The herald., 1894-04-27
LETTER BAG.
Plans susgostsd for an Extensive


1.-THE HERALD under this heading prints com
uiunicatiOns, but does not assume response
bility for the sentiments expres,ed.l
EDIroRs HERALD:-I note that
worthy lot OF citizens, calling them
selves the "Northwsst Improvement as
sociation," are asking tho city council to
condemn certain lands for additiona to
Elysisn park.
While am generally in favor OF parks
and improving the same. which are
properly designed more especially for
tho poor than the rich. yet am opposed
to this proposition at the present time
OF buying lands of a few rich people,
who, no doubt, would be very willing to
be forced to Bell the uame to the city at
an Appraised price. At the present
time this laad i0 entirely worthless es
an investment, not, dare say, bringing
eufIicient revenue to pay the taken
thereon, and we should not expend pub
lie money sc tho present pressing time
OF need, except it be to give employ
Inens to our needy citizens who are in
indigent and distressed circumstance.
This park at present is nearly inacces-
sible to the poor man, or the average
citizen, who is unable to own horses and
carriage.
II costs any person who visits said
park more TO pay for livery hire than a
ride to Mt. Lowe or the sea shore. Cou-
sequently the poor cannot afford to visit
this park.
would propose the expenditure OF
public money ior the building of a bou-
levard, worthy of the name, and which
would in time be credit to the city OF
Loo Angeles.
would suggest ss proper route that
it commence at Sixth street and Pearl,
thence by Pearl, Lake Shore avenue and
other easy and accessible grades over
cheap lands. would mako said boule-
yard 150 feet wide, with cement sidewalks
is feet wide on each side, with 25-foot
park adjoining the sidewalk on each
side, with two rows Of trees far enough
apart to run a street car in between and
near the sidewalk. | see no reason why
street csrs should take the center Of the
street, enhancing the danger of collision
of teams as we'll aa pedestrians with
passing teams, in getting on and off the
cars. / would pave said boulevard with
asphaltum, with concave gutter to the
center, which in case Of necessity would
make O storm drain. l would tunnel
Bunker Hill q. Third street, and per-
haps widen from Hill to the boulevard
from 80 to 100 feet.
would grade First street, from Broad
way to the boulevard. with an easy grade
and then perhaps tunnel the upper end
OF Broadway into Buena Vista street and
Bellevue avenue, and thereby connect
the boulevard with those streeta via
Bellevue avenue. After doing all this
/ would extend this boulevard past
Elysisn park, to the north line OF the
city, and ask the county and our sister
city OF Pasadena to extend the boulevard
to and through their city, and then con-
tinue the same on eastward along the
foot hills to the county line, making
grand boulevard 150 feet wide to San
Bernardino county, hoping. that they
would continue the same to their city
and further on. Also, in time, other
boulevards could be built to Santa Men
lea and elsewhere. 1t is a good time
now to begin this work for our beautiful
city, which we all know 10 TO be great
city. The city could we'll afford to bor-
row $500, 600, which no doubt can be
secured at the present state of the money
mum. Inln money could oe expen0ed
Immediately among our working people
and would 60 into i'm mediate circula
ton among eur own citizens and prevent
the necessity, or apparent necessity, for
further exodus of our citizens on their
ill-timed and uncertain journey towards
Washington.
We all know that the expenditure of
the half million dollars ia completing
the outfall sewer helped materially to
keep up the prosperity of Los Angeles,
and, although at the time it may seem
an excessive burden to pay the interest
thereon, it is expected by many that
the sewer will become source of in
come for water sold, rather than an ex-
pence.
also believe that the boulevard
would not become very great expense,
but could be made partial source OF
revenue, and perhaps fully paid for in
the following, manner, viz: l would
withhold all electric car franchises until
such boulevard is completed, then
would lease to the company paying the
highest percentage OF gross income, for
the term of 20 years, at which time the
bonds created to build such boulevard
would begin to mature, then would sell
the franchise, and perhaps receive
enough, or nearly enough, to pay said
bonds.
The foregoing plan, it seems to me,
Mr.. Editor, would be far moro practi-
cal way to bring the Elysian park with
in the reach of the poor people of the
city and county, and the money thus
expended would do more good than buy
ing the unneeded lands now adjoining
said park. This would be q good beg
inning for bouevardS that may be here
after built to connect all our parks in
the county of Los Angelcu. and which
would make it truly the Riviera of the
United States" Tho expease of the
land taken to widen said boulevard
could we'll be borne by the abuttine
property owners, if the city went to the
expense of paving, sideGslking and
parking the same.
JAMES NJ. DAyIEs.
Los Angeles, April 20, 1894.
Those Eenccd-In Sidewalks.
EDTTORS HERATn. Mouv nj