The herald., 1893-05-12
STEALING Two-THIHDs OF HISTORIC
STREET.


There are sometimes points at which
both justice and sentiment meet, and
this is eminently the case as respects
opposition to petition which has been
presented to the council In connection
with Main street. 1t is proposed by the
petitioners that the street, from Tenth
street to the city limits, shall be called
South Broadway. This cool proposition
deserves very careful attention. Its su-
prems impudence cannot be realized at
first eight. II has to be approached in
its full magnitude, just as in nearing
come mountains their true altitude and
dimensions are not realized until one has
passed the foothills and is just upon their
base. We Of course appreciate the dash
and perseverance Of the gentlemen who
have made charming thoroughfare OF
Broadway, and who would like to see it
made the leading business street of the
city. But there is an old adage which
says that ono ehould not rob Peter to
pay Paul. Ambitious as are the specu-
lative gentlemen who are booming
Broadway to shoot it up out OF sight in
to the municipal empyrean, there are
substantial as well as sentimental rights
that would be invaded If the council
should listen to this absurd petition.
The petition is, in effect, that the
people of Main street shall relinquish
about two-thirds in length Of their
thoroughfare and hand 1t over to their
young and sprightly rival.
There have been some amusing ex-
amples in the past of people with gall
with them. There was, for instance, the
old, time-worn chestnut of the hunter
and the Indian in the distribution Of the
turkey and the buzzard, in which the
Caucasian said, cru take the turkey
and you take the buzzard, or you take
buzzard and I'll take the turkey" The
Indian saw the point with great promp-
titude, and emphasized the situation by
the remark, f"You no say turkey to me
once" Then there was the waiter in
Holiness Autocrat of the Breakfast
Table, who picked up three bright
peaches-all that were left-and put
them in his pocket, with the pithy re-
mark, There's just one apiece for me-"
In addition there WAS the case of the
Niger in the District OF Columbia who,
being dispatched for bottle of whiskey
which represented the joint capital of
himself and his friend, and who drank
it ell up on the return trip, meeting the
reproaches of his co-parcener with the
pathetic remark, "Nigger, what am
quart of whiskey 'mong one." Not all
of these examples, even with the adj
dition of Miss Sally Brass, whose abili-
ties as "oner" were recounted by the
Marchioness to Dick Swirveler, could
come near equaling the arctic cheek of
the persona who are trying to ateal two
thirds Of our most historic street. The
to walk off with hot stove
is mild one compared to this.
To drop persilage, and get down to
fact and sentiment, Main street has had
a recognized existence for forty-two
years. II ought to be our principal
thoroughfare and may be yet, but
whether it shall be or no, its residents
and property holders have some rights
which the council ought to and probably
will respect. A great fad has grown up
lately as to respecting old landmarks.
1t is underleid by r fine sentiment, and
its strength ia shown in the rebuilding
of old missions and the preservation of
all relics of the past. This feeling, to
say nothing OF the rights of the matter,
calls for the preservation of Main street
in all its entirety. The legislature of
California once undertook to change the
name of Lake Tahoe TO that of Lake
Bigler. In spite of this pragmatic in
reference OF that body the lake etill
retsins its beautiful Indian name. In
spite of petitions and the admirable
cheek of certain clique, Main street
will ba Main street still.