Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-23
a GENUINE LEAP YEAR.
How to Demonstrate 1t The Needs
of the Day. and the Time to Ac-
conplish Them.

complish Them.
The eopious rains that have softened
the dry and rugged roads have given the
people the opportunity of improving the
highways at small expense. This is
especially noticeable in the firm, solid
land ON the high mesas east of the river,
where heavy rain makes the grading
easy and rapid. A few days since the
HERALD contained notice that II the
City Council would fill the ravines along
the avenue leading TO the Evergreen
Cemetery and beyond to the city line,
the land owners would grade the street
in proper manner. Thisis the cheapest
way TO get this job done and altogether
the quickest. Why do not the authori-
ties take advantage of the situation aud
grade the streets in stiff land while the
soil is soft from our recent rains!
Within the next thirty days this fine
avenue could and should be made. 1t is
time the city had one good highway to
the city limits, convenience which they
have not yet achieved. There are no
good graded streets through and out of
the city. Why not make them now
when thousands and tens of thousands
of people are coming to our city and
diising along our thoroughfaress Make
the streets 50 attractive an agreeable
that they will be perpetual advertise.
ment of the city, be praised abroad and
become permanent Recommendation of
the spirit Of the people.
Our streets, like our skies aud climate,
should be unnvaltd. There is no use or
sense in postpsning the grading Of these
great highways, north, south, east and
west, moment longer. And especially
when the property holders agree to make
three-fourths of the improvements at
their own expense it seems the proper
thing to let them go to work and make
the street as rapidly as possible. In
conversation with some gentlemen yes
terday, reporter of the HERALD was
informed that each and every one Of
them would peremptorily refuse to even
die in the city. if they could be warned
in time 10 get ont where their coflined
bones could be carried over graded
and shaded highways to their rest be-
meath the daisies.
Los Angeles cannot afford TO postpone
the making of leading highways any Ion
ger. The city has passed the stage of
childhood and is now old enough and
rich enough to furnish all the convent
ences Of metropolis.
In wealth and business it is the second
city in the State, and should show lib
eral policy commensurate with its wealth.
While Oakland has larger population
during the night than Los Angeles, dur
ing the daytime there are more persons
in Los Angeles than in Oakland, and there
is more money in this city than
in that, and no reason in the world why
there should not be as good or better
highways here as there. A public spirit
should be cultivated, aud high-toned
determination to make this the most
lovely of all the cities of the coast, should
pervade every member of the City Gov
ernment, and, in fact, every member of
the population of our city.
With these glorious rains and the
new lie and energy and business pros.
perity which they bring, the people of
Los Angeles can afford to be more than
generous in identifying the city. Let
every man who can, plant tree, a
flower or hedgerow, and make per-
manent walk, aud see that the street,
the alley and the yard of his premises
are made pleasant. cleanly and beautiful.
There shonll be noble and dignifed
strife in this matter to do all that c. IN be
done to make this city the model city of
the Union. As 1881 is called 'Isap
Year, We hope to see tae p ople make
leap for gool roads, good streets beau
tiful scenes of comfort and elegance, SO,
that all can see not only an ordinary
year of progress iu 1884, but such pro-
gress in all that is for the good of the
people, that hereafter everyone can say
that 1884 was veritable LEAP YEAR.