The herald., 1893-09-01
Pasadena,s street Paving.

EDITORS HERALD: We have endeav-
ored to look at our street paving quea-
ton under the clear light of MONDAY
sun, and we confess we find no good ex-
cuse for paving either Raymond or Fair
Oaks avenues at the present time.
I will here note some of my reasons
why this work should be deferred.
First, we do not need the paving on
these avenues. I doubt if good times
would warrant the paving at this stage
of the growth of our city. Why, Los
Angeles had about $4,000 inhabitants
before she paved, and some of the prop
erty owners who now live on paved
streets complain bitterly and say they
have double the dust in their houses
than before they we're paved, as all the
dust of the street is easily blown into
them ON account of the pavement.
We are growing fast, it is true, but
there ia plenty of time yet to think and
act upon this question before we shall
really need this much talked OF i'm
provement.
Because San Bernardino and Redlands
have it does not prove that we should.
They may have made great mistakes in
this, and they most assuredly have if
they have done this work blindly with
out first taking inventory of their re-
sources, to see if they had the where
with to finish the work without placing
them in an embarrassing condition. The
wise sit down and first count the cost.
1t would be better for every man to pay
as he goes, for this saves lots of worry
and litigation. "Avoid debt as you
would the devil" will apply alike to per-
son or city.
We don't believe it wise to load city
down with bonded debts for the rising
generation. The generations in their
order have in hand to build up and i'm
prove; and as each succeeding one will
undoubtedly be wiser than the one i'm
mediately preceding. it cannot afford to
be bothered with clearing off the debris
it's father or the former may have piled
on its back. No; we should clear the
way, and not obstruct the passes. Those
coming after us will have more to do
than we. Therefore never bond a city !;
never bond property to make improve
ments; but make improvements just as
rapidly as your circumstances will allow
you to do with ease and comfort. Load
your team properly, according to its
powers of performing, and you will ex-
ercise wisdom; but if you overload it,
you break the backs of your beasts or
stall them, and bring chagrin upon your
own self, because you will see what q
fool you are.
When should we pave the streets OF
our city. Why, just when we need them
paved and can pave them without burst.
ing off our buttons or breaking our sus-
penders-in other words, when our re-
sources admit of the improvement. Life
is not worth living in harrassed condi-
ton.
Many a man kills himself by over
work, and cities strain themselves into
financial straits that are pitiaDle. Our
fair city is on this very road now. 1t is
this very hour taxing its inhabitants out
of existence. Those that have borne the
brunt of the battle in the heat of the
day are fast giving way to others coming
in to reap where they have not strewn.
Properties were sold in 1892 for less than
valued for taxes. We do not claim this
to be q general feature of the case; but
there are many such cases. A great deal
of property that is centrally located in
the city brings no income from year to
year, and vet, large valuations and
heavy taxes thereon are as sure as death
with each year, and much OF this prop.
erty comes within the district sought to
be paved. Anyone can predict the re-
suit of paving at this time. 1t means a
great sacrifice of property, and in some
cases total ruin to the owner. We sin.
cerely hope the cloud OF despair will pass
over. SITUATION.