The herald., 1898-06-18
MAIN STREET PAVING
Law CoMPELs LIGHTING co. TO
TEAR IT UP
So What's to Be Done About Itp-The
Council Has Some Very Hard
Questions to Decide

me board of public works had tough
proposition to wreste with yesterday IN
the.question of whether or not the Los An
eeles Lighting company should be permit
ted to tear up the new surfaciAg ca Main
street from First to Fourth streets IN or
der to put in its conduits. The contract Tor
the paving was let many months ago. anu
when the lighting company was nolheo
that its conduits must be down before the
street Improvement was made, it answered
that arrangements had been made with the
San Gabriel company to use its conduiss
ana that II would be the first company IN
the city to have its wires under ground anu
poles and overhead wires removed. But
change came DER the spirit OF lis creams
when it ascertained that the San Gabriel
company would be a formidable competitor
for city lighting, the conduit agreement ieli
through and the lighting company was COM
PEELED to put in its own underground duct.
The contract was let TO French & Reed,
but they were not able to get the conduits
IN before the pavement was laid.
The other companies got their wires IN
derground promptly and Street Superin-
tendent Drain has ordered the lighting
company not to tear up the new surfaclng
but has been advised by the city attorney
that he cannot prevent it from doing So.
Meanwhile petitions and petitioners have
laid their protests before the council, by
whom they have been referred to the board
of public works and the lighting company
finds itself placed in very peculiar posi-
ton. BY the requirements of the ordinance
which does away with overhead wires 1t
must have its wires underground by the
3D. of July, while on the other hand the prop
srty holders along the street declare they
will do everything in their power to pre-
vent the tearing up of the new paving, and
If the company persists in tearing it up they
will Withdraw their patronage-and there
you are. Verify, the lighting company is
between two fires.
At the meeting of the board of public
works yesterday the matter was formally
brought up by DR.. Joseph Kurtz in the pres
ence of c. A. Luckenbach and H. M. Cor
lette OF the lighting company and a number
of property holders of the district in ques-
ton, among whom were Mr.. Lichtenberger
Of the German American Savings bank and
q representative of the Turnverein Germa-
MIA society. DR.. Kurtz stated the situation
and insisted that the property holders are
positively in earnest in the position they
nave taken. he dlleSeu that MALL strtti
has always been badly treated, having over
five years ago paid for a street improve
ment which was never afterward accepted
by the council and therefore never kept il
repair by the city. The property holders
are now willing to pay for the Improvement
a second time, according to the doctor
statement, but will oppose any attempt On
the part of a negligent corporation to tear
it up.
The lighting company, through its rep
resentatives present, assured the property
holders and the board that it is perfect.
willing to do anything practicable and sat
isfactory to all concerned. All materials
and supplies for the conduts have been pur-
chased. but Mr.. Luckenbach stated that
the company is willing to abandon its COR
ddit system on Main street and place its
wires on the poles of the street railway COM
pany If the matter could be arranged salts
factorily. The company would, in such al
event, agree to pay for joint ownership
with the railway company Of the few poles
required for the stretching of their wires
from First to Fourth streets, and at any
time an alleyway is opened, affording then
the necessary route for their lines. the
wires shall be Immediately transferred
pany are said to have joint ownership of the
poles on San Pedro street.
This plan of getting around the difficulty
seemed to meet with approval from the
gfsatest number and the board took the
matter under advisement with the under
standing that If the arrangement was ger,
orally satisfactory an ordinance would
probably be passed by council releasing tn,
IN frOy he ~
the underground wire ordinance Such n
ordinance has already been prepared.
Other plans were suggested, one of which
was that the company place it's conduits in
side the curb under the sidewalk, two fee
CT which is said to belong to the city. Mr.
Luckenbach contendcd that if any of tn,
property holders should excavate thu
premises under the walks and use tn,
space for a,basement room, the company
property if under the sidewalks, would b.
subject to whatever treatment the propert,
holders might elect-a rental, confiscatio,
oreven destruction. Therefore he claimed
such plan was not practical.
Another proposition was that the con
duits be placed in Mott alley, but the men
ton of the fact that this avenue extend
only to Third street dismissed this plal
from further consideration.
As the situation now stands, 1t looks a
though the matter would be adjusted b,
allowing the Lighting company to stretci
its wires on the poles of the railway com
pany from First to Fourth street on Mai
and the general opinion is that the grant
ing of such privilege will raise a most un
earthly howl from the companies whic
have quietly an dprompty complied witt
the original ordinance. On the other hand
If the Lighting company is not permitte
to tear up the street, it is truly case o
''what could the poor man do?'
Some one suggested that the compan
might be required to resurface the entir
street, but as this would cost from eight t
ten thousand dollars it is beyond a poss
bilfty that the company should ever cor
sent to such thing.
Anotfer question destined to give tn
board of public works and council not
little worry was brought up at the meet
ing by Judge Gottschalk, representing tn
Main street property holders. Some c
these property holders along the line {
the recent street Improvement from Firs
to Ninth streets have paid for their re
spective shares of the improvement, BIT
others have not, and refuse to do SO unit
the council formally accepts the street an
thereby makes the city responsible f.
itssrepaif In the future.
These pbstreperous property holders d
noklproppse to be imposed upon as they hay
for five years past, during which time n