Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-11
TO THE SEA.
A Boulevard from Here to
Santa Monica.
BUILT BY THE SUPERVISORS.
A Trip of Inspection Yesterday.
The Route of the ROad-A
Needed Improvement.

Ln6 county Oh LUIS AuRoioo haNo o09H 40
dustriously making history, and causing
themselves to be remembered for several
generations to come, by the construction
of boulevard from this city to the ocean
at Santa Monica. This is a project which
has been agtated in the press and In
public meetin gs for quarter OF CEN
fury. In the old time there was fairly
good driveway down to the sepulveda
ranch, which lays along the beach In
the locality where the pretty little water
ing place of Santa Monica is now stu
ated. Then came the railroad, which
took up the easiest grades and monepo-
lized the best opportunity for an outlet to
the sea. The only road which has ex-
listed since the Southern Pacific put in
its track, has lain alongside the rails OF
that line, in the 100 feet strip OF territory
which the corporation owns together with
its right of way. 1t has been merely
through the suferance and good will Of
the road that this drive has been allowed
to exist at ali.
It has been felt for long time that a
good drive to Santa Monica was one OF
the greatest needs of the county in order
that visitors might have an agreeable
trip to the seacoast and enjoy good
view of the country between, as well as
for the benefit of the residents who wish,
during the summer season, to ride to
place where the cool breezes blow eter-
nally. Private interest had been APP
pealed to in vain. The land owners
along the proposed route had almost
unanimously agreed that the scheme
was good one. The HERALD and other
newspapers, both of Los Angeles and
Santa Monica, had frequently agitated
the subject, but seemingly without much
effect. But all the while the Board OF
Supervisors had been turning the matter
over in mind and looking for chance to
accomplish the work at the least pos.
sible cost to the county.
A right-of-way was the first thing to
obtain, and it would be supposed that
the putting in of the boulevard would in
crease the value of the property on both
sides to such an immeasurable degree
that no difficulty would be experienced
in getting the needed strip of land made
over. The plan was for roadway 100
feet wide. The purpose was to make as
near an air line as was possible, and to
avoid the railroad track in order that the
road might be used by ladies driving,
without fear of mishaps from frightened
horses.
Most of the people along the route were
awake to these advantages, and made
very little opposition to the efforts of the
Supervisors. One of them, Mrs. Durkee,
the owner of the old Grid Dairy Farm,
which is now known as the Bonito
Ranch, not only gave the land which
was needed, but also donated 81 900 to
the fund for building the road. In the
case of Mr.. Higuera, it was necessary to
agree TO move back his house some dis
lance, but when this was arranged for by
the Supervisors, be cheerfully gave the
needed land. Sentous Brothers gave
twenty-five feet for three-fourths OF
mile. G. G. Sweetzer was active in en-
cheering the road through the town OF
Palms, and E. j. Vawter OF Santa
Monica quietly mapped out the route
into that town. Among others who
were liberal in their donations, Mrs.
J. J. Charnock should be men
toned. For some reason, perhaps
because his land is to some
degree involved in legal difficulty, Mr..
J. W. Wolfskill stood out against this
improvement o. the road, and to-day in
the effort to drive over the route mapped
out, it is necessary to go through bar
ley field where the road has not been
built, because of his determined cpposi-
ton. The Board of Supervisors finally
compromised the mater for $500 cash,
and now the right-of-way is secured
clear into the city Of Santa Monica.
The proposed boulevard-most OF
which is by this time matter of fact
actually completed so as to be visible
will begin in the city at the end OF
Washington street and go westward
through the old Cienega ranch and the
Los Buenos Ayres ranch, along the edge
of the Ballona. Beyond this is the old
San Vicente ranch, of which modern
santa Monica is part. Part OF the way
the new boulevard is in sight of the rail-
road, but in only one place is it near the
track. About mile this way from The
Palms the boulevard will run alongside
of the track for several hundred feet.
This is decided improvement on the
old road, which was nothing more nor
less than the "side partner" of the
track.
The grade of the new road is uniformly
easy, and will require very little ex-
pense to put in order. A large part OF
the work is already accomplished, 80
that anyone who wishes to drive to Santa
Monica can leave the old road short
distance out of town, at Coronel's, and
continue most of the rest of the way on
the new boulevard. AS the entire pro-
iect is not more than three months old,
the Board Of Supervisors has been very
assiduous in prosecuting the work. The
boulevard runs through the Supsrvisorial
district of A. E. Davis, with whom the
scheme is an especial pet, although all
the supervisors look upon it as very
worthy undertaking.
The length of the old road is nearly
twenty miles, and that of the boulevard
is about two miles less. When the work
is mpleted the drive to Santa Monica
will be easily made in an hour and half
or two hours. 1t is proposed to macad.
mize the road all the way, and to render
the grade as nearly perfect as possible
On each side pepper and eucalyptus
trees, flower beds and a green sward will
serve to beantify the landscape. The
Board will make a special appropriation
for eprinkling the road and keeping it
always in order. By the State law a
sum Of 25 cents year may be appropri-
atsd per mile Of county road for the plant.
ing of trees. For the sum OF $25 900 to
he paid at the end of four years, COM
pee 1t nursery man has agreed to put in
Is 600 trees along this boulevard and
keep them properly watered and cared
for Ia the end of that period