Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-27

CnuuADeF OF commerce. pFohluShl VI thc a@SS
Angeles Merchants and Manufacturers asso-
citation, president of tine Municipal league,
chairman of the Los Angeles board OF works,
and william Mulholland to act in an advisory
capacity to both the supervisors and the hlgh>
way commission in the matter OF letting con-
tracts for road improvements and making np-
pointments In filling any vacancy that may
occur upon the Los Angeles highway commits
sion the board OF supervisors agreeing not to
make such appointments or let SUCH CONTRACTS
unless the same shall first be approved by the
said advisory committee; and
Whereas, bonds for $4,000 600 were voted
at an election held July 80, 1908, in the county
of Los Angeles for road improvements; and
Whereas, we believe that 1t is only fair
that the selling OF said bonds be also submit
| ted to the said advisory committee; and now
Therefore, be 1t resolved, that this board
of supervisors refer the negotiations that nave
already been entered into with Adams & Co.
and the Los Angeles Trust company to the
above committee for Its approval"
Candidates Statement
And for the purpose of gaining the con-
hdence of the voter II. d. Mccabe. candi-
date for supervisor made the following
public statement, to wit:
LOS ANGELES, Cal, Oct. 20, 1908.
Messrs s. A. Butler, Chairman, and E. W.
Blanchard, Secretary, Good Roads Al
vlsory Committee
Gentlemen-Replying to yours of the 12th
| inst, in which you call my attention to the
resolution adopted June 49, 1908. by the
|
vlsory committee, permit me to say that at
the time Of the adoption of the resolution
| referred to l believed it to be wise meas
ure and one which inspired in the people a
| confidence that the moneys voted by them
| through the bond issue will be expended to
the greatest possible advantage
Although a candidate for the office Of
| supervisor is restricted under law as TO
| pledges which he may make In advance OF
| election concerning his prospective action
| on measures which may come up for con-
| slderation after his election, l think 1t not
| improper for me to say that If am elected
| to the office to which l aspire, 1t shall be
my purpose to consult with your committee
on questions pertaining to the sale Of bonds.
the letting of important contracts for ROAD
| improvements and the filling OF vacancies
| which may occur upon the Los Angeles
| county highway commission, so that may
ascertain your Views thereon, approaching
| as / do the fact that the advisory commit
| tee is composed of representative citizens
who are qualified in high degree to pass
| intellgently in advisory capacity on the
| matters mentioned, and am confident that
| through such cooperation of your commit
| tee with the board the best results Will be
! attained in the expenditure of the proceeds
of the bonds. Yours respectfully.
| (Signed) H. ID. McCABE.
| Los Angeles through her patriotic and
/ able representatives has gained the envi-
| able reputation of applying business methous
| to her public improvements
| The aqueduct under that able, honest ana
| fearless executive William Mulholland is
| being constructed from 20 to 40 per cent
| less than the estimated cost and bids sub
| mitted and in from 10 to IL per cent less
| time htan 1t was estimated 1t would take 70
| construct 1t.
| The government Improvements in San
Pedro harbor, under the direction or Amos
| A. Fries captain of engineers, is being as
sably handel. The breakwater, 200 feet
| wide on the bottom and forty-eight feet
| wide at the low water mark in twenty-slS
| to ffty-eight feet of water. originally in
| cd IN he long. by the appitCa-
| ton Of business methods with the original
appropriation will be made $3.50 feet long,
the dredging costing under contract a.
| cents is now being doneu nder direction OF
| the engineering department at cost oil
liz cents, which includes the cost of the
| dredger
Question Methods
These are the kind of results expected OF
| the highway commission and the board OF
supervisors. If your present methods are
| followed, will the people be disappointed
The gentlemen who conceived the idea OF
| the county constructing system OF perma-
| net highways were, we think you Will con-
! cede, actuated only by patriotic motives
| and they planned that in as much as the
| whole county must be taxed to pay the BILL
| that every section must have correspond
| ing benefit; no part of which could, however
be built within the limits OF an incorPo-
| rated city, but under which the city OF Los
| Angeles must pay, and by vote OF nearly
| three to one, she agreed to pay 81 per cent
| of the cost of construction of this system
| one OF the greatest exhibitions of patriot
| ism within the recollection of this commit
| tee and this confidence must be Justified
until the finish.
The proposition OF the promoters was to
| construct 800 miles at a cost OF $lO,0OO per
| mile and which was increased to 306 miles
| at a cost of s3500,000. We believe that the
| estimate of $4,000 per mile was ample and
| we so represented to the voters ana we
| have not changed opinion, and we now
| hal
| that with the same business methods as are
| applied in the construction of the aqueduc'
| and the harbor improvements that the peo-
| pie can realize their expectations, and have
| and enjoy BOG miles of permanent high
ways for less than the amount appropriated
| but 1t never can be done by your following
| the plan contemplated.
Take Up Ell Monte Road
The two and one-h half miles Of the FL
| Monte road that you now contemplate let
| ting the contract for at a cost of S22,14
| is not the most expensive portion of the sps-
| tenn, but rather among the cheapest portion
| and If this price is to be paid for this por-
ton you may look for no better prices ou,
| much higher prices will be demanded, and
| IL you insist on taking out of this fund the
| cost of unusual bridges, as you now con-
| template which are not considered IN oral
| nary road building we must fall way
| short of our mileage and which part of the
| county are you going TO deprive OF Its por-
| ton, and which part are you going to
favor? You must be ready to answer TINS
| question, and you must be able to show
| the taxpayers that you are not at the
| mercy of contractors
The amount of the bids for genuine compe-
| tion are unusually close in amount, and we
| do not wish to be understood making a
| charge of combination, but we do say that II
will require considerable explanation to satisfy
the people that there was real genuine compe-
| tition.
| Now, therefore this committee in the dis
| charge of its duty imposed upon it by the con-
hdence you obtained by its creation and your
| pledge TO the people to be guided by its coun-
| sells does make the following recommended
| tions:
Urge Reduction of Bids
| First-we do hereby recommend that you
| reject all bids and II bids have been accepted
| and contracts not signed. that you rescind your
| action and refuse to enter into a contract with
| any person. Arm corporation. whose bid has
been submitted, for the reason.
| First-That the price asked is excessive.
| Second-It sets dangerous precedent tof
future construction
Third-The bids submitted do not indicate
| legitimate competition.
| Second-We further recommend that mas
| much as this is but very small portion of the
great system and that 1t is located at the door
| of the great municipality who so magnaimousy
4 agreed to pay So per cent of the cost of the
| construction of the entire system, although not
| a foot of 1t was to be constructed within her
| Boundaries; that you direct the highway COM
| mission to construct this piece of road and
determine beyond experiment the exact cost OF
/ the construction per mile of the kind Of roads
contemplated to be built under this bond issue
| Third-We further recommend in the CON
| struction of the said two and one-half miles
| OF road that City Engineer Homer Hamlin be
called in consutation with the engineed of the
highway commission for the reason that his
| mastery and business-like methods employed
in the construction of the outfall sewer OF the