The herald., 1894-03-31
A STRONG SEVENTH WARD KICK
Property Owners on Fifth
Street UP in Arms.
AVigorOus Protest Against the Street
Railway.
They want to Compel tho Company 20
Pay Their share OF tho street
Paving-The Board OF Pub
lie works Report.

teTday morning, with Mr.. Strohm in the
chair, to consider the Fifth street paw
ing matter.
While waiting for the protestants to
appear, Director General Meyberg OF Ia
fiesta appeared before the board aud
asked for the aervices OF the city work
men and the city teams, to be used in
decorating the public streets in prepare
tion for la fiesta. The board agreed to
furnish all the men and teams possible.
The petition OF the property owners
on Fifth street. demanding that the
Main street and Agricultural Park Rail-
way company pave the street between
their tracks. was presented.
Deputy City Attorney Dunn stated
that alter the ordinance OF intention
Tor the paving OF Fifth street was passed,
the railway company took up one of the
tracks, evidently to avoid paying for
the paving. We brought suit against
them, and they claimed that their road
had been paraleled by another road and
that their business had fallen of to
such an extent as to only require the use
OF one track and the court had sustained
them, and refused to forfeit the fran
chiee of the road. The case could be
appealed to tho supreme court ii the
property owners on Fifth street 50 de-
sired. A recommendation from Coun-
Gilman McGarry had been made to the
council that the road be allowed to
abandon the second track.
Mr.. W. r. Willisms-Mr. McGarry
never coneulted a property owner on
the street. We know nothing ABOUT it.
MIR. Thos. Hughes--We feel that we
have been imposed ON in this matter
and we propose to get justice.
Mr.. D. +. Hill-We have paid for
paved street and we propose to get it.
Mr.. Hughes-The parties owning the
road are simply holding it for specu
lative purposes. II they want to COM
pete with the other road let them put
electric cars on 1t, and then have
chance to compete for patronage. They
might just as we'll have teams OF oxen
attached to their cars.
Chairman Strohm-Would there be
any trouble ii the property owners tore
up the tracka, Mr.. Dunn?
Deputy city attorney 10 ques-
tion would not like to discuss in pub
lie with the reporters present.
Mr.. Wilson-Well, we are American
citizens and we have rights that should
be protected. l asked Mr.. Brodrick if
we paved ths whole street would the
railroad company then come in and lay
their second track again, and he said
that they would do so If the necessities
OF the case demanded it.
Mr.. Dunill-It looks TO me as il the
city authorities are giving these corpor-
ations both ends of the bargains. II
they want franchise they get It with
out ccst, and if their business dimin-
ishes, then the city reduces their liz
bility. Ii q business mans business
falls off, be fails; but it is different with
this railroad, which cwnH one OF the
most valuable street railway franchises.
Mr.. Dunn-We knew nothing about
the report of McGarry's 81 Scial commit
tee, recommending the abandoning OF
one of the tracks on Fifth street, until
it was sprung on us in court. 1t was
slipped through very quietly.
Mr. Hughes-Mr. McGarry acted con-
trary to the wishes of the property own3
ere, and, in fact, did not consult any
one but himself.
The property owners then held a con-
sultation, and they decided to let the
city go ahead and appeal the case to the
supreme court, and Mr.. Hughes sug-
geEted that in the meantime they secure
a number OF gondolas to move around
on the street in wet weather.
81 want to say one thing" said City
Attorney Dun. I'll these parties at
tempt to lay double track there again,
notify us, and we will get ont an injunc.
ton and stop them. as they have made
the defense that they have abandoned
the double track"
The board then adopted the following
recommendations
In the matter of petition No. 21S from
S. K. Jacobus ct al, asking to have
Grand avenue graded 80 as to correspond
with the established grade between
Fourth and Fifth streets, recommend
the same be granted.
In the matter Of petition No. 2l9 from
J. r. Scott ct AL, in regard to obstruc-
tious on Buepa Vista street south Of
Pco street, recommend the came be re-
ferred to the city attorney.
Iu the matter of petition No, 220 from
A, L. Sepulveda, to have fence put in
front of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart
school on Griffin avenue. removed dur
ing the grading of Baldwin street, recon-
mended that the street uperintendsnt
be instructed to place said fenca back,
usin2 the same material that is on the
ground.
In the matter OF petition No. 223,
from Mrs. Cow per, asking that the north
aide OF Fourth street between Hill and
Olive streets be sidewalked with cement
the full width OF the sidewalk, recon-
mend the same be granted, and the city
engineer be Instructed to present neces-
sary ordinance.
Recommend that the city engineer
make new profile of Gerard and
Twelfth streets, between Georgia Bell
and Sentous streets.
Recommend that the street superln-
tendent be directed to place Third
street, between Grand avenue and Olive
street, on grade.
Mr., Max Meyberg. director general.
appeared before THE board requesting
the use OF the employees and teams OF
the street department for decorating the
streets on the occasion OF the celebra-
tjon of la fiesta dc Los Angeles for three
days. and we recommend the came be
In the matter OF Mr.. Rhodes petit
ton for a sprinkling hydrant at the cor
ner of Union avenue and Pico streets,
recommend the same be granted.
Recommend that 4 sprinkling n.y.
drant be placed on the corner OF Fourth
and Crocker streets.
In the matter OF petition No. 202,
from Maria Dodd Brooke, recommend
the same be referred to the city engineer
for grade.