The herald., 1896-08-11
Ownership of Half the Street in
Dispute
THE FACTS AS PRESENTED
Bids for Furnishing the New City Jail
Presented
Another Effort Made to Prod Up the Main
Street Contractors
n Work Is Not at Once Instituted the Con-
tract viii Be Cancelled Wednesday
r1orning-Petitions and Protests.
General Routine Business

At the meeting of the city council yes
terday morning, after the reading of the
journal and cleaning up one or two
minor matters, the matter of the remov-
al of dirt from Sixteenth street by Con-
tractor Miles Dodd, jr., was called up
by Councilman Kingery of the Fourth
ward. Chief of Police Glass and Ser
geant Smith were on hand to take any
instructions that might be given in the
matter of restraining the bold depreda-
tor who was threatening to carry away
the street, despite the protests of the
council, and the city attorney was sent
for to give legal advice in the mQmen-
tous proceedings about to be instituted.
Councilman kingery told about Dodd
putting his force to work and digging
up the street, preparatory to transfer
ring it to gravel pit owned by him on
Bush street. He also told how the as
sistance of the chief of police had been
enlisted, and the contractor had stopped
his depredations when threatened with
arrest. Dodd. he said, had a written
permit from the street superintendent
to take this dirt, despite the fact that the
council had previously refused to grant
permission to other parties to remove
the dirt. But this was not the head and
front of Dodd's offending. There was
strip so feet wide and 1000 feet long
fronting on Sixteenth street, title to
which was claimed by ex-City Engineer
Fred Eaton, but which. it was claimed.
belonged to the city and was part of the
street After hainp CtonnaI Il
ing earth from the street, Dodd had
purchased from Eaton this strip, and
had notified the chief of police that he
intended at once to commence taking
dirt from the same. even if he had to
do so at the point of a shotgun Mr..
Kingery wanted to know what could be
done to stop this high handed proceed
ing, and as a starter moved that the
street superintendent be instructed to
rescind the permit granted Dodd for re-
moving the dirt from Sixteenth street,
between Bush and Iowa and Hardie
streets, and further that no one be al
lowed to take dirt from Sixteenth or
Hardy streets. Both of these motions
prevailed.
Deputy City Attorney Crutcher hav-
ing arrived, and the legal problem being
propounded TO him, stated that if the
disputed strip belonged to Eaton, and
he had sold the same TO Dodd, the lat
ter could do as he pleased about taking
dirt from the same. If the strip belonged
10 the city and was part of the street.
the council had control of it, and Dodd
had no rights in the premises. The city
engineer should be instructed to define
the lines of Sixteenth street, between
Bush and Hoover streets, and then suit
could be brought to determine the rights
n tnSs 4
bly, issue restraining order preventing
the removal of dirt from the disputed
territory pending the settlement of the
matter, on the city filing the usual bond
required in such cases.
Chief Glass asked that the council
give MN definite instructions in the
matter. He did not wish to rush into the
matter unauthorized, and get a damage
suit on his hands.
Mr.. Crutcher said that the chief would
have to act on his own responsibility
If 1t was public street he would be ali
Tlght, put II the disputed territory was
declared to be private property. then
he would act at his peril.
After some further desultory talk it
was agreed that the engineer should de-
termine the lines of Sixteenth street
and that the city attorney should at
once institute legal proceedings to de-
strip.
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
message was read from the mayor
returning without his approval the or
d1nance establishing the grade of San
Ia re street, between Eighth and Ninth
streets. The action was taken at the
request of the council, and on motion
OF councilman Ashman, the vote bv
winch said ordinance was adopted was
reconsidered and the same was laid
nuon the table.
MOTIONS
councilman Kingery moved that T
..,..g -, Iagan and William Robertson be per-
mltted to lay sewer connections fron,
tneir property line to the sewer in front
" ~! 'nelr property on Tenth street where
the sewer is being constructed. Adonted
.esluent reed moved that the Wafer
Iotsspany be instructed to lay mains on
.tna, Iwenty-ninth and Adams
large 70 west ESQ or Hoover. sufficiently
n1as 70 erect threeon fire hydrants.
also; that the city engineer ESTABLISH tho
SIaues oI Bryant, Forester. Clinton and
%aaAWeli streets, in the Urmston trant
councilman Munson moved that tho
civ Wota We instructed to notify the
10y water company to lay a forr-innh
Water pipe on Pearl street. from Ei,.st mn ~
~ ciAIn, ana on Second street. from D., -,
TO fremont avenue; also. that thn s. sarI
superintendent be instructed to 80 tieet t,e
Soi " oH olxtn ana Seventh Streatc ~. ~
an alley has been lately opened bat,.. riere
Main and Spring streets: also tween ren
any poles that may be in the enrove move,
Adopted. the way.
(At this point the council adiourrea
ma met as board of equalization i,,,
nediately adjourning as such and ',,a- ra
suming regular business iu re-
councilman Pessell moved that H..
city engineer be directed to present e an
ordinance to establish the grade ,,no,,
central avenue between Twenty-nintb
street and Slauson avenue Adopted
Councilman Ashman moved that ~,
Los Angeles Railway company be (3i-
rected to at once remove poles, wires
and rails from Wall street between
In1rd and Seventh stree4s. Adopted
Councilman Pessell moved that the
Los Angeles City Water company be
notified to lay a four-inch pipe upon San
Pedro street between Twenty-ninth
street and Jefferson street before the
street Is improved; also that the street
superintendent be directed to repair
Central avenue between the Southern