Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-02
A Just COMPLAINT.


EDITORS HERALD-Never was there
town whose citizens were so unscrupu-
louslv robbed by those in authority, as
this fairest and loveliest spot on earth.
One of the latest schemes is to cut an
eighty-foot street through our property,
from East Twenty-third to Jefferson
street, under the absurd pretext that the
"public convenience requires it,"
although its proposed line is only a hun
dred yards from Main street ON the
west, and about 300 yards from Maple
avenue on the east. Cannot those who
wish to walk or drive to town take a
half minutes walk to either street with
out confscating our homes to make
another street? Look at the miles of
streets we have already, overgrown with
weeds, without sidewalks, or shade
trees, never watered by day or lighted
at night, and think of the utter folly of
opening another street to share the gem
eral neglect, and to the loss and ruin of
many poor people who have paid ex-
travagant prices for these sub
urban lots and built their little
homes upon them, not dreaming that
the city council could or would order
them to vacate on such q pretext. "But
are these unfortunates not to get dam
ages for their lots ?" Yes, damages of
which the despoilers are the Judge, and
usually Offset by the imaginary benefits.
One poor, weeping woman was told
"You may get $500 for the twenty-six
feet we take off your lot, and that will
leave you better off than you are now,
for you can pay off the mortga, v ith
it," Pray what use would the other
half OF her lot be to her? If we must
support gang of lazy street commits
sioners, why not use the money they
propose to filch from us to improve and
beautify some OF the streets already
open? 1t will spoil sixty lots between
Twenty-third and Jefferson streets to
make this Improvement"
Can we have the conscience to ask our
eastern visitors to buy lot and make
their home among us, when we know
not how soon q reckless and irresponsi-
BILE council may confiscate it, or so cover
it up with assessments for street work
as to compel the owner to abandon it?
And why must this outrage be COM
mitted in this boasted land of freedom?
Because member of the council will be
benefited, or thinks he will if new
street is opened to his land some four
miles from town.
AS his brother councilmen must help
him to rob and despoil us, SO they do
not hesitate to call upon him to help
them in such schemes, which are going
on all over the city. What a shameless
exhibition of greed we had in the coun-
Gil chamber last Monday, when
Mayor Hazards veto was over
ridden and the protests of
the property owners on Broadway were
ignored, because one man is not ashamed
to use his official position to benefit
himself and further his own interest to
the injury and detriment of his fellow
citizens.
When public convenience requires
that Broadway be extended north or
south, we will discover the fact without
his assistance. When we think of the
millions of dollars taken from our pockets
every year in the shape of taxes, and
nearly all of it divided among the court
house ring, it is a lasting shame and dis
grace to every one who participates it,
to those who order it done and to those
who tamely submit to it, for the remedy
is in our own hands.
Turn the rascals out. A VICTIM.