The herald., 1895-04-26
The Project Is Growing in
Favor
Boundaries of the Proposed
Addition
THE MEETING LAST NIGHT
The Opposition Sentiment Is Apparently
Decreasing
The Original Plan Has Been Largely Amplifieo
and Was Enthusiastically
Considered

Considered
ready to be convinced With respect t.
the University district the committees
will not disguise the fact that doubts
have arisen that for time seemed too
stubborn to be removed. But after in
vestgation, number of times had and
renewed. and a careful balancing of as
certained facts, those doubts have ceased
to be troublesome. A final going over
the ground and look at the situation in
all its phases have entirely removed any
fears that the majority in the University
district will be found voting against an
nexation. Not that opposition has quoted
altogether, nor that it appears to be quite /
appeasable. But opposition is weakening
lis now so weak, indeed, that in its own
meetings, which it has been attempted to
make exclusive, a respectable minority, F;
that lacks but few votes to become the
majority. is sure to be found. Enough is
seen at the gatherings even of the OBJ
iectors to annexation to satisfy candid !
minds that it is mainly among the small
property owners and the property less and /
some short-vewed young men, that most |
is not intended here to be implied that
no arguments deserv ing OF attention are
advanced against annexation. But it is
beginning to be seen by the most strenu- |
Gus IN adverse augmentation that what :
is urged upon the other side is of greater
force by tar than anything they have
offered, or can hope to offer. At the first
OF the opposition meetings such trivial or
] irrelevant things as the comparative cost
of sewerage and the cesspool, and the
comparative purity of the water supplied
by the city and that furnished from Pico
Heights, were dwelt upon nwith confidence.
AT superficial glance the cesspool is
perhaps cheaper contrivance than the
sewer. But the approximate figures do
not establish the fact so to be. Decency
and health alike require that cesspools be
| used in the absence of sewers. There is
no living in thickening settlement 9TH
| erwise. Well, the cost of suitable cess
pool is about $50; the aver age cost of a
sewer per lot of fifty feet is less than $50,
or certainly not more. Once the sewer is
paid for the city must maintain and care
for it. The cesspool is private property
and must be removed every few years
and cleaned out as often as once in two
years. The expense of this is $15 or
something like that amount. But if this
statement of facts does not convince, then
it may be sail that the sewer will not
come into the University district or sny
other till the people there want it and
ask that it be put in. To be sure it will
come sooner if annexation is had but so
will all other cvilizing improvements
and appliances and an advance in the
values of real estate far in excess of the
cost of those improvements.
Streets Will be graded and cement side
walks laid, but n OF till they are asked for
by the majority of property owners on
any street. This will not be this year nor
| probably the next but they will be hast
ened by annexation. These improvements
may never be made at all if the limits be
not extended to include the University
district-the proud city will sweep by and
onward toward the ocean all regardless
ever after of the solitary fate of the frag
ment left behind.
And as to the water. The sources Of
the Pico Heights water supply will not be
affected by annexation. The works on
those heights will stand and continue to
furnish water to it's patrons. But at
it to be sold at price far higher than
the city water company is allowed to
exact These facts and arguments are
fast settling into the receptive minds OF
the people in the University district and
are rapidly changing the sentiment in this
regard of that community.
OF this change of sentiment in the
University district the committees have
other evidence than has been obtained at
the opposition meetings. At their ses-
sions have appeared numbers of citizens
of that locality whose character and re-
sponsiblities IN the community cntitle
them to II respectful hearing. They have
not hesitated to lay before the committees
the results of their knowledge and obser-
vations and to offer needed advice. On
that advice the committees have acted
| in drawing the south )undary along the
south line of the University school dis
trict-thus taking in the entire territory
of the University. This has been done
upon the approved American principle
OF the majority rule which is applied at
the ballot box.
1t will have been seen that an altera-
tion has been again made in the proposed
western boundary of the greater city. 1t
has been carried beyond Western avenue.
For this there are number of valid rea-
sons. The Rosedale school district is un-
divided. desirable thing that holds to
/ both convenience and sentiment; and a
threatened opposition is thereby conciI-
| lated.
! Still another reason is that it would
prove in the case of Western avenue. were
its center made the boundary line, as it
has in the case of Hoover street. most
disastrous. The center of Hoover street,
being the western boundary, no improve
ments can be made owing to disagree
ments between the city and county.
Western avenue which in few years. if
not so treated, will be finely improved,
the committees hive decided to spare, by
extending the new boundary still further
| to the westward. For the rest. all is nn-