Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-03-20
We should Put Our House In
Order.

In view Of the tremendous excursion
Of Knights Templar, which will dis
charge upon California multitudes OF
the most finished gentlemen in the
United States, accompanied by their
families, during the coming Summer,
our people would do well. in the several
municipalities OF the State, to put their
affairs in order. There are a great many
scenic points about San Francisco which
rise to the dignity Of the picturesque,
but they can only be reached over streets
which are simply execrable. and which
recall the meanest municipal days Of
Chicago-the era in which that at pres.
ent superb Western metropolis was
sort Of enterprising "dug-out' kind OF
town. The capital Of State which hns
contributed more than a billion and
half Of minted dollars TO the channels OF
trade ought to be ashamed to be left
without either gas lamps or streets.
Having created rather neat thing in
the Golden Gate Park, the people OF our
Pacific Coast metropolis have neutral
lied their good work by leaving the
avenues by which access is gained to it
In horrible condition. The humping
which one encounters along country
corduroy road is as nothing to that
which the visitor to San Francisco ok
periences in seeking to reach a park
which, in its inchoate stages, is credit
to that city and to the coast. The thing
from which the Golden Gate City and
the Golden Gate Park are principally
suffering is deafening demagogic howl,
which paralyzes all efforts at improve
ment. When that people got rid oi
Denis Keorney they by no means threw
eff the incubus Of demagogy. 1t is to
day thoroughly entrenched in quarters
which excite our surprise, and which
ought to be ashamed OF giving counte
nance to mere irrational howls. Econ
omy, and judicious expenditure of thu
municipal money, are by all means de
sirable, in San francisco rs in Los An
geles and elsewhere, but there is such I
thing as carrying matters to
dangerous extreme. Before the ten
OF thousands of Knights Templal
reach this coast we ought tt
compose our little municipal squabble
aud put our principal cities into such 1
shape as will reinforce their natura
attractions in securing the approval o
the visitor.
The hints which we intend for San
Francisco should BIO awaited of by GU
own people as we'll. Why should w
not start in upon street-making cru
sadeg We only need little attention
to this subject to make our young cit.
the most attractive spot on the Ameri
can continent, as, confessedly, it is natur
ally. We have plenty of time to max
an immense stride in local improvements
We can at least afford the gratifying
spectacle OF thorough sidewalks an
roadways from the Pico House to tn
junction, along both Spring and Mali
streets, which would admit of crafty
ing promenade to any one but profes
sional pedestrian. 1t is estimated, OF
good authority that during the cominI
encampment of the Knights Templar, a
least thirty thousand people will visi
this Coast. Most of them will, eithe
coming or going, stay over in Los An
geles for few days. Here is the cue t
put our best foot forward. Ii our pee
pie shall fail to do so the HERALD vii
simply be inexpressibly disappointed AM
disguised.