not exceeding
our appropriation. and, if the ordinance
We're more flexible, would employ a
greater force now, and, If necessary
to keep within the appropriation, cut
the number of teams and laborers
down later on, unless your honorable
body should deem it best to increase
the appropriation.
This we cannot do without author
ty, under the construction placed upon
the law by the auditor, hence we have
asked that we be authorized to employ
twenty additional teams and drivers
Tor thirty days.
THE department. will also need a
lumber of additional graders, as we
ind much more work can be accom-
plished by the use of graders than
by hand labor. These, however, we
Will endeavor to obtain under our
present appropriation.
Hire Twenty Teams
The board was also authorized to
hire twenty additional teams with
drivers for thirty days, as follows:
I'm order to get the streets of this
city in satisfactory condition before
Fiesta the board desires authority to
employ twenty additional teams with
drivers for a period of thirty days,
the said teams to be used on oil wa
gons. graders and other street repair
appliances owned by the city. We
therefore request your honorab BILE body
to adopt a resolution OF authorization !
by which the board may employ the
said twenty additional teams under |
the emergency provisions of the city |
charter"
Professional Zeal
"A policeman is the most IoVal ~ |