Year: 1874

To attain this end, the best practical
plan for accumulating and saving the
surplus of Winter should be adopted,
and the plan which will enable US to
convey the water to the land where il
is needed for irrigation in Summer
with the least possible loss, should be
sought for. j am informed that If
properly saved and utilized the water
from the Los Angeles river will irri-
gate %, 900 acres. / would respectfully
call your attention to the Importance
of increasing our irrigating facilities
and would recommend that you give
the subject of economiZing and in
creasing our water supply your early
attention. Various plans for conduct
ing the water to our gardens, groves
and fields have been suggested, but as
all are expensive and some impracti-
cal, would suggest that before active
operations are commenced one or more
competent engineers be employed with
instructions to carefully examine the
subject in all its details and submit his
plans for your consideration. A work
of such magnitude and Importance,
Involving such heavy expense and in
which so many are interested, should
only be undertaken after the most
careful deliberation and patient inves-
tigation.


POLICE FORCE. ''


AS we are becoming somewhat me-
tropolitan in character and as we now
require the services of considerable
police force, l would suggest to your
honorable body the Importance of
making that branch of the municipal
power as distinctive and efficient as
possible. ~~a


HEALTH OFFICER.


/ Iam of the opinion that the money
absorbed in tho salary of a competent
and efficient Health Officer could not
be more advantageously expended.
The peculiar and rapid growth OF our
city has entailed many and serious
defects in the way of drainage and
sewage, which it is high time should
be remedied. / believe it u part of
your duty to invest same one whom
you deem competent with the powers
of Health Officer and TO direct him to
proceed as rapidly as possible without
too serious Inconvenience and expense
to citizens, in the task of abating the
many drains and cesspools which now
offend the eye and nostrils of citizens
and visitors and endanger the health
ofall. / trust that the appointment
of II Health Officer will be one of the
first labors of the new Council.


HiG FIXING SALARIES.


To prevent discussion and remove all
grounds for dissatisfaction, j would
recommend that you definitely fix the
salaries of all city officers. The Gus
tom of voting an officer extra remun-
.r..fi 10 iu,< l,r
breach than the observance. The
precedent of voting public officer
increased pay once established may be
carried to extremes, but in all cases it
is calculated to excite suspicion ON
the part of the people that the public
funds are being lavishly handled. The
exact remuneration of an officer should
be definitely fixed and at no time dur
ing his term of office should it be
either increased or decreased. The
pay of one of our city of1icials-that of
Asscssor-has been the theme of no
small amount of discussion, and / trust
you will take such steps as will effect
ually settle this question.


A DETECTIVE OFFICER.


1t is we'll known fact that one of
| the first items of information acquired
| by thieves and others who prey upon
| the public, on their arrival ia a city is
who are the guardians of the peace. A
shrewd thief or burglar before COM
mencing work always informs himself
as to who are policemen and what are
their detective powers. The secret de-
tective is the man whom these evil
doers dread above all others, and as
our city is sassuming dimensions which
attract the attention of this class of
people, would suggest the propriety
Of employing a competent special de-
tective, who shall be under the juris-
diction of the Marshal but not required
to perform regular police duty. The
services of such an officer seems to be
necessary to the protection of life and
property in all cities that have attained
the proportions of Los Angeles.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE PLAZA AND


.t"~"1t'2 PARKS.


Up to this time little or no attention
has been given to improving the city's
property. The plaza and public
squares which a small outlay would
have covered with trees and dshrubbery
and thus rendered attractive resorts
and pleasure grounds for the people,
are now but barren wastes. In country
and climate such as ours, where trees
and plants indigenous to- the temper
ate and tropic zones will flourish in
the open air, there seems to be mo
reasonable excuse why cur public
squares should remain. bare, unat-
tractive grounds. The pleasurable
task of commencing the work Of con-
verting the plaza and public squares
into attractive landscapes and shady
avenues, will, 1 hope, be Commenced
by you, gentlemen.


II ijlI| p. BEAUDRY, Mayor. g