The herald., 1893-09-10
LETTER BAG.
Our street RAILWAYS.

EDITORS HERALD: / have noticed with
great deal Of pleasure the very compli-
mentary and appreciative things that
have besn said of Prof. Lowe and his
mountain railway" and the very de-
lightful trip everyone can have. The
transition from tropical summer weather
to the ice-bound and snow-capped
heights Of Mount Lowe, that can be en-
joyed, is feature that is offered by no
other enterprise of q similar nature il
the world.
But while we all join hands in doing
honor to the promoter of all this, did IL
ever occur to you that we really ignore
the blessings we are enjoying every day,
right here at our very doors, and over
look those who have done everything to
make this lovely city desirable place
to live.
refer now to the present street-car
systems. When Los Angeles was strug-
Cling with the poor accommodations and
| Just before the COLLAPSE" the present
cable system, % miles of very expensive
road, was inaugurated and by the en-
ergies of Mr.. ]. F. Crank and friends. 1t
has been kept going at loss all these
years since.
He has been abused and many un-
kind things have been said of him by
those who are enjoying these conven-
| fences he has inaugurated and carried
along all these years at five cents a ride
| for through trip over the whole system
| with cost Gas per his filed accounts) to
operate during the past two years over
| 800, 900 more than was received in fares
during that time.
Three years ago the present electric
railway system was inaugurated by Gen.
N. H. Sherman, by his indomitable
energy and perseverance, at time when
l remember everything was at stand
still. The city was full of houses and
stores to rent, no building being done to
speak OF, and we were all discouraged.
| [ say by this mans courage and perse-
verance lin the face OF the most mali
cious and vigorous attacks upon his en-
terprise and himself by some of our
press, with not word of protest raised
in bis defense by any of us) we are reap
ing the blessings OF one OF the finest cleo
tric railway systems in this country.
Our present prosperous and financial
condition is due more to this mans en-
ergy and bravery in these very times and
this one enterprise than to anything
else, and l am not sure that it ia not en-
tirely due to this.
who, in the face of slander and con-
them, had gone ahead and given to Los
Angeles (whose limits are almost bound
less with a population of little more
than sc, 900; scattered to the very out
side boundaries and even beyond the
city limits) street railway system that
for only cents will afford the very
humblest of our citizens the means of
going to and fro and enjoying life.
/ noticed some time ago when these
companies asked for franchises on cer-
tain streets to afford better accommoda-
tion to our people, they were maligned
and obstacles were interposed that
would have discouraged the bravest.
When they asked for franchise from
Pasadena to Los Angeles, we told them
1--WE will not do it unless you carry us
for 10 cents;" some even claimed cents
was enough.
Shame on ourselves. Can we not ex-
press our appreciation OF what we have
and be generous rather than stop all
improvement by our shortsighted
policy.
We know these roads have not made
operating expenses, yet they have given
us the best Of service, and are continu-
ing to do 90 during these hard times.
We are the ones benefited; our prop
erty has doubled in value wherever they
run. We get just as much for our 5
cents as though they did make ex-
penses.
Think for a moment what our condi-
ton would be if these street railroads
Il Loz klo.~
do not pay, just as mandatory after
menufactory has been closed down all
over the east. Could we blame any one
if this should be done.
II we would only stop to think once
we certainly would not complain at hav
ing to pay five cents for q ride of five,
seven, yes 10 miles. And right here it
has occurred to me that have never
heard the slightest comment upon the
rates to Rubio cafion and Mount Echo
over this delightful bit of road but little
more than two miles, while the Ter
minal railway haul these same people
eix times the distance for one-sixth of
the rate.
have seen and read all manner of
unkind things said OF the Terminal
road. Why they have even been sued
to compel them to haul people at loss
to and from Pasadena. 1t has been
shown beyond question that they have
been operating at a loss, even at the
present tariff, and we are willing to
force them to carry us at still further
loss, or con6scate their franchise. The
Terminal is an actual necessity, while
the Mount Lowe railway is very de-
lightful pleasure trip, and no one minds
the expense. Now do not want to be
understood as undertaking this very de-
lightful, profitable venture which we
are just now appreciating SO highly.
But have we shown disposition to
be courteous, or even shown these gen.
tlemen, who have inaugurated these
enterprises, that we cannot get along
now without, and who are now under 80
many difficulties, giving us such great
benefits. say have we shown the least
attention or paid the first compliment
to these people in our midst? They
who have made city of Los Angeles,
who have brought capital here and
within the city limits have made inn
provements to the extent of nearly $40,
100000.