The herald., 1897-07-03
An Appeal for Cleanliness

To the Editor OF the Los Angeles
Herald: Will you kindly call the city
fathers attention to the fearful condition
of some of our main streets, so far as
cleanliness is concerned? Take Main
street from Ninth to Washington streets
1t is not swept, or II it is, at such rare
intervals that dust and dirt accumulate
in the cutters and give it very un-
wholesome appearance. This, together
with the fact that only small portion
of the street is sprinkled (about one
half) leaving twenty or twenty-five
foot strip in the middle that is never
sprinkled at ALL makes the passing cars
and vehicles raise such a dust that a
passer-by is almost choked, and drive
down the street, which should be a
pleasure because of the beautiful pave
ment is rendered one OF the most disa-
greeable experiences one can get, be-
cause of this dust.
If it is necessary that everybody
should be inconvenienced for the sake
of the bicycle riders, then why not in
fairness reduce this inconvenience to
some reasonable proportion? A two
foot or three-foot strip would be all thai
they need, but the street sprinkling con-
this street, but on all other streets, and
does only about one-half of his work.
have not heard that he has reduced
his bill as yet, and 1 am informed that
he is paid by the mile of street, SO that
you can see this accommo odation to the
bicycle people is not without. its com
pensation to the street sprinkling con-
tractor. Just where the street sprink-
ling superintendent comes in of course
no one as yet knows.
1t has occurred to me that as we are
to have the city crowded for the next
two or three weeks with visitors from
all over the United States. and visitors.
too, of a class with whom we wish to
stand well, that it is almost impera-
tive that at least during the time Of
their presence here, some little attention
be paid to sweeping and cleaning some
of these main streets.
1 have had to spend, or will have to
if can raise the money, several hundred
dollars for my share of the paving OF
Main street, and then to have that thor
oughfare so handled by the street Off
Gals that 1t would have been much bet
ter to have left it unpaved, is very dis
heartening. I would like to see this
street kept in such shape that while the
Christian Endeavor people are here they
would be tempted to ride up and down
the street and comment on the beauty
of it, but if you get any of them on the
street now they will be so choked by
the dust and annoyed by the stencil of
the dirt accumulated in the cutters that
they will be thoroughly and completely
disgusted. In this they will not be far
behind good many of the property own
ers and people who use the street.
A petition signed by several hundred
ladies was presented to the council some
time ago calling attention to this nui-
sance, but 1t seemed to be very carefully
suppressed; whereas very great prom
inence was given to the communication
from Mr. Brink, the president of the
Athletic club, who championed the cause
Of the bicyclists. Conceding that the
bicyclists would be provided with some
place to ride their wheels, it should not
be at the expense Of choking everybody
else.
Please, Mr.. Editor, give this matter
some attention.
PROPERTY OWNER.