Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-29
A Tour of the Proposed Belt
Boulevard.
Interesting Information About
the Various Parks.
Park Commissioners and Their Guests
Inspect the Road.
The Plan in rxtsnsc 3 Long but En-
5oyab1e Drive-Personnel of the
Party-rhe Scope of the
Enterprise.

An official expedition Yesterday ex-
plored the route for a city boulevard
connecting all the parks, as proposed by
his honor Mayor Hazard. The party
was composed Of Eve teams, each fur
nishing the locomotive power necessary
to move two intellectual heavy-weights.
The first was the thoroughbred pair of
A. III. Denker, Maxey and Mack, with
Mr.. Denker and City Engineer Dock
weller behind it. The second team was
Mayor Hazards Dandy, with borrowed
unknown, Don being unable to 60 be-
cause he had no shoes to wear. The
mayor had his Fidus Achates, w. W.
Robinson, as companion.
The third outfit was that of Billy
Llewellyn, who had charge of the
HERALD flyer. His thoroughbreds Doc
and Bess were naturally in the lead
whenever a street occurred along the
route. and both Mr.. Llewellyn and the
HERALD reporter were especially
covered with dust and glory
in the Roman chariot race on the
Seventh-street home-stretch between the
spans of Messrs. Llewellyn, Hazard,
Howard and Denker.
The fourth team was a scrub pair
driven by Secretary Howard of the park
commission, whose guest was Col. W. &.
Taylor. Superintendent Tomlinson was
driven in . buggy by Park Commissioner
Hutton, behind the latter's fast trotter.
The day, as every one knows, was de-
lightful, but few people of Los Angeles
are aware of the beauties OF nature and
of mans artifce which may be observed
from the points of vantage which are
strung along the boulevard like pearls
In rosary.
The line of teams and buggies started
from Second and Spring streets, down
Second to San Pedro, and then followed
the latter street. The beautiful wide
roadway has been almost entirely
cleaned up by Street Superintendent
Hutchinson from Fifth street to Eff
teenth, and if the up-croppings of stone
be taken care of, this street will furnish
an unexceptionable speeding track for
thoroughbred roadsters. 1t is the be-
ginning and end of the proposed boule-
yard, and fitting one. At both ends
of the stretch, as now existing, there is
need OF an extension. The southern
extremity must be stretched as far as
Adams street. and it will be essential
that the street railroad tracks extending
beyond Sixteenth street be removed, SO
that the boulevard may turn at Adams
street directly.
Az it was the expedition passed the
unopened Fifteenth street, waded
through foot of dust to Washington
to Main. On Main street, the fast
hod M q NJ haf
Adams street was passed half square
and the expedition had to turn back to
continue according to the outlined plan.
The beautiful surroundings of Ad-
ANS street were enjoyed until st. James
park. the neglected and forgotten, was
entered, and all members of the party
groaned in unison over the weeds and
wreck. If there was any influence rep
resented in the personnel of the excur-
sion, st. James will be one of the gems
of the city very soon after the clouds
have drifted away from the deeds con-
veying it the city. The tennis court
will resound with the laughter of bright
garbed players and the lawns will be
peopled with cooling lovers.
A return to Adams street for mo-
ment led to Hoover street, which is now
suffering under three names, whereas
one would be enough. Along Hoover
to Freeman great number of fine
residences are going up, and
In that very fact lies a heavy
argument for the boulevard. From
Freeman to Washington Hoover street
is closed and subdivided. 1t is only
street of 500 feet or go, but it spoils the
combination. Some attempts have
been made to obtain the consent OF
property owners there to the opening of
the street, but it has not been forth
coming. The only refuge now is to
condemn right of way, and will cer-
tainly be the next step.
After the party left Washington street,
Hoover suddenly became Boundary
street. After the street is opened all
along, it will be fine, straight avenue
from Adams street to Alvarado, along
the western boundary of the city. At
the junction with Alvarado, Boundary
street is now too narrow, but Mrs. Doria
Jones owns great plot of land there,
from which she could spare strip
30x300 and not miss it.
The boulevard now enters Alvarado
street, thoroughfare eighty-two and
one-half feet wide between curbs, and
extending from the west boundary of
Bt4C Clty W b1C IOibA UOuuudTy. Lie
grade has been well established by the
city engineer, and the street when COM
pletely graded will furnish roadway
passing by Westlake and Echo parks
and into Elysian park.
The drive from the west boundary to
Westlake was perfect. 1t was point to
be noted, however, that Westlake is
most abruptly cut off by the fill
or dam constructed on Seventh
street. If it be considered that
the lake, by breaking through that
I'LL and replacing it by bridge, could
be extended to Ninth street, and thus
give greater harmony to the whole sur
roundings, it must be regretted that the
city does not accept DIR. Hagan's offer to
donate all the land necessary for this
extension, provided the city construct a
dam on Ninth street to close the lake.
If this be done, fine rowing course
could be obtained, and further attrac-
tion would thus accrue to the most pop
nlar park in the city.
From Westlake along Alvarado
to Temple the road is over Mob
hill, the highest point being
430 feet above sea level.
From this point Of the boulevard
would be obtained fine view of the
fertile Cahuenga valley, where God is
said to live. The grade of Alverado
over this stretch, after the grading has