Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-19
The Hill Residents Oppose
the West-Enders.
They Want a Grade of One
Foot Rise I'm Ten Feet.
A Statement of Their Side of the
Important Question.
A Strong Opposition to the Grade of One
in Twenty, and the Reasons Why
1t is Not Desirable.

A large number OF the residents of the
first range of hills west OF Broadway met
Saturday evening in Judge Austin's
court room, to form an organization to
secure the establishment of one in ten
grade for First street. Judge Brouseau
was chosen chairman and j. NJ. Quinn
secretary. The name selected was the
Central Improvement and Protective AS
sociation. The objects of the association
was stated to be to secure the improve
ment of the hills between Temple and
Fifth, Broadway and Pearl. A commit
tee consisting of F. A. Gibson, McKoon
L. Bixby, Alfred James and j. H. Stew
art was chosen to draft constitution
and bylaws and to nominate officers for
the association. A resolution pledging
the association to one foot in ten grade
for First street was passed unanimously.
The resolutions following were unani-
mously adopted, and committee ap-
pointed to secure their publication. Al
ter considerable discussion of ways and
means to defeat the establishment of
one in twenty grade for First street, the
the association adjourned to meet next
Saturday evening.
WHEREAS, Certain parties resident on
or near the line of First street, in the
western part of the city, who are advo-
eating grade of one in twenty for that
street, have, through the columns of the
daily papers, in printed circulars, and at
public meetings, made statements in re-
gard to the grading of said street that,
we believe, are misleading, and have
published estimates of the cost of open
ing said street that are based on no reli-
able data; and
WHEREAS, Said parties have, by every
means in their power, sought to infiu-
ence public sentiment in favor of the
grade that suits their interest and con-
venience, without regard to the rights
and interests of those who differ from
them, and have attempted to excite pre-
judice against the residents on the first
range of hills west of Broadway. who
oppose their measures, by representing
them as obstructionists-as few aristo-
Gratis ''perched on an unimportant hill,
who obstruct the just demands of the
many to 60 through said hill" and have
threatened to use their political infu-
ence against any city official who op-
poses their measure; and
WHEREAS, The statements, communi-
cations, resolutions and arguments of
our opponents have been published in
full by the city press, whilst our side
has not had hearing; therefore
Resolved, That we, the Central I'm
provement Association, in convention
assembled, ip justice to ourselves and to
the public, request the publication Of
the following statement, which is in
tended to refute unwarranted asser-
tions made by our opponents and to de-
lend the position we have taken against
a measure which, if carried through, we
believe would result in great injury to
our property and financially ruin many
of the property-holders in the district
affected by it.
manding the opening OF First street on a
grade, it has been publicly stated by
population of 5000 are demanding an
entrance into the city by First street,
and that there are ''ten square miles of
the city hills without traffic grade
leading to the business center.'
that there is large population on single
block OF twenty lots on the "unimpor-
tant hill'' than there is on both sides OF
First street from Pearl street to the city
imits-a frontage of over $4,000 feet
which, if all subdivided, would make
1900 lots. The ratio of vacant lots tc
those occupied in the the area contigu-
GUS to First, west of Pearl, is about 200
to l. The ratio of assessed values shows
even greater disparity. The assessed
value of the entire frontage Counting a
depth back 120 to $50 feet) of First
street, from Pearl to the city limits,
(23,500 feet) is $78,300. The assessed
value of the frontage from Broadway to
Pearl $500 feet) is $157 ,130. The area
contiguous to First street is less than
two square miles.
Secondly-The cutting down of First
street to depth of from 80 to so feet be
tween Hill street and Pearl practically
makes tunnel of it for distance Of
1000 feet, or nearly one-fifth OF its en-
tire length, thus cutting off access tt
that street through the most populou
district aligning it.
Again, between Canal street and the
city limits west there are number o
cuts varying in depth from 9 feet to A
feet. These will prevent access to tn
street throughout considerable portion
of the western end, and will render tn
land worthless to the residents on tn
line of it, The cost of grading dowr
these lots to make them accessible t.
the street will exceed the value of tn
land.
Third-The cost of a one in twent,
grade. Such grade will leave Firs
street a succession OF cuts and fills
Nearly every cross-street from Broad
way to the city limits will be cut off a
its intersection with First street by pre-
cipitous banks of earth. To bring thes
streets to the grade of First will requir
an outlay on the cross streets equal t,
the cost of grading the western portion
of First street.
In circular advocating a one il
twenty grade, which was circulate
broadcast throughout the city, after giI
ing the engineers estimates from Broad
way to Canal, $163,631, and their ow
of $50, 900 for grading from Canal stree
to the city limits, the authors of thi
circular add, that with damages t
property the total cost of opening tn
street may be increased to $3.50, 900
$1,000 for damages ON frontage OF owe
five miles of such a street, is simpl
preposterous. The engineers. in thei