Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-07
Not Incorporated

citizen of Los Angeles.
Not incorporated
1--WE desire to say, however, that we
did not fully realize the magnitude OF
such an undertaking when handled by
a mere association of men loosely
bound together by temporarily mutual
interests. The association is not a
corporation and, while having unity
Of purpose and WILL it has not such a
unity of responsibility as to enable il
to assume necessary obligations for
future performance.
,"After expending this large sum of
money and finding itself ready to light
up, the association found itself con-
fronted with an unexpected dilemma.
Not being familiar with the technical
and practical part which would have to
be played by companies supplying the
necessary currents, the association did
not realize that a very extensive sys-
tenn of supply connections was neces-
STATED by the plans adopted
1T was a matter of surprise and
confusion at first when it was found
that before any company could afford
to go to the really heavy expense Of
making the permanent changes neces-
sary to maintain connections with the
posts, some guarantee for a definite
term sufficient to justify the expendi-
ture would have to be given.
This the association, not being a
corporation, could not give for the term
required and it realizes now that such
expenditures could not reasonably be
expected unless there was some guar
antee that it would not be money
poorly invested and practically thrown
away.
1.-The association therefore is con-
vinced that the sensible solution of that
problem is to give its expensive sys-
tenn of ornamental posts to the city and
ask it to light them. After consulta-
ton with the representatives of the
various companies supplying electric
light current the association received
assurances that if the necessary guar
antee should be given proper connec-
tions would be installed and these
POSTS could be lighted for charge of
three cents per kilowatt an hour, meter
measurement, not including lamp re-
newals, care and proper repair of posts,
which if desired to be done by them
would be charged for at the rate of an
additional three-fourths of, a cent.
'It is evident that request for such
a guarantee as might be fairly justi-
fed if the association carried on the
lighting could not be demanded from
the city.
Gift to City
1--WE therefore offer to assign, trans
fer and set over to the city of Los
Angeles all our ownership and interest
in each and all of said posts, subject
only to the following condition, to-wit:
That if the city shall for a period of
six continuous months at any time fail
to light lamps of thirty-two candle
power on all said posts with the num-
ber for the installation of which prep
aration is now made on the posts,
nightly from one-half hour after sunset
until midnight, that then and in that
event the ownership of said posts shall
revert to the present owners. Other
wise it is a gift of property costing
about $4,000 from us to the city of
Los Angeles.
Such a course as we have here
adopted, if followed, as it readily can
be by other streets in Los Angeles, will
eventuate in our city becoming one
whose appearance both day and night
will be a source of both pleasure and
profit to every citizen in it and will go
far toward making it what it should
be, a metropolis whose appearance will
appeal to all who come. Trusting that
our offer will receive immediate and
favorable reply, we remain"