Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-15
About Aurora street.
Los ANGELES, November IA. IS

IOc <AN0ELhc, ANOtOAlUOI 1000.
EDITOR HERALD: Let me congratulate
you for having taken up the Aurora street
matter. The facts in the case are that at
the time the s. P. Co. bought portion
of the Parbojal Tract the company was
we'll aware Of the fact that the public
owned that portion of Aurora street run
ming through the Parbojal Tract, but they
did not pay any attention to the rights OF
the people. They did not think it was
necessary to bother with the people. So
for it has been demonstrated that the
surmise of the S. P. Co. was correct.
Notwithstanding that two Grand Juries
have taken this matter up and made rec
concentrations that this street should be
restored to the public use, as there is no
connection between Buena Vista and San
Fernando street or Downey avenue for
over one mile and as the Southern Pa
ciic Company did not have any right
whatever, the city authorities have done
nothing substantially for the people.
The Mayor and Council have not even
required the Southern Pacific Company
to keep Aurora street open for foot trav-
elers. The Southern Pacific Company
has gone SO far as to put up notices
| warning the people from crossing, as
they would do so at their own peril, as
the depot grounds belonged to them and
no one else.
Under Article V, Section l, of the
Charter, it is the duty of the Mayor to
see that all ordinances are enforced
There is an ordinance to prohibit the OBJ
structions of streets. If q merchant
leaves few boxes of merchandise on the
streets more than two hours he is ar
rested and fined, but the Southern Pa
cifc Company can leave their cars
Tor over a year on street and
nothing whatever is done to give the
people its right. In the petition from
the Southern Pacific Company it is stated
that Aurora street would not be opened
as the grade on Buena Vista street was
too high. The grade as given by the
City Engineer to the Los Angeles Water
Company shows that this is not fact.
The petition u1ttermore states, any
use made of Aurora street by the public
would be attended necessarily with much
danger, as the company is compelled to
cross said street with several tracks, etc.
Who makes the danger, who authorizes
the Southern Pacific Company to make
the crossing dangerous to the public, on
property belonging to the public, and on
property which does not belong to q
private corporation? The answer only
can be that the Southern Pacific
Company, and the authorities OF
the City of Los Angeles, winking
at the action of the Southern Pacific
Company. The Southern Pacific Com
pany proposes to put up viaduct over
Aurora street, provided the city secures
the right of way for them. Certainly
the city will give them the right OF way
over the portion unlawfully taken posses
sion of by the Southern Pacific Company,
but let the company secure the right OF
way on the other portion of Aurora
street at their own expense. The South
ern Pacific says in other words, we have
taken possession of piece OF land be-
longing to the public, it hurts the public,
it damages them, but if they want re-
dress let them furnish the money to buy
the right of way for the viaduct for us.
And the city authorities look on the
railroad company is powerful, you know.
There is one thing certain that there is
justice in this county yet, and if the par
ties interested in this matter have to 20
to the courts that is if they are compelled
By the non-action of the Council to 90
to the Courts to uphold their rights
against this powerful Southern Pacific
Corporation, that the Mayor and the
Council of the city of Los Angeles will
have to 60 before the courts also to ex-
plain why they do neglect their duties
as officers which they have solemnly
sworn to perform. FIRST WARD.