Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-08-11

The projected new bridge over the
river at Buena Vista street Is enc Of the
most important enterprises before the
public. The only way to reach the CEN
ter Of the city for those who live in East
Los Angeles, the Glendale country.
Sepulveda and San Fernando. the Yer
dugo, Arroyo seco. Highlands, Garvan.
20, the greater part Of Pasade-
ma, the ALEXANDRA and San Gabriel, Is
via. the Downey avenue bridge and San
Fsrpando street, passing directly by the
new depot, and the great g.. p. Cos oar
yard There are nearly three SCORE trains
a day going in and out OF that depot.
Besides these, all the switching. making
up trains, kicking out cars and the other
aptitity incident to such great traffic Is
dpnA there. At times half o dozen en-
glnhs are to be seen in q bunch waiting
I'd witch In or out Of the round-house.
There may also be seen four or five trains
coming in or out almost simultaneously
under certain circumstances. Through
ths same street pass two lines Of street.
cats, making trips every ten minutes--
thtlt is, car passes ON an average Of
egiry two-and half minutes. To one
vito ct times watches the four street.
cslb pass, the half-dozen engines
switch, the three or four big trains 90 in
an out, aud the crush of carriages, ON
nibubes, farm wagons, buggies, express
wagons and hotel coaches from half
SCORE houses, 1t must seem no less than
: miracle that thus far there has been no
accident about the new depot. No
thoughtful person can help holding his
breath a. he passes, in the expectation
that now the long threatened csta-
strophe il to be enacted before his eyes.
The greatest peril is of course to the
vehicles and their occupants. There
are so many OF them, and trains, en-
gines and street cars all claim the
right Of way. 1t Is another instance of
the right founded on no better basis
morally than that Of might. But II
that basis Is weak in the sight Of Heav-
en-, 1t Is very strong in the light Of facts.
The lack Of moral right in the aRgrsssor
IL q poor consolation when a mans arm
or leg is broken.
The new bridge proposes to make
safe way for pedestrians and vehicles.
The viaduct passes over the river above
the railway, out of all harms way. Il
IL fine iron bridge, constructed after
the, most approved principles of engin-
eerinp. MI. Vslsir has been at great
pains to procure the plans, estimates
and other matters preliminary to getting
the bridge built. At its last meet
ing tho Council voted $4,000 for
the construction OF the viaduct.
That sum is altogether insufficient for
the purpose. The city has done more
than Its share in this appropriation, and
now 1t remains with the other parties in
interest to make up the deficit. The
bridge can hardly be put up with all the
preliminary and accessory work for less
than twice this amount. Where Is the
rest of the money to come from, First,
the Council has ordered the s. P. Co. to
put gates ct this crossing aud ut others.
This the railway people will probably
disregard, or II thsy do obey the man
date Of the city Solons it is safe
to say the public will sue to have
the nuisance abatsd. The railway will
put one person to move six gates on
San Fernando street. They will put
one 1t Buens vista. When the trains
are coming these gates will be closed,
and the unhappy clerk, Fastening to
open the store in the morning, or the
more unhappy matron hurrying home to
cock the beefstesk aud onions for din
nsr, will be held full half hour for the
gate to open and let the street car pass.
All along the line there will Re six or
eight cars similarity laid out ON switches
waiting for the next one to pass. How
long will 1t take for the whole
community to rise up and cry aloud for
the abatement OF the nuisance But II
the com pany avoid putting up the gates
on the ground that it is obstructing the
streets, they will be forced to put flag
msn at the crossings TO warn the public
Of danger. The maintaining OF q man
at the Buena Vista street crossing will
entail great expense on the company.
1t would be vastly better for them to
contribute handsomely for the new
bridge. The Southern Pacific Company
is expected to give not less than 5000
for that purpose. The Los Angeles and
Ban Gabriel Valley R'y is also interested
and will probably contribute half as
much as its big rival. Then all the peo-
pie up along the valley to San Fernando.
up the verdugo, along the Arroyo seco,
the Highlands, Garvanzo, Pasadena, the
Alhambrs and the Mission are more or
less interested and will probably open
their hearts with their purse-strings and
give towards the lacking SIS, 00c 10 make
the viaduct all it should be. 1t is all
high above the river. with long spans,
and can never be affected by high water.
The work ought to be done at once and
thoroughly.