Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-01
SEEK DOWNTOWN
CONDUIT SYSTEM
THREE ORGANIZATIONS FILE
PETITION
Improvement Associations Request the
Council to Consider Business Dis
trlct's Needs Before Resi-
dence Portion

While the city council has been con-
sidering the advisability Of extending
the conduit system into the residence
portion of the city some parts Of the
business district are being neglected
in this respect is the belief of promi-
nent business men, and Monday the
council will be called upon to act on
,petiton from three of the most infiuen-
tial business mems organizations In
Los. Angeles to place under ground the
telephone, electric light and other
wires that require unsightly poles
south of Seventh street.
The petition is from the Broadway
Boulevard association by +. w. Blan-
chard, president, and j. M. Schneider,
treasurer; the Spring Street Improve
ment association by w. M. Garland.
president, and M. Lissner, secretary
and the Hill Street Improvement asso-
citation by Charles Silent, chairman of
the executive committee.
In part the petition recites: while
no doubt it would be desirable to have
wires placed underground on some of
the fine residence streets or other
principal thoroughfares, in the opinion
OF our organizations the first duty of
your honorable body is to see that all
wires are placed under ground in the
first class business district, and when
that has been accomplished it will be
time enough to extend the conduit sys-
tenn into the suburbs.
Millions for improvements
"At the present time there are no
conduits of this kind south of Seventh
street. 1t Is unnecessary to bring to
your attention the magnificent busi-
ness improvements projected for the
very near future on Main street, Spring
street, Broadway and Hill street, south
of Seventh street.
zone well known establishment alone
proposes to commence within a very
short time the erection of commercial
buildings on Broadway and Hill street,
south Of Seventh street, costing con-
property owners have contracted for
and are having plans drawn for many
business buildings in the same vicinity.
"A number of immense brick, high
class apartment houses and hotels are
being built at the present time in the
district referred to and more will GER
tainly follow.
l'Tt is conceded on all hands by those
who have made a study of the growth
OF the business district Of the city of
Los Angeles, that within very few
years the district from Seventh street
to at least Tenth street and from
Main street to Figueroa street will be
built up solidly with business build
ings, churches and other like struc-
lures.
mo district in this city will show as
great an increase in taxes for the next
fiscal year and for many years to come
as the district referred to. Petitions
now are In circulation, and practically
all of the necessary signatures have
been secured, for the paving with as
phalt of the district from Main street
to Figueroa street and from Seventh
street to Pico street where not already
done.
"A magnificent lighting system with
ornamental posts is being constructed
on the main thoroughfares referred to
and will be extended gradually, at least
as far as Pico and Figueroa streets.
"All signs point to the fact that the
growth of the first class business dis
trict of Greater Los Angeles will be
south and west along the lines indi-
Gated in this communication.
Extension of System
I'm the opinion of your petitioners,
the extension Of this conduit system
should be practically coextensive with
the extension of the fire limits as far
as practicable.
"At the present time the fire limits
extend to Tenth street and if the con-
duit system is to be extended only two
miles at this time, your petitioners re-
spectfully represent that Main street.
Spring street, Broadway and Hill street
from Seventh street to Tenth street, and
the cross streets between are entitled
to first consideration, and that the
electric companies should be ordered to
place all of their wires underground
first on these streets.
IAN additional reason why the work
should first be done on the streets re-