Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-12

LIS ANGELES n HKAl
geles and would be kept sprinkled and
in order by the city without cost to
the property owners, being paid out
Of the general fund.
Increase Property Values
All property along such a boulevard
i'm such territory would be doubled and
even trebled I'm value, and such a
boulevard would soon be lined with at
tractive and beautiful homes, and any.
additional taxes that the property
owners within the proposed annexed
territory would be called upon TO bear
would be more than compensated by
the increaise In value of realty within
such territory and other advantages.
The tax TO those to be annexed will
be only about 26 cents additional on
the 500, but In return an advantage
that will be gained by the territory to
be annexed Is that Of police and fire
protection, both of which would offer
additional inducements to the building
of fine homes and other Improvements.
The water system Of the city of Los
Angeles ultimately will be extended
throughout the territory and the up
building Of the same would be thereby
assured and residents also will have
the advantages of schools and eduoa-
tional departments of the city of Los
Angeles, including It's high school,
Polytechnic. kindergarten, library and
other branches.
Still another advantage to be reaped
by the residents and property owners
of this proposed territory will be that
all will share In the benefits of the
present established departments Of
water, fire, health, and also the public
buildings of the city, its parks and all
other city properties without assum-
ing any liabilities or being called upon
to pay any part of the present bonded
Indebtedness of the city of Los An
geles.
The consolidation commission urges
every voter to go to the polls today
and cast his ballot. Indifference on
the part of the most intelligent class
of voters Is all the city has to fear, ac-
cording TO the commission, for the
active interest that has been taken in
the city and county consolidation Is
evidence that such a consummation is
desired by those who know what is for
the best interests of this city and all
Southern California.
Indifference on the part of this class
of voters, however may defeat the
project, as there is a minority opposed
| to the plan in the territory to be an
| nexed that is expected to take an ac-
| tive interest in today's election. The
consolidation commission, however, has
little fear of the final outcome.
Taxes Not Increased
Not only must the city of Los An
| geles cast q big majority vote m favor
| of the annexation, but so must the
| territory to be annexed. Some prop
erty owners in the "shoe-string" strip
fear that their taxes will be increased
without corresponding benefits and not
| all Of these have had an opportunity
of talking to the members of the con-
solidation commission or the campaign
committee about this feature.
Those who have had such an oppor-
/ tunity have been convinced that their
taxes will be increased but very little.
about 26 cents on the $100. and that
the city benefits accruing from being
a part of this great municipality would
more than even up this nominal ad-
| vance. Police and fire protection,
| plenty of water, electric light and gas
and other city advantages will be given
them.
The precincts for today's election
| have been merged in many instances
and to avoid any confusion to the vot-
ers on this account complete list of
polling places was published in Sunday
mornings papers by the consolidated
commission.
The election today is but the first
Of a number of municipal elections to
take place before the first of the year.
But short rest will be given the
voters when they must go to the polls
December A and decide the city officers
for the next three years. The three
year term is the result OF a charter
amendment passed at the last general
municipal election whereby the people
decided that in order to throw future
municipal elections on off years from
those of state elections the next Off
cials to be chosen should have the priv
ilege of serving three years.
But the choice of mayor and council
men and other city officers is but a
small part of the many questions that
the voters will have to decide. Many
important features of the charter are
to be changed if the people so elect.
To Extend Franchises
The term of franchises for street
railways is one of these. Twenty-one
years is the limit now. This was voted
two years ago, but since that amend
ment to the charter went into effect
not a single franchise has been asked
or granted with few minor excep-
tions. These exceptions are the Sew
enth street franchise which was asked
for and granted to interested property
owners who have given Huntington
$500 to operate the railway and some
spur tracks and connecting lines on
which the stiffest bonuses were de-
manded.
The people will be asked to extend
the franchise term to thirty-three
years, which the railway companies
say they are willing to accept.
Il Another question is Shall the rail-
ways have the right to carry freight 2"
All the railways are anxious for this
privilege and in order to secure 1t have,
in the past, demanded railroad fran
chises of the council. The fine dis
tinction between railway" and rail
road" franchise is that a railroad"
may carry freight and the life of it's
franchise is practically indefinite. "A
railway" may not carry freight unless
the people so decide at the next cleo
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