Annual report. [1905]

ANNUAL REP()IT ()OF THE MUNICIPAL BOARI).

21

track and overhead work for this section are completed, but the opening
is delayed pending the construction of the San Miguel Bridge, which
it is hoped will be finished by October 31, 1905. The operation of this
railroad lias materially reduced the cost of city transportation, many of
the vehicles which were formerly absolutely necessary having been taken
off as rapidly as the various lines were opened to traffic. Another saving
in the cost of transportation lhas been accomplished by the consolidation
of the land transportation used by tle Insular and municipal governments, under the direction of tile city engineer. On April 1, 1905, the
city engineer received by transfer all the transportation, equipments,
stock, and stables used by the Insular Government in Manila, including
that furnished the Constabulary and Insular Purchasing Agent. A transportation tariff was adopted and Bureaus or Departlments are charged
in accordance with the tariff for all vehicles used by them. This transfer
was made at a valuation of 85 per cent actual cost, under an agreement
by which the city was given a credit 1b the Insular Government for the
purpose of this purchase or so-called transfer. The city thus incurred
liabilities to the amount of T2:45,0(6O. Tile payments made thereon for
the last three months of the fiscal year amounted to p27,552.71. At this
rate the debt should be canceled in about two years.
The work of filling tile moats was placed under the direction of the
office of water supply and sewers, and on January 27, 1905, the first
survey work was commienced and plans were nade for three outfall
sewers, one discharging at the west end of Calle Baguimbayan into the
lba and two at the west approach of the Bridge of Spain. The filling
was colmmenced on February 12 and completed on May 18, 1905. The
dredger of the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Company employed in excavating the new harbor of Manila was connected to a 24-inch steel pipe
extending along the south side of the reclaimed area to the moat,
and branches were laid from this as the work progressed. After the
moats had been filled the dredged material was pumped to the low lands
on the east side of the Bagumbavan Drive between the city hall and the
building known as the old post of Manila. The old estero of the athletic
field, extending from the Luneta to Calle Nozaleda, was also filled. This
new ground is gradually settling. The moats are still subject to partial
inundation from high tide and heavy rainfalls. As soon as the ground
hardens sufficiently to permit work the park department will commence
converting the old moats into grass plots and gardens, in accordance with
the plans to be submitted bA Architect Burnham. The total cost to the
city for filling the moats and low lands was P40,719.17. A considerable
amount of miscellaneous work in sewer and water-drain construction
was required as a result of the filling of the moats which had received
such discharge. This work is explained in detail in the report of the
office of water supply and sewers.