Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-07
The Buena vista street cable Road.

NC Abueha siStd Street CaDle Road.
EDITORS HERALD-The question is not,
as "Citizen" imagines, whether electric
or cable cars are "noiseless and inno-
cent" They may be as noisy as the
steam cars that throng San Fernando
street; as obnoxious as the cars that
make Aurora street a switching yard :;
yet, if the public convenience demands
this new use of an old easement or new
mode of using it, the courts have decided
the question against the obiectors.
Science changes modes and reforms in
ferior uses of things.
OF course there are objectors to every
new use of au old easement. When the
city fathers of Boston proposed to pave
the streets, abutters objected that the
roadsides would be destroyed for pastur-
ing their cows. the highway was then
called "the long PASTURE" and was gem
orally SO used.
Umbrellas were opposed in England,
because they frightened horses. So
they did, till horses got used to them.
Carriages were opposed by the bearers
of Sedan chairs. Because some noble
ladies scratched their noses, two CEN
turies ago, by inadvertently running
their heads through the then novel glass
windows OF carriages, Pepys gravely
says, in his diary, "surely, such accidents
will hinder the use of these dangerous
glass coac aes." When, even, "horse
cars" were proposed in Eastern cities,
drivers fercely protested. Accidents
were reported land every horseman knows
many horses, which now face steam To-
comotives, were once afraid of "horse
cars" and that. to many horses,
not suddenly opened umbrella
is terror. Yet Citizen "
now advises horse cars, to which his
horses are of course accustomed, and he
probably uses an umbrella. So let him
take heart. An electric car on Buena
Vista street cannot be more terrible than
a dozen steam locomotives on San
Fernando street, San Pedro and Ala
media, which thousands of horses pass
safely. Citizens" dreadful picture of
"a strange looking, buzzing motor
meeting team" is rather pale compared
with the reality of steam engines in the
above named streets. His notion, that
an argument, drawn from public con-
venience for an electric road in one
street is an argument for "steam locomo-
tives in every street" is extravagant in
fact, though plausible enough in theory.
The greatest public convenience and
constitutional law must settle the ques-
ton of use, no matter how many old
uses are touched. But, according to
"Citizen," every outlet, but this to the
east only, is invaded by cars. Why
should this street be exempted from the
common lot OF easements, unless because
it is his favorte drive, or charter for
road here might injure some other plan
A God of mercy is behind this ques-
ton. Animals have been tortured by
man long enough. A new era of kind
ness has begun. Let alone the clouds of
dust full of dried animal filth, the strug.
Cling for seat, the long delay at turnouts,
the sluggish walk OF over-laden brutes
the mere humanity of electric or cable
cars ought to prevent "horse-cars" in
Buena Vista street, because the horse
cars must also receive in addition to the
resident travel, and the Pasadena or
Garvanzo travel from the proposed
electric or steam cars, all the
pleasure travel to and from ''Elysian
Park" For, this park, though now neg
lect ed, is worth visiting by every tourist
and every citizen for the supreme beauty
OF its prospects and the walk over the
crest ridge of all its hills.
We may agonize horses, spoil Buena
Vista street With dust and filth, disgust
all passengers by discomfort and delay
yet the necessity of some conveyance for
masses of people is imperative; and
horse-cars cannot accommodate the park
travel, the AUDITORS travel, and the travel
OF fast and roomy connecting lines.
PUBIIC CONVENIENCE