Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-15

Through the petition Of 500 voters,
the council will be compelled to call
a special election to decide whether or
not Cahuenga valley, embracing seven
square miles, shall be annexed to the
city Of Los Angeles.
The petition was presented to the
city council yesterday by committee
of twenty-one with John w. Mitchell as
the chairman and spokesman, and was
referred to the committee Of the whole
in connection with the city attorney
and the water commission.
Councilman Smith was responsible
for the reference to the committee of
the whole. The venerable father of the
council declared 1t was question that
must receive serious consideration, but
however much consideration is given
the question the council has no al
tentative but to call the special cleo
tion, as the number of signatures Is
more than required by law to make
such course mandatory.
Councilmen Favor Annexation
The full council was present yester-
day afternoon when the petition was
presented and no member denied
President Summerlands statement
that every councilman favored the an
nexation. Houghton arose and sent
cold chills chasing each other up and
down the spines of the promoters of
the project by declaring he was hearth
ly In favor of It.
The territory which it is proposed
to annex contains about seven square
miles, and according to the school CEN
sus has population of about 45O0. The
annexation will bring Griffith park
into the city limits. The park has been
decided to the city, but it is outside
the city limits.
Particular stress has been laid on
the promise that the coming into the
city of the new territory would not
cmbarrass the water department, for
three private water companies are sup
plying this territory now and Will con-
tinue to do so until the Owens river
water is brought to Los Angeles. When
this occurs the residents of Cahuenga
valley promise to, pay their full share
of the cost of the new water supply.
They also offer to pay their portion
of the bond money necessary to build
the conduit.
With this territory annexed to Los
Angeles, Vermont avenue, one of the
longest and widest streets in the city,
can be improved. This cannot be done
now, for the street is owned Jointly by
the city and county.
In his argument to the council yes
terday John w. Mitchell, chairman of
the committee on annexation, said:
Committee Submits Statement
THE area proposed to be annexed to
the city is as follows Bounded on the
east by the present western boundaries
of the city, north of Wiltshire boulevard
on the south by Wiltshire boulevard and
its proposed extension; on the west by
Seward street in Colegrove and the east
boundary of Hollywood; on the north
by part of the south boundary of Holly
wood and the south boundary of Grif-
fifth park, including Griffith park
THE present area of Los Angeles, in
cluding its large park property, is 1927
square miles. The size of some other
large cities with which Greater Los An
geles will hereafter compete in popula-
tion and greatness Is as follows:
Boston, 4319; San Francisco, 465:
Taunton, so; Minneapolis, 53; Des
Moines, Sd; st. Joseph. 60; Denver, s.;
Duluth, 81: Washington, d. c., SO; Phil
adelphia, 100; Chicago, 190.64; New Or
leans. ESQ; New York, $3.50.
This plan only provides for the ad-
dition of about seven square miles 10
this city, which will make Los Angeles
proper only about fifty square miles.
Hence, Los Angeles will not by compar-
ison have an unreasonable acreage
within it's boundaries. Besides, the
character of our climate makes 1t de-
sirable for the home to have allotted to
1t a greater outdoor dimension than any
other country.
The proposed area to be taken into
the city does not contain any waste
land and is the nearest froStless lands
in Southern California. No expensive
street grading will be required. No part
of the territory is a greater distance
~ x,,.A L., he <if ifxyf y,
the present north and south boundaries
of the city.
Population Should Govern
"a portion of the land to be annexed
IS uninlproved, vacant land. But how
can this be detrimental to the people
or the municipality or Los Angeles?
There is much vacant land within the
boundaries of all large cities. 1t pays
taxes to the city, but there is no direct
benefit to the land. municipalities do
not have to furnish police or fire pro-
lection to vacant land; give 1t educa-
tional facilities, light or water. But
when the population grows and resi-
dences are erected and occupied as
homes, then the municipality furnishes
its utilities and protection and gets full
value received in rates and taxes.
This argument of vacant lands might
reasonably come from the owner of the
uIldIlIlS4Cd leiuut Dul WHY IL oilOdih DV
used by any interest in Los Angeles It
is difficult to comprehend. 1t is not
area but population that should govern
municipal limits.
"rhe history of majority of the
cities of America is that they grow and
extend westward when physical condl-
tions permit, and undoubtedly the pres
ent trend of Los Angeles is westerly
and northwesterly to Hollywood. And
this section is the most attractive of
any suburb in or near to Los Angeles.
There is a natural plateau extending
north from the line of Wiltshire boul-
evard to the foothills.
County Government inadequate
"The population Of this section has
increased threefod the past year and
with the reasonable and probable ex-
tension of the highways and electric
street railways, a great impetus will be
given this entire territory. 1t is already
In part supplied with electric lights and