LOS ANGELES CITY (MACY STREET)
Los Angeles River
December 23, 1876: "We have been requested to call the attention of the authorities to the fact that the covered bridge at the foot of Aliso street is made the nightly rendezvous for vagrants, who assemble there in great numbers and keep up drunken carousals far into the night. Since the recent attempt to outrage a little girl at that point, the whole neighborhood is in deadly fear, and no woman or child will venture across the bridge after night-fall without an escort. There may be--as we have no doubt there is--many worthy men in our city who are willing to work, and who have no means to procure regular lodgings, and who have to take such coignes of vantage as the bridge and the willows afford for a night's rest; but we are assured that a large proportion of these people are tramps, who gather together at night and produce bottles of liquor with which they keep up hideous orgies. The public should receive protection from these vagrants, and a policeman should be stationed at the bridge to keep it open to the safe passage of the people who live across the river." (Los Angeles Evening Express)
January 29, 1877: "Jose Juan Valenzuela, the man who attempted to ravish a little girl near the covered bridge some days ago, was to-day sentenced to five years in the State Prison." (Los Angeles Evening Express)
February 26, 1877: "A great deal of fast riding has lately been done by parties crossing the covered bridge. Officer Keller yesterday stationed himself at that point and arrested five men for violation of the conspicuously displayed notice in regard to speed while crossing the bridge. They will have a hearing this afternoon." (Los Angeles Evening Express)
March 4, 1879: "Board of Supervisors meeting: Proposition of London, Liverpool and Globe Insurance Co. to insure covered bridge at foot of Aliso street for $10,000 for three years at 3 per cent. Accepted." (Los Angeles Herald)
February 26, 1882: "The Council met in regular session last night. The covered bridge across the Los Angeles river be repaired. Referred to the Board of Public Works." (The Los Angeles Times)
January 28, 1883: "The Committee recommend that the covered bridge be lighted by electricity its cost not to exceed $20 per month. Referred back to the Committee." (Los Angeles Herald)
February 4, 1883: "The Committee on Gas recommend that the lighting of the covered bridge be continued as at present. Approved." (Los Angeles Herald)
July 15, 1883: "The Mayor sent a communication to the Council: It has been suggested that the sum of $300 per annum can be saved to the city by removing the top from the covered bridge across the Los Angeles river, and thus do away with the necessity of a keeper, lights, etc., as the cover is neither ornamental nor useful, but rather a nuisance; and as, in my opinion, it can be sold for more than its removal would cost, I recommend that this matter be placed i the hands of a committee with power to act in the premises." (The Los Angeles Times)
July 22, 1883: "On recommendation of the Mayor in regard to the covered bridge, report that the bridge was built by the County Board of Supervisors; that the Board will transfer the bridge to the city, provided the Council will keep same in repair; that the Board of Public Works is of opinion that the cost of keeping the bridge in repair would largely exceed the annual charge for lighting the same, therefore recommend that no action be taken. Approved." (Los Angeles Herald)
February 19, 1884: "Because of the flooding the covered bridge on Macy street has sunk at least four feet and it was regarded to be in such a precarious condition that heavy vehicles were not allowed to cross it."
& "A hundred men were at work yesterday to save the covered bridge, which has badly settled in the middle, and to turn the channel away from the west bank into the center, and at last report were making good progress. The spectacle was dreadful along the river bed; houses, parts of houses, beds, bedsteads, bureaus, cradles, baby wagons, doors, cupboards, fences, gates, tubs, pails, brooms, chickens, pigs, horses, orange tree, and almost everything pertaining to a household that could be induced to float, was to be seen along the river side." (Los Angeles Herald)
February 22, 1884: "The work of raising the depressed portion of the covered bridge proceeded yesterday very successfully. Capt. Hargett had raised the bridge about two feet, and intendeds lifting it about ten inches more. As the bridge is raised the thousands of bolts in the structure become loosened and require tightening. This makes the progress slow but it is very sure. The elevation will be completed to-day.
It appears that this strong bridge was supposed to be set on a hard-pan foundation, and the piers, which were of concrete inclosed in iron tubes, all seemed on solid bottom until the recent storm, when one of the six piers settled down in the soft substratum about three feet. It is now supposed to be on a permanent foundation and cannot be further depressed. Capt. Hargett is raising this bridge under orders from the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. The Board took a leading part in the erection of this bridge and claims an ownership therein." (Los Angeles Herald)
May 25, 1887: "An application to the Board of Supervisors will be made at the next meeting of the Board to take the roof and siding off the covered bridge across the Los Angeles River, so that persons can see the trains which will be hourly passing in front of the west end of the bridge. At present the drivers of vehicles cannot see a passing train in its approach till it is close upon them. The roof would make a fine cover for a hay barrack and would sell for the cost of removal. At present the roof and sides are a source of danger." (Los Angeles Herald)
October 12, 1888: "Sealed bids will be received at this office until 10 a.m., October 19, 1888, for painting the following county bridges, ... Los Angeles City covered bridge.
Bids must specify kind or quality of material to be used.
The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
By order of the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County, Cal.
Oct. 8, 1888, C.H. Dunsmoor, Clerk (Los Angeles Herald)