Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-03-23
No willows Need Apply.

,
Los Angeles river. between First street
aud the covered bridge, on Macy
street, or Old Also road. That
something should be done to make
strong bank to the river at that place
is evident to all who have examined the
locality at the time Of high water. and
noted the elevation OF the river bed and
the dangerous lowness Of the bank.
But it seems folly to strengthen the
bank with such hoodlum tree as the
willow. 1t is quite true that it grows
rapidly and without much care, but it is
like everything else that costs nothing,
nearly good for nothing. 1t is lopsided
and loaferish in its habits. sprouts up
from seeds and roofs, and falls down
into the channels of streams. stopping
the flow Of water with its ugly brush,
making driitwooa dams, thickets Of
nettles, reeds and PUSHES, and a covert
for snakes and all manner of noxious
little animals and insects dangerous to
fruit.
A just regard for the interest Of the
fruit growers of Los Angeles should
impel the people to exterminate
every willow tree from the limits
Of the city. Willows are the nur-
sery of untold millions Of caterpil-
lers, moths, plant lice, beetles and many
worms that prey upon our orchards and
vineyards, and should be declared out
laws and cast into the fire. The tree is
ugly, the wood is soft and of but little
value, and the seeds scatter sprouts all
abroad where there is moisture enough
to make them germinate. They are a
source OF miasmatic disease and pro-
moter of throat affections from the
downy substance thrown off in the
blossoming season. In this respect they
are nearly as bad as the cottonwood,
which has been demonstrated to be
breeder Of miasmatic disease.
1t is time now to put forth intelligent
efforts to make Los Angeles great,
beautiful and attractive city We want
no cow paths hedged by willows, but
beautiful avenues lined with trees, ever
green and odorous with healthful
fragrance, instead of the ugly willow
and sitting cottonwood that pollute so
many OF our cities and villages. That
the river channel should have metes and
bounds all will admit, but those bounds
should be made with wisdom, and made
of permanent character.
For beginning, rude stone wall OF
boulders, Of which we have vast sup.
ply, should be made along the west
bank Of the river. Behind these the
sand which is now too abundant in the
river bed should be thrown, to deepen
the channel. With this sand the vast
quantities of stiff earth that is daily
being excavated from the grading in the
hills and from cellars, should be thrown
and mingled so as to make bank solid.
strong and permanent. on which should
be boulevard of four miles in length
On each side of this highway should be
planted double rows OF eucalyptus trees,
from which enough wood could be gath.
cred annually after five years. to keep
the rosd and wall and river bed in perfect
order. To plant this boulevard would
require but 10. $50 trees that would cost
but trife. These trees, after five
years. will yield 500 cords of wood an
nually, that would bring in net rev.
enue of $1,000 every year after paying
the expense Of cutting and measuring
If larger sum should be deemed nee
essary to expend in excavating sand
from the channel, an additional row Of
trees could be put on each side making
an income of $1,000 year. This is
plain business proposition and a plan
easily carried out, and one that would
make necessary road into thing Of
beauty and profit. and furnish strong,
safe bulwark against any future over
flow Of the river, which is now liable to
happen after any heavy rainstorm.
For three winters in succession the
rainfall in Los Angeles has been very
moderate so that the current Of the
river has not been strong and rapid
enough to carry beyond the city limits
the vast amount of sand that has been
brought in from the steep grades above
the town. As a conssspence the bed of
the river has been steadily rising till it
is now from Eve to fifteen feet above a
large portion OF the most valuable por-
ton OF the city. This is dangerous
condition that should DO changed at the
earliest opportunity.
After three years Of moderate rainfall
we may have downpour for 1883 and
"a, as we have often had after similar
seasons in the past, and now is the time
to make levee and boulevard that shall
be effectual and self-sustaining.
There are no engineering difficulties
in the way. The land is now useless
where the leyee should be made, the
surplus earth could be all put in there
from our excavations, the stones would
be out of the way in a wall; the euca
Iyptus trees would shade the road and
protect it from crevasses, besides paying
for it in short time and protecting the
inhabitants from malaria, while the
highway itself would be great thor
oughfare removed from all lines of rail.
way. and connecting our great groves
and vineyards in the central part of the
city with the depot on San Fernando
street.
| Such a road we need, but no more
willow trees. gentlemen of the City
Council, for we have too many of them
now as blot and plague spot on the
face of our beautiful ity.
| 1t is time to take broad and enlight-
ened views Of this matter aud make for
the swift coming future arteries for
business that shall be ample for the hun
bred thousand people that will soon live
in this Queen City of Angels.
Let the people do now that for which
posterity will bless them and nothing