Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-31

Gilman
EDITOR HERALD; As there are many
plans for levee to protect the faires'
portion Of our beautiful city, permit me
to suggest renewal of plan proposed
by me two years ago You have recon-
mended part at least of same in your
editorial columns. At my request
committee was appointed by the Council
to interview the s. p. r. r. Co. concern
ing the removal of their tracks from San
Pedro and Alameda streets TO the river
front. The able Manager, Mr.. Towpe,
did me the honor TO admit incorresponli-
ence with the Council s'that there were
many points in the proposition worthy
Of consideration. The R. r. Co. hav-
ing franchise on said streets they could
not be compelled TO move without com
pensation, but as they would have extra
facilities for hauling material 10 protect
themselves and the low lands Of the city
we could well afford to compensate them
10 lands now worthless to the city but
made very valuable by such arrange
ment. The experienced gentlemen
of the Railroad Company know
that at no very distant day they 1.-THE
company will be subject to restrictions
regarding speed and fiagmen at street
crossings as population and traffic ins
crease, and By placing yiaducts over the
tracks at each bridge. Nothing would
interrupt them on the river front.
Could such an arrangement DO accom-
plished, with proper guarantees from
the railroad company, q grand boule-
ward from Downey avenue to The city
limits, lined on either side with fast
growing trees, should be feature OF
the plan. I do not propose to go into
details regarding the width of the
channel, but leave that IN the hands OF
compstent engineers.
And now word for the much abused
and misreprseen Council: Two years
ago Tor later L, with several honorable
gentlemen Of the Council aud ouf able
City Surveyor, Capt. Knox, traversed what
was nicknnmed the river-bsd, from Dow
nsy avenue to First street. Above Ma
cy street, instead Of the river going quiet
iy in said bed, 1t was gently but
surely meandering around ridge or
delta, covered with willow, brush. &c.,
that blocked its way. 1t was no use to
tell the little stream to climb up said
ridge because It was official, SO we
concluded the first inducoment to that
end would be to remove the ridge and
place it on the weak points along the
river bank. Accordingly, men and
teams were set to work, under two fore
mon, to strsighten and deepsn the chan
mel, and that is where the money went
it was all done by day work, and !
never heard Of any one making . cent
they did not fairly earn. Our best en-
gineers say that all extra deposits from
extraordinary foods will still have to be
removed, so am yet Of opinion the tax.
payers money was judiciously expend-
ed; and II that ridge were not re.
moved I think no man living could
venture to say what the conse-
quences might have been. The little
crossings built on wooden stills
had to be replaced with bridges. and
though the last was by all odds the
greater food. the bridges stand monu.
ment TO the honor Of the company that
built them, and our engineer that
planned them. / have trespassed too
much ON your valuable space. but these
'.told you so" folks have been not only
uncharitable but ignorant in their criti-
cisms. My only surprise is that flood
which played such havoc with the water
company's piling should have dcue so
little damage. II ever the covered
bridge gets into the channel no person
could predict the result. We want
good, substantial lsvee and the r. r.
Co. have the facilities for transporting
the material. So renew the effort, gem
tlemon of the Council, and let the critics
howl--"A man must serve . time to
every trade, but critics are already
made" Very respectfully yours,
D. M. McGARRY.