The herald., 1893-07-09
WIDENING FIRST STREET
A MEETING OF THE PROPERTY
OWNERS INTERPRETED.
Not Enough of q Representation Pres
eut to Take Definite Actfon Eot
Lengthy Expression
OF Views.

A largo assembly OF First-street prop
erty owners met last night in the rooms
of the chamber of commerce IN order to
discuss the proposed opening of that
street, which comes before the city
council tomorrow morning. Ex-Mayor
Workman occupied the chair and Henry
Wilson acted as secretary.
Mr.. Workman said that it was the in.
tention of the meeting to find out what
the property owner of the narrow strip
on First street, between Main and
Wilmington streets, intended to do. He
asked those who had objections to it's
being widened to have no hesitancy in
saying 30, and spoke of the small
amount of the assessment, II made
now, in comparison with the great
benefit which would afterward be
gained.
DR.. ]. P. Widney thought that the
question of the amounts OF assessment
which the property owners along the
street we're required to pay should be
treated from a standpoint of equity. "It
is my DESIRE" said he, "and know
that of all the other property owners
to have the street opened. But all OF
you can remember that when First
street was opened from Los Angeles
street to the river, the property owners
of this narrow section refused To open
up their portion and would not help pay
| the assessments on the portion we
opened. although they reaped the bsne-
fits of the improvement. First street
is now the principal street of the city
which runs east and west, and as each
year rolls on it will become more i'm
portant. II these people do not move
their buildings back they will hurt their
property to an extent they cannot now
realize. Some time large stores will oc-
cupy these buildings. Then they will
find they have no room, for wagons can
not stand in front of them. They
run another risk and that is
when traffic becomes greater and
through doubles itself, it will tend to
this cannot but help to depreciate the
property values. | don't see how these
people, who would not pay 3 cent
towards the opening of the street lower
down, can, in the spirit of equity, ask
the property owners of that part OF the
street to assist them in widening the
portion which several years ago they
promised to do themselves. 1 would
also suggest that now. as the question OF
the widening of the street is before us
again, we take definite steps to open up
the street for it's entire length through
the hill and from one boundary of the
city to another. l am willing to come
forward and pay my share if such is
done."
Mr.. AL Schmidt rose and said he en-
dorsed everything DR.. Widney had said,
and stated, in addition that he knew all
the property owners east of Los Angeles
street would be willing to pay assess
ment il the hill was cut through at the
same time the street was widened from
Wilmington to Main.
Mr.. Charles Golmer said that during
the last IL years the property owners
east of Los Angeles street had been
assessed three times for the widening of
First street. every one is in favor oi
having the street widened," said he.
"but we are not willing to pay the as
sessments for the present blocks, and
am in favor of petitioning council to
have the street wideped at the expense
of property owners fronting on the mar
row portion"
DR.. Widney proposed that the owners
of property on both sides of the narrow
section meet and make the remaining
property owners proposition. In re-
| ferring to the building which the Ger
man Savings bank is putting up on the
corner of Main and First. he said that
| the institution wanted the 10 feet addi-
| tional in order to make a prominent
appearance, and he understood they
were going to utilize the 10 feet unless
restrained by law.
Mr.. Workman said so per cent of the
assessment should come on those occu-
! pying the narrow portion as they natur-
ally would be more benefited by tine
widening. 81 don't see why we should
pay for their block when they refused
to help us."
Mr.. F. O. Howes said it would be
much better all around to have the
street widened. and thought it would be
we'll for all to consider that if the prop
erty owners at present concerned would
not open it, whether 1t would not be
| better for the others to dol 1t and 30 have
the thoroughfare through the city.
Considerable discussion then took
place concerning the amount of the as
sessment and its pro rata application.
j. L. Murphy, the legal representative
| of J. F. Dehail and several others of the
property owners in the narrow portion,
stated that Mr.. Dehsil was willing to
move his building back if the street
would be widened distance of 70 feet.
Mr.. Murphy explained at length the
situation and thought that the opening
of First street through the hill could be
taken up and completed at the same
time as the widening OF the narrow
portion.
1t was decided that there was not a
sufficient number of the property own
ers present to definitely decide on the
undertaking and in consequence the
chair appointed committee OF three,
consisting of ExMayor William Work
man, Henry P. Wilson and Chas. Col
mer, who were instructed to visit the
property owners, get information and
prepare resolutions to be presented for
action at a meeting to be held next
Wednesday night. The meeting then
adjourned. ..5.
Sunday Train Service on Terminal Rail-
way.
500 a. M, Long Beach, East San Pc
dro, connecting with Hermoaa for Cata-
lima island. Fare, So 30, round trip.
8 AS q. M, IL :45 and 5:l5 p. m.
Rubio cafion, fare. rs cents, round
trip; Echo mountain, fare, $1.75, round
trip, at 8 100 a. M, / :25 and 4 200 p. m.