Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-06-20
A GREAT IMPROVEMENT.


The opening OF East second
street Notes Da the work.
A reporter Of the HfRALD yesterday
inspected the important Improvement
recently inaagurattd ou East Second
street by Messrs. H. w. Mills and NJ.
l.. Wicks, already nearing completion.
BY the enterprise Of these Two gentle.
men Los Angeles is soJn 10 have an.
other great thoroughfare lea Ting from
the heart Of the city to the iine section
east OF the river, ana considerably
shortening the distance TO town from all
points in the southern portion OF the
county. The completed portion OF this
great work comprises the opening of
Second street from Alameda street to
the river. This was accomplished by
the purchasing OF nearly all the land
required. involving in large number Of
cases the removal and changing OF
houses, and other obstacles OF which the
mere PROJECT would have discour-
aged most men. From Alameda street
to Georgia Second street gradually wide
ems from sixty feet to eighty, and from
that point to the river it is all the way
eighty. The tract owned by Mills
4 Wicks in this nelghborhood
embraces fifteen acres of the
Laughlin orchard; the east one-half
OF the Bliss property. fifteen acres; the
Huber vineyard OF IL acres, and about
one acre of Mrs. Bigelow's property.
Through this property Mayo street will
be extended from Wall street to Huber,
and will then be known as East Third:
aud Fourth street will also, in all prob.
ability, be extended to Huber. Thus
these avenues will open up most de.
sirabie portion OF the city, making it
few minutes walk from the center OF
town. Lots in this part are now offered
for sale, and on Second street range in
price from 500 to $500. At these
prices there can be no dOnbt they will
prove an excellent Investment, in view
OF coming improvements. Already lots
to tue value OF $4,000 have been sold
in the tract Mr.. NJ. l.. Wicks. OF the
firm, after visit to the East, in which
he made thorough investigation Of the
Baltimore electric road. has come back
fully satisfied that the system is in every
respect the best adapted to this section,
and il has been determin ed to, as soon
as possible, construct one from Main
street along Second street and Stephen
son avenue to the city limits. The
road will be built and hand
somely equipped and when completed
will make East Second one OF the prin-
cipal business streets of the city. 1t is
In many respects superior to First for
business, and year or two will see a
wonderful change. Messrs. Mills h
Wieks own mile of the river front |
from Seventh to First streets and it is
quite possible that the terminus Of the
San Gabriel Valley railroad will be ex-
tended TO their tract. At all events it |
will soon be extended to First street. A |
number Of substantial Improvements are |
in progress on the tract, the principal |
being the construction Of large brick
tea warehouse on Third street. Other |
buildings are contracted for and there
will sooa be great building activity in |
this neighborhood.
From Alameda street to Main. Second |
street is to be sixty feet in width and
will be open sometime next month. 1t |
passes through the property of Don
Juan Bernard, the Davies property. Mrs. |
Woodsworths orchard. the Barrows
place, the Weinshsnk place, d strip of
land which belonged to the Catholic
Church. the property at present occu.
pied by the Grange House, the prop
erty occupied by two small
cottages on Los Angeles street. connect
ing at Main through property lately be-
longing to MIR. Glasssll. All this it is
expected will be accomplished before the
first of August, and in order to com
plete the good work, the Baker foundry,
at the corner Of Second and Main, will
be removed so that the street may be
the full width.
1t will thus be seen that by the energy
of two men, and wholly at their own ex-
pense, in short time, work has been
accomplished which, if left to the city
government, judging from past expert
ence, would perhaps not have been com
menced within the next decade. The
citizens Of Los Angeles have to thank
Mills & Wicks for an improvement
which promises to prove one Of the most
important the city hos ever known.
When the electric road, now assured, is
in running order. and the other i'm