No person shall, without an express permit in writing, previously obtained in each and every instance from the superintendent of streets, make any excavation in any street or alley in the city for the purpose of laying water pipes, gas pipes, conduits, erecting poles or constructing railway tracks, or for any other purpose whatsoever, except such as are provided for elsewhere in this code, under a penalty of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each offense. (R.O. 1959, Ch. 36, Art. 6, Sec. 1)