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8 STREET WORK What Has Been Done tbe Past Year SUP. DRAIN'S SUGGESTIONS THE BOILER INSPECTOR MUST WAIT ANOTHER WEEK Adams Vacant Place to Be Filled This Morning—Water Conference Next Week—Notes The annual report of Street Superin tendent Drain to the city council for the business year ending November 30, was filed in the city clerk's office yesterday. The report is very voluminous, giving in detail almost all the information possi ble about the work of the street depart ment. The first part of it, in which the recommendations are made to the coun cil, is as follows: To the Honorable City Council: Gentlemen—l have the honor to submit herewith the annual report of the work done by and under the supervision of the street department, from November 30th, 1896, to November 30th, 18117, together with certain tabulated and written mat ter appertaining to the improvement of our public streets, which may be of mv v terest to you. ' In the consideration of this report it is Well to bear in mind the fact that the force of this department is entirely in adequate for the amount of work re quired to keep our thoroughfares In good condition. The extensive mileage of the streets of this city requires more than one laborer to each thirteen miles, and more than one team to each thirty five miles of streets, which has been about the average during the past twelve months. It is utterly Impossible tokeep the streets in the condition demanded by the traveling public with such an inade quate force, and the time has come when something must be done to remedy the conditions now existing. Without the co-operation of the city council no bat ter results can be obtained, and I earn estly urge that some means be devised to materially increase the force of this department. The matter of leaking fire hydrants jhould be taken up, and provision made for the proper care of the same. lam Of the opinion that this matter should be in the hands of the lire department, and I am certain that if means were pro vided it would receive due attention. The division of street work into differ ent departments is a matter the re sponsibility of which rests with you. The street sprinkling,, street sweeping md all work done on the streets belong In the street department, and should come under the supervision of the street Superintendent. By the present man tier of distributing the same much con fusion and question of responsibility Srlse, all of which is detrimental to the ivelfare of "'good streets." It is a question whether the same con litions exist in any other city in the United States, and it has certainly proved very unsatisfactory in our case. I would, therefore, recommend that all branches of street work be placed In tho Street department, under the supervi sion of the street superintendent, which will settle the question of responsibility t«f the care of our streets. In connection with the foregoing, I would recommend that the streets in the business district be swept by hand, and I am of the opinion that one man to each block could keep the streets in a condi tion satisfactory to the public. "The life of an asphalt pavement depends largely upon the sweeping and sprinkling It receives." The continued tearing up of pave ments for the laying of pipes, side con nections, etc., la responsible, in no small measure, for the condition of many of our paved streets, and some means should be provided making it compul sory for such work to be done before the resurfacing of Spring, Main and Sixth btreets. Another matter which I believe can be remedied by you is the tearing up Of streets by the railway companies for the repair of their tracks. Under the pres ent conditions no permission is neces sary for this work, and excavations are made, many of which are l»f t months be - fore repairing, thereby causing great annoyance and danger to vehicles. I would suggest that all railway com panies, like other corporations and pri vate individuals, be compelled to apply to the street department for permission to excavate in any public street, and that they be required to make a sufficient icposlt with such application to guar antee the proper and prompt repair of the same. In a recent report from this depart ment the number of street signs needed to properly indicate streets was given, and the locations for the same are on file in this office. It has been a number of years since tho present signs were erected, and the few remaining, with the many changes of street names, make it difficult, in some cases, for even a resident to loonte streets properly. I hope to see some action taken In the near future to remedy the present condi tion in this matter. 1 would also suggest that provision he made during the coming year for the construction of cross-walks, where need ed, throughout the city. In the eleven months of the present adminis tration 148 of these walks have b»en con structed, and it is safe to say that more than four times that number are neces sary to meet the present requirements of our rapidly growing city. During the past year this department has colllected more than $2000 for con nections that have been made with bonded sewers, and as no estimate can be made of the amount required for the repair of public sewers, I urge that this money be placed to the credit of the street department, to be drawn on as may be necessary for the repairing of sewers. More than $1500 has been ex pended in the past eleven months for this work, and unless fundi are provided it Will be necessary to cense these repairs. Itespectfully submitted, JOHN H. DRAIN, Street Superintendent. Then follow several long tables con taining- a statement of the expenditures and receipts of the department, the streets Improved and the contract work for each month of the year. The report closes with the following summary of the year's work: Grading and graveling, lineal ft.. 75,512.73 Guttering, lineal ft SS.OSS.fIS Cement crub, lineal tt ISMB3.SB Redwood curb, lineal ft 20,630.47 Crosswalks, lineal ft >..... 9,360.01 Cement sidewalks, square ft 461.945.12 Guttering, square ft 69.230.92 Asphalt paving, square ft 443.651.52 Porphyry paving, square ft 66,778.02 Sewer, lineal ft 46.042.74 Total cost of 1mpr0vement5....5439,882.59 MUST WAIT AWHILE No Fire Engine Inspection Just Now. Lively Commission Meeting As was expected. Boiler Inspector Dahl will have to wait at least another week before he gets a whack at any of the engines in the Are department for the purpose of Inspecting them. The mat ter came up at the regular meeting of the board of Are commissioners yester day morning. Chief Moore reporting that the demand to have an engine ready for inspection had been made upon him, and he had referred the matter to the commission. Of course, such a serious matter as a demand by the boiler in spector had to be considered carefully, and Commissioner Wells thought it would be wise to go slowly. He wanted to know if the inspections could be made without expense to the department and without endangering the property inter ests in the city while the engines were out of service. The matter was refer red back to Chief Moore with instruc tions to report at the next meeting just what the result of granting the inspec tor's demands would be. • The proposed ordinance regulating the storing of hay in tbe city was considered, and was sent to the city council with the recommendation that it be adopted. The ordinance forbids the storage of any hay in greater quantites than one thousand tons in Are dis trict No. 4; also forbidding the storage of hay in greater quantities than 250 tons within 150 feet of dwelling houses or other buildings; 125 feet is made th > distance limit for hay in quantities of 150 tons; 100 feet is the limit for hay in smaller quantities thar 25 tons; hay in less quantities than ten tons can be stored without reference to distance from neighboring buildings or permit. In all but the last provision the pro posed ordinance makes it necessary to secure a permit for the storage of hay from the Fire Commission. Judge J. N. Phillips appeared to urge the passage of the ordinance. He rep resented two hundred residents of the vicinity of where Lord & Co. are about to erect a large hay barn. They opposed the construction of the barn on the grounds that it would be a menace to their buildings. Mr. Lord, in his own behalf, took ex ception to the presentation of the pro test by Judge Phillips, and declared that the people he referred to had paid 50 cents or $1 each "to hire an attorney, and appear before the commission to miserably misrepresent the dangers to property. Then the discussion became hot, and for ten minutes it was give and take between the hay dealer and the at torney. The latter won the bout, for the commission recommended the pas sage of the ordinance. Mr. Lord will carry the fight to the council, and an other stormy time is expected. Chief Moore reported that the fire loss during the past week had been $110. There were but two fires. Permission was granted M. W. Arm strong to erect and operate a forge at Main and Macy streets. Scott & Loftus were given permission to operate a boiler and engine at Alpine* street and Hinton avenue. J. W. McCann's request for permis ston to conduct a blacksmith shop on Washington street near Main was granted. TO CONFER NEXT WEEK Council Water Supply Committee Desire* to Act at Once The water supply committee of the council, to whom was referred the mat ter of opening negotiations for the pur chase of the plant of the City Water company, sent the following self-ex planatory letter to the company yester day: Los Angeles, Cal., Dec. 29, IS9T. S. H. Mott, Esq., Secretary, City. Dear Sir: Your valued favor of Decem ber 21 Is at hand and hns been duly con sidered by this committee. Noting the desire of the companies you represent to enter into negotiations looking to the turning over of their plant to the city of Los Angeles, we beg to state that It would be fully In keeping with the de sires of this committee to meet any rep resentative whom the companies you represent may select to act for them at any time you may designate. It having been reported to our committee that it would be inconvenient to arrange a meeting during the present week we would now ask that you kindly set any day next week that would be convenient for your representatives to confer with this committee. Awaiting your valued reply, we remain, respectfully yours, F. M. NICKELL C. H. TOLL. E. L. BLANCHARD. Water Supply Committee. WILL TRY AGAIN Asphalt Tests Will Probably Be mads in This State President Mathuss of the board of pub lic works received yesterday from Wash ington, D. y.. the official notification that the government chemists could nr>t, under the rules of their departments, make the tests of asphaltum which the council desired to have made. The let ter is very brief and is in reply to one sent to Washington two weeks ago when the board decided upon the plan pro posed by the city engineer. Mr. Mathuss said yesterday that the board had not given up hope of having the tests made but now It would be nec essary to have the work done by some chemist in this state. It has not been decided who will be asked to make the tests, as in that matter it is neces sary to consult the asphaltum compan ies. These companies have each put $100 on deposit in the city clerk's office to pay the expenses of making the tests and now that the plan to have a government expert do the work has failed, some of them want their money returned to them. A NEW SCHOOL DIRECTOR Vacancy in the Board to Be Filled This Morning At a special meeting to be held by the city council this morning at 10 oclock, the vacancy existing in the board of education will be filled for the time that shall elapse before the special election in the Seventh ward for the purpose of filling the office until the next general election. Up to last night there were only two known candidates for the office, Bragg, who was nominated by the Democrats of the Seventh ward the night before, and Grubb, whose election was request ed in a petition presented at the last meeting of the council. It is certain that Bragg will receive the votes of th-j four Democratic members, but to be elected he will need another vote. His friends were certain of his election last .Wf used to spend an hour together, My New Year girl and I, Out In the crisp December weather, Making the snowllakes fly. night, .but they refused to state which one of the Republican members would vote for him. There is more than a probability of the appearance of a dark horse this morning. The League for Better City Government held a meeting yesterday to discuss the situation and the advisa bility of bringing out a candidate. Their decision will be known this morning. Upon the election depends the reorgan isation of the school board, which will take place at the meeting of the board to be held Monday night. Oppose the Reports Property owners residing along that portion of Fourteenth street upon tha work on which a commission recently filed a report of Its assessment of bene fits nnd damages, presented a protest yesterday against the confirmation of the report of the commission. Their reasons, as stated in the protest, are that their claims for damages filed with the city clerk were proper estimates of whnt their property suffered and that these estimates were Ignored by the commission. Don't Want a Change Two protests against the proposed changing and establishment of the grade of Flgueroa street from a point midway between Third and Fourth streets to Sixth were filed in the office of the city clerk yesterday addressed to the coun cil. They were signed by about thirty property owners, who object to the plan to be followed and also to the changes themselves. Big License Payment The Los Angel >s Railway company yesterday paid Into the city clerk's of llce Its license on all of its cars for the year ending November 30 next. The li cense on each of the cars Is $20, and as there are seventy-one In the service of the company the amount paid was $1420. Missing From Home The police department has been asked to assist in finding Charles F. Dorland, ; who wandered away from his home at 1119 North Griffin avenue at 6:30 o'clock Wednesday morning. He Is feeble ' minded, and will probably not be able to 'give his name. The following descrip tion was furnished by the missing man's brother, Chester P. Dorland: Age, 41 years; height, 5 feet 10 inches; quite stoop-shouldered; smooth face. When 'he left wore a navy blue coat and vest i and a pair of striped trousers. Was fast I seen in the neighborhood of Fifth street 'and Maple avenue. - - - Dead of Paralysis ST. LOUIS, Dec. 29—Thomas W. Sey mour, founder of the Benevolent Order of the Knights and Ladies of Honor and Grand Secretary of the State of Mis souri, died at his home at Maplewood, St. Louis County, today, of a paralytic stroke. He was horn in Ireland in 18;'-0, and came to this country when three years of age. Later Mr. Seymour moved to St. Louis, and in 1577 he founded Initial Lodge No. 1 of the order, which is now known all over the country. Austrian Politics VIENNA, Dec. S9, —An Imperial decree has been gazetted authorizing the gov ernment during the prorogation of Par liament to levy taxes and provide for the state expenditures from January Ist to June 30th next. An Assassin Committed LONDON, Dec. 29.—Richard Arthur Prince, the super who assassi nated William Terrlss, the actor, Decem ber 16th, was formally committed for trial today at the Bow-street Police Sta tion. The Old Way and the New A ... ADVANCE Old Chief Samory Needs tau Kan Fonlahmant PARIS, Dee, M.—The French, It la an nounced, have occupied Odlenne and Nallabatallga. tt la believd this Indi cates that an advance against Chief Samory Is Imminent Chief Samory Is a West African chief tain who, for over twelve years, has been the most dangerous antagonist the Eu ropeans have had to meet with there. After ten years of guerrilla warfare he was driven out of the Soudan, but he made a swoop upon the fertile region of Kong, a dependency of the French Ivory Company. Since then Chief Samory has repeatedly been heard from. In August last his forces surprised and routed a de tachment of French troops sent to oc cupy territory which, lt Is said, Samory had offered to vacate. A Bark Wrecked VICTORIA, B. Ci Dec. $9.—At mid night word was received from Tatoosh that the vessel reported ashore by Cap tain Debney of the Umatilla, was the bark Tidal Wave, Capt. Lancaster, which left Tacoma December 18, with lumber for San Pedro, Cal. She is now being towed into Port Townsend by the tug Sea Lion. All the bark's boats are missing, from which lt Is supposed that the officers and crew, fearing she was going to sink, put off and left her to her fate. As there has been very rough weather since the bark went to sea ten days ago. It is feared the boats and their occupants have been lost. The bark Tidal Wave was built at Port Madison twenty-eight years ago. and has nearly always engaged In the coast lumber trade. Her home Is at Tacoma, where she Is owned. Coinage at Denver DENVER, Dec. 29.—The books of the 1 United States Branch Mint for the year 1897 are now closed. The deposits of gold were the largest ever received. The total will slightly exceed $12,200,000, and a conservative estimate made by the mint officials places the entire output of Colorado at $22,000,000 In round figures. It Is claimed here that Colorado will go far ahead of California, as It is said to be doubtful if California's output will touch the $18,000,000 mark. Last year Colora do's output was $16,500,000 and that of California was $17,000,000, and the total product of the country was $61,000,926. The great increase in the Colorado out put this year will send the total of the United States to the $70,000,000 mark. A Show for Lawyers Ed Lloyd, the supposed owner of thi Confidence mine, has resulted In a pecu liar way. The Fresno Flume and Irriga tion Company dinms the property under a mortgage deed and a quit-claim deed from Lloyd, and has placed a man In charge of the mine. The Public Admin istrator, claiming for absent heirs, dis putes the deeds, and had a' man In charge. George Green, a creditor of Lloyd, was granted special letters of administration. Finally, James Smith of San Jose, a brother-in-law of de ceased, appeared upon the scene this afternoon and will claim the property in the name of his wife. Lloyd recently refused $10,000 for th mine. All Want Fish PARIS, Dec. 29.—Figaro today says the Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Han otaux, will convene an International conference without delay for the neu tralization of the Newfoundland Banks during the fishing season. December 26 Senator Peytral and Deputies Rieotteau and De Launay waited upon M. Hano ■,But now—how old It makes me feel— The New Year girl, up to date, {Receives me with her chaperone, i And a handshake for 'Ml tatt* tbtirg*ths hoWtaf <* ah Ntsraa tlonal conference for the neutralisation at Newfoundland Basks dvrtad Hssfish ing season. The Minister promised to give those Interested all the assistance la his power. THE RIPON WRECK Ths Third Man Implicated Caught at Napa STOCKTON. Dec. St.—The third man Implicated In the attempted train wreck ing and robbery on the Southern Pacific track hear Ripon in this county several months ago has been caught In Napa, and Sheriff Cunningham will go after him tomorrow. The fellow's name Is said to be Loupe. The other two train wreck ers, George Williams and George Schla gel, were sentenced to life Imprisonment and are now In the penitentiary. Williams waa convicted here, and Schlagel pleaded guilty In the hope of. be ing pardoned In a few years, as he was a tool In the hands of Williams. The train wreckers hoped to rob the train, but officers were on It, and In the shooting that followed a tramp, riding on top ot a car, was shot In the leg, but not seri ously hurt. San Francisco's Trade SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29.—Import* of merchandise at this port during the first eleven months of the year were 137,478,300 against $34,073,600 for the same time last year, and Included $8,668,000 from Japan, $6,458,500 from China, $2, --246,731 from Oreat Britain, $9,744,800 from the Hawaiian Islands, $2,635,500 from Central America, $1,600,800 from British Columbia, $1,687,000 from the East In dies. The Castillo Murder SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29.—Detec tives Gibson and Wren tonight arrested a Japanese named Ngal Tlshu and charged him with complicity In the mur der of Mary Costillo, who was shot and killed last Sunday night In a lodging house at 901 Sacramento street. Shortly after the shooting, Tlshu, lt Is claimed, was seen running from the house fol lowed by the murderer. A Famous Chemist BERKELEY, Dec. 29.—Prof. Wlllard B. Rising, Dean of the College of Chem istry of the University of California, has received the honor of an appointment as member of the American Committee for the Third International Congress of Applied Chemistry, to be held In Vienna next July, at which lt Is expected that most famous chemists of the world will be present Dead at His Desk LAFAYETTE. Ind., Dec. 29.—James Klrkly, treasurer of Benton county, was found dead In his office at Fowler at 1 oclock this morning. He was shot through the temple and a pistol was ly ing beside him. His own revolver was found In his desk. The drawers of the desk and the safe were opened and tho contents scattered about the floor. Glass Prices Advanced PITTSBURG, Pa„ Dec. 29.—The di rectors of the American Window Glass association. In session here today, decid ed upon an advance of 5 per cent In tho price of all sizes between 30 and 41, but It is understood that discounts have been arranged which will Insure equitable trade conditions. Gould's Grandson NEW YORK, Dec. 29.—Word was re ceived at the office of George Gould to day that the Countess Castellalne, form erly Anna Gould, gave birth to a son yesterday afternoon. ... •■ «*ssßjMsßssaas*s»aas-f i**i?' ->•,-,„•„,-. IspWlstssft ij ths Ship* hi NtstasMß • -WmMm- ■ .w-V,.' ' san Francisco, Dee. mX-vtm steamship Aoassalso, which arrived to- . day, reports having passed on TJadMn her ttth, oft Point Sur, tha hxttrtM*-. a vessel, apparently a aaheaa-sf, sstdsftiisV 140 teat long. This Is supposed tdtjitha. wrack ot the schooaar » Norah. run down on October Mad by tha Oanaan ship Rene* Rlckmers. The steamship Walla Waist aiftred today twenty-four hours late. , Sfw en countered head sea* and winds all tha way down, and the voyage was a' fight from start to finish. She brought down three of the wrecked Cleveland's crew, R. p. O'Neill, first assistant engineer, and two seamen. Peter Marlnl and Joseph Costa. O'Neill was on board the mate's boat, aad tea* . one of .the men rescued by ths Quadra, Captain Hall, with James Tyson aad Captain John Metcalt ot San Francisco, are still In the vicinity ctf the wreck. A HAYTIAN FIRE Port An Prinoe Suffers Vary Serious Damage PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haytt D*o.».— At 11 o'clock last night a Are, which as sumed considerable proportions,, on ac count of lack ot water to supply the pumps, broke out and destroyed MO houses, including- a number of ware houses, a hotel, the Church of St Jo seph and its parsonage. About MOO. peo ple were rendered homeless. This morn ing at 0:46 there was an earthquake, the disturbances running from north to south, lasting half a minute and caus ing slight cracks in the earth. Then were no accidents, but the populace waa greatly alarmed. Banker Foster Dead NEW YORK, Dec. 29.—Charles Man ning Foster, a well-known banker and broker, died at his home In this city last night, aged 44 years. With Henry Clews he founded, twenty years ago, the firm of Henry Clews and Company. He maintained his membership In the firm until his death, and he was for many years the Arm's active Stock Exchange member. A Dreyfus Defender CHICAGO, Dec. 2».—Mr. Adolph Mo ses, a prominent Jewish lawyer of this city, delivered an address before the as sociated lodges of B'nal B'rlth this even ing. In which he reviewed the evidence In the case of Captain Dreyfus, saying that the only conclusion to be drawn from it was that the accused waa Inno cent Remarkable Secresy The women members of a purity league over In Oakland are going to hold a "secret meeting" next Thursday even ing. We acknowledge the receipt of an Invitation to be present—San Francisco Post Extremes Having enjoyed the Christmas turkey and participated in the Christmas good cheer, San Diego will now return to the business of regulating the garbage cre matory.—San Dlegan-Sun. California Lemons Callfornta lemon producers now con trol the eastern market. The time will soon come when foreign lemons will be unknown In the United States.—San Die go Tribune. In the arctic regions there are 762 klnda of flowers, fifty of which are peculiar to the arctic regions. They are all white or yellow.