Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-05
The FirSt-Street Grade Ordi-
nance is Vetoed.
The SecOnd-Street Cable Fran.
chise to be Forfeited.
Big Petitions Relative to the Sunday
Closing Question.
The Park Propositions-Illinois Associa'
ton License-The Position of
the Treasurer.

ing, PRESIDENT FranKennelul IN the cnalr,
and Messrs. Bonsall, Brown, Van Dusen,
McLain, Summerland, Wirsching,
Shafer and Hamilton present.
The reports of the various city officers,
as published in the HERALD, were read
and referred to the finance committee.
The city clerk asked whether he
should keep the checks of unsuccessful
bidders until the contracts are approved.
Mr.. Wirsching said that it was the in
tention to do this, tor in case the lowest
bidder did not take the contract the
next lowest bidder could be awarded the
contract.
Mr.. Shafer said that the rule worked
a hardship upon the bidders, for the
checks might be retained for weeks and
months. He thought that the success
full bidder should leave his check until
the contract is approved, but the unsuc-
cessful bidder should not be compelled
to leave his check. They should be
allowed to withdraw their checks.
Mr.. Van Dusen moved that the city
clerk be instructed to return all checks
to unsuccessful bidders as soon as the
award is made. Carried.
An ordinance of intention to establish
the grade of San Fernando road was read
and adopted.
An ordinance of intention to change
the grade of Hope street from Twenty
third street to Adams street was read and
adopted.
The city engineer recommended that
the space between the curbs at the inter
section of Main and Spring streets be
3D.. I 4 30
plot. On motion of Major Bonsall, the
superintendent of streets was instructed
to construct sidewalk there.
Specifications for a bridge across the
Arroyo Seco were referred to the bridge
committee.
The city engineer estimated the cost of
disposing of the food water at Elliott
street at $4,000. Received and filed.
ent for two additional inspectors was
referred to the finance committee.
The names of the deputies appointed
by the pound-master were referred to the
finance committee.
The report of the city attorney as pub
lished in the HERALD, was read and
adopted.
Mayor Hazard returned without his
approval the ordinance of intention to
establish the grade of First street on a
basis OF one foot rise in twenty feet.
The ordinance was accompanied by the
following message:
In returning the ordinance of intention to
change and establish the grade of First street
from Broadway to the west city line, without
my approval, regret that your honorable body
should indorse that policy which looks to the
removal of our hills and the wanton destruc-
tion of the beautiful homes thereon, which
nave been the pride of our city, at an enormous
expenditure of money the payment of which
is to be enforced by the levy of assessments on
the adjoining. property, the owners of which
dsclaim any benefit to be derived therefrom. |
speak advisedly, because in answer to my in
quiry to those advocating this cut as to what
was to be done with the overhanging walls, no
provision having been made by them in the es
innate of cost. they openly declare that they
did not intend to construct retaining walls; that
the cost of the same had not been taken into
consideration because the same were 1mprac-
ticable and would never be built; that being so,
the hills must practically be put on grade
with the street. Now, if our hill property is so
Objectionable that it must be brought down to
level with traffic grade, why is IT that settle
ment, improvement and appreciation in value
hugs to and climbs over the hills instead of
spreading out over the vast extent of vacant
level land adjacent, on which there is already a
'traffic grade" not only of one in twenty. but
practically level.
Those owning business property in the city
will no doubt be greatly gratifed to know
that they are to be assessed about one-fourth
the value of their property to further extend
traffic.
But business does not seem to run off in that
direction-rather inclines to follow the hill
portion of the city than that portion which is
level and on traffic grade ii the first row of
hills was removed it would tend inevitably to
draw the business from the present locality to
the foothills, which would then be still further
west, and the traffic would then as now have a
tendency to hug the hills and leave the prop
erty that is now occupied tenantless. This i'm
provement would not increase business, but
business
new business property when created must be
utilized, if at all, at the expense of the prop
erty now being used for business purposes. I'm
der the present condition of business new
block does not necessarily mean new business
house, but rather another empty store; and the
imposition of tax on the empty store is an
example of the justice involved in the prosecu-
tion of this work by the levy of an assessment
on Broadway, Spring and Main streets to di-
vert business therefrom westward through the
hills.
1t must be manifest to one who contemplates
the ultimate effect of this traffic cut through
this range Of hills that these people are entirely
right in tnat it will result, in the course OF
time in the removal of the first row of hills
because of the magnitude OF the retaining walls
which will be required in this case. They are
impracticable as well as expensive, for soon
as this canal is cut through the hills those liv-
ing thereon would naturally abandon l. their
hillsdes, falling banks and blocked street
and in my judgment the street would never be
travelled let alone be a traffic street, because ii
could not be kept open until the adjoining hills
were removed for who would venture into a
succession of cuts with large overhanging walls
and dark tunnels, aggregating nearly half a
mile in length, with no means of getting out
until the other end was reached and hardly
room enough therein to turn around? This
dangerous long, narrow and, at places, dark
passage would not be used until these hills
were removed, and to accomplish this work OF
spoliation years would be required, during
which time this canal would marx the center
line of one of the most desolate and forbdding
places in Southern California
Councilmen, spare the hills!l
The vote whereby the ordinance was
adopted was reconsidered.
Major Bonsall moved that the ordi-
nance be adopted Notwithstanding the
objection of the mayor Lost by a vote
of to 4.
Mr.. Brown moved that the ordinance
establishing the grade on basis of one
in ten be taken up.
An ordinance was read, but it was
found that it had not been prepared by
the city engineer. 1t was referred to
the board Of public works.
A message was received from the
mayor urging the council to acquire
about forty acres of land in the vicinity
of reservoir No. 5, East Los Angeles, foi
park purposes. The land belongs to
/. w. Hellman, who would give the
city contract to convey the land at any
time, providing the city paid interest on
tho mn rob 90 prica a Tho rofa Of z paI