Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-24
STICK TO THE CONFEDERATION OF THE
HILLS.

The HERALD has given some attention
lately to the clamor to cut through First
street, and having found that the pro-
ject is in every way Objectionable this
journal enters its protest against any
such scheme.
The plan is for a grade of one in
twenty-five and tunnel. A great many
of our readers do not know what grade
of one in twenty-five means as applied
to First street. 1t would simply involve
a cut of about sixty feet-a rude and un-
necessary marring of beautiful section
of the city-and tunnel of about four
hundred and fifty feet. 1t would destroy
large amount OF valuable property and
disfgure the really grand and graceful
outlines of our city. In addition, it
would block the plan of the Cable Road
Company, which has made all its
arrangements to run up Grand avenue
from Seventh street, connecting from
First street at Broadway. The proposed
cut would be simply barbarous.
1t is advocated on the ground that it
is needed to assure to the business men
OF First street their legitimate share of
trade. When the TACT is borne in mind
that First street has the extensive re-
gions as tributary to the trade OF her
merchants of the northern and eastern
portions of the city it would look as if
she is sufficiently provided for already.
The not very large population of the
Cahuenga valley might very we'll be per-
mitted to reach the city by Third street
when the fact is kept in view that First
street commands the trade of the Te-
junga, San Gabriel and other valleys to
the north, east and south. 1t can
scarcely be claimed that that thorough
fare should engross all the approaches to
the heart of the city.
1t should be the aim of the people of
Los Angeles to avoid as much as possible
interfering with the natural contour of
the hills. Such eminences, properly
handled, are really elements of beauty
in city. Treated on the terrace plan
they add indescribably to the attrac-
tions of places like San Francisco and
Los Angeles. In the former city the
legislature at one time authorized the
cutting OF Second street through Harri-
son and Bryant streets. The result has
been disastrous in every way, and the
experiment has not been repeated.
1t is quite true that the means of COM
munication from the western hills and
the Cahuenga valley ought to be in
creased. This can be done to the great
est advantage by tunneling Third street
BY such plan, on a tunnel four hun
dred feet long, all the population west
OF the city can reach the business center.
If they prefer to deal with the merchants
sof First street all they will have to do
will be to turn northeast two blocks
This is certainly no great hardship.
By this plan there will be no isolation
of any valuable property, no ugly de-
facements OF lovely natural eminences
and no interruption of intelligent plans
of cable road extensions. The street
will enter and leave the tunnel on an
easy and practicable grade.
There are fiat cities in the United
States, like Philadelphia and Chicago,
which would give millions of dollars for
the noble hills which are destined to
form the most attractive portions of the
residence quarter of Los Angeles. In
stead OF marring their sightliness, we
should aim to preserve and embellish
them. Scared by deep and ugly in
dentations they will be eyesores instead
of things of beauty and joys forever.
Our people ought to profit by the ex-
perience of those of San Francisco.
Second street and those portions of Har-
rison and Bryant streets affected by the
legislative cuts have been tabooed from
that day to this. Let us make no such
mistakes. The greatest cut that should
be admitted is a grade of one in ten,
such as prevails on Hope street, between
Fourth and Fifth. That is practicable
and easy grade, and one which will
neither destroy valuable property nor
mar the natural beauty of our hill sites.