Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-13

IL, and when it is not benefit to the
,ublic it should die and be buried ant.
not suffered to cucumber the path of
the people in their onward and up
ward march. In granting exclusive
privileges, the greatest caution is re-
Iuired. The very act of soliciting an
exclusive right to do thing implies
that the solicitors may intend to take
such advantage, by virtue OF that
right, as will enable them to exact
from the people an unjust and Oppress-
i've recompense for the capital employ
ed in the business.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The condition of the streets, cross
ings, and sidewalks of city is gener-
ally looked upon by strangers and Wis
itors as an index of the enterprise and
thrift of its citizens. The present exc
cradle condition of ours would, fear,
cause strangers to form an incorrect
opinion of our really enterprising and
progressive people. Therefore earn
estly call your attention to their con-
ditiOn, and recommend that you take
steps to have our charter amended so
as to be able to remedy this evil at
once.
Our fortunate exemption from fires
should not cause apathy, but should
ncite to the adoption OF all the means
within our power to guard against
their outbreak and for their extin-
guishment when they shall occur. 1t
is said that the Water Company has
not fully complied with their agree
ment to place hydrants at the street
corners. There is necessity for
greater supply of water and hydrants
from which water is procured to ex-
tinguish fires, and the safety ofproper-
ty requires that attention to this mat
ter should not be delayed; and it is
worthy of your consideration whether
sound policy does not require more
rigid inhibition to the erection of
wooden buildings, at least in the most
compact parts OF the city,. ~se-gs.' z
DANGER OF A CHANGE IN THE RIVER
COURSE.
BY ain immutable law, the river of
Los Angeles will at some day, and that
day may come upon us in the next
few weeks if left by us to follow its own
course, sweep through the central
portion of our city, washing away the
homes and hopes of hundreds Of our
citizens. If such calamity should
befall this place, in our day, we would
not be. held blameless if we should
make no effort to prevent it, and l
should feel culpable, and that had
not discharged my duty, If 1t should
appear that had failed to urge upon
you the Importance of attending to the
matter. And I would earnestly rec
ommend for your consideration and
adoption of some measures to obtain
the best plan which science and our
pecuniary means can procure for effi-
cient protection against loss and dam
age by the overfOwing of the river or
from a change of its way through the
city.
TO avoid an expenditure upon de-
fective plan, it might be worthy of
your consideration whether it would
not be economy to offer liberal pre-
MUM, one that would provoke the
engineering skill and genius of the
county for the best plan, for a perma-
nent safeguard against a change in
the river way. ~ a'7- ~-a-
If it should be found that power is
lacking, the city authorities to legally
make the offer of this premium, I
would recommend that steps be taken
to obtain from the Legislature now in
session that power, as well as such
other power as might be necessary to
provide the ways and means to carry
the plan into execution when it should
have been adopted by the city. 4
A plan for the best and most eco
nomical improving of our irrigating
system might be arrived at in the
same manner. 8it I'LL
MUNICIPAL LITIGATION.
Litigation is a costly business and
should be avoided whenever practica-
BILE, and more especially by o niuni-
cipal corporation, which generally
comes out of the case the plucked
goose If the money which Los An
geles has unprofitably expended in
lawsuits since its incorporation had
been judiciously drawn upon for the
settlement of the cases in which it has
been involved before the courts, her
rights would undoubtedly be as little
impaired and there would be, doubt
not, a large balance in the treasury to
the credit of the city. I would, ac-
cordingly, recommend that in all cases
threatening litigation the spirit of
conciliation should be invoked, and
all proper means called into requisi-
tion to secure settlement without re-
sort to the legal tribunals. l8oieIG
AS it is my duty so it will be my
chief ambition to cooperate with you
in each and every measure which has
for it's object the welfare and the pros
perity of the people and the growth
and good name of city so generously
endowed by nature.
Very respectfully, ~
J. r. ToBERMAN, Mayor.