Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-11
BUSINESS MEN
ENTHUSIASTIC OVER
RAILWAY PLkNS

Among business men generally yes
terday the greatest satisfaction was
expressed over the announcement of
the plans of the Los Angeles-Pacific
Electric company for improving its sys-
tenn, including four-track subway and
the erection of an immense depot and
office building on Hill street.
Expenditure of over $5,000,000, the
greater portion of which will be dis
tributed for labor and material in Los
Angeles, while in itself will be of much
benefit directly to the city, it is said
by financiers and business men that
this will accrue to Los Angeles by rea-
son of the widely advertised fact that
man of Mr.. Harriman's standing as a
shrewd financier and investor has so
much faith in the future of this city
that he is willing to expend such an
amount of money in single institu-
ton.
Warren Gillelen, president of the
Broadway National bank, said yester-
day that he had known for several
months the plans of the Los Angeles
Pacific company, and that the proposed
improvements, including the erection
of the great building on Hill street,
would be made as soon as men and
money could carry them forward. Mr..
Gillelen said he discredited the report
that Mr.. Hartman contemplated the
construction of a breakwater at Santa
Monica, to cost as much as the one be-
ing built by the government at San
Pedro, and he said he was positive the
plans of Mr.. Hartman never will in
clude such a project owing to the
heavy interests of the Southern Pacific
at San Pedro.
- General Manager T. r. Gabel of
the Los Angeles-Pacific, speaking for
Gen. Sherman and Mr.. Clark, who are
absent from the city, said yesterday
that the subject of a breakwater at
Santa Monica never had been DIS
cussed by the company and that such
an improvement was out of. the ques-
ton entirely, He said that the COM
pany once had tried to secure right
to cross a street in Santa Monica in
order that the line might have access
to the pier, but that the request had
been denied and the subject then was
dropped. Recently. however, the right
originally asked for had been volun-
tarily offered, but that the company had
not as yet taken the subject up again.
Speculate on Effects
The gigantic plans of E. Fl. Hartman
and associates for the erection of a
$2,000,000 passenger station on the west
side of Hill street, between Fourth and
Fifth streets, the building of numerous
tunnels and four-track electric rail-
ways direct to Hollywood and the San
ia Monica bay district at an outlay of
$5,000,000, all to be completed within a
period Of three years, have created the
deepest interest in business circles.
Everybody is specializing on the effects
of the vast expenditure of money, cash
that comes largely from the east, real
lied from the sale of bonds recently is
sued by the Los Angeles-Pacific COM
pany.
The general sentiment is that the i'm
provement of the railway service to the
coast towns of Santa Monica, Ocean
Park and Venice, and to Hollywood,
Colegrove and Sawtelle, will be hailed
with delight by the residents of the
suburbs, and that vakles in every di-
rection will be greatly enhanced by the
enterprise of the Hartman interests.
Look for Prosperity
Business men look forward to an era
of the greatest prosperity in the history
of Los Angeles and Southern Califor-
mia as direct result of the Hartman
operations.
'It seems like Dream" said Robert
Marsh, of Robert Marsh &S Co. II be-
lieve that Mr.. Hartman will deliver
the goods. 1t is truly a gigantic under
taking, and the Improvement will do
Los Angeles and Southern California a
world of good. All should be highly
elated over the outlook. Most of the
money that will be expended is outside
cash, and everybody will get some of it,
especially the laboring men and skilled
mechanics. With the certainty of the
building OF the Hartman tunnels and
railways to Santa Monica and Ocean
Park, and the prospect of having a
worlds fair in 1915, Los Angeles is
bound to forge ahead as never before
in her history"
Gen. John r. Mathews, president of
the State Bank and Trust company:
Yes, l have read about the plans of
Mr.. Hartman. The expenditure of the
millions set apart for the improvements
outlined means much for Los Angeles
in every line of business. The simple
announcement of the building of the
big station, the tunnels and the differ
ent lines of railways to the coast will
serve at once to stimulate the people
to join with the railway Company in
the accomplishment of big things. The
fact that something like ten millions of
dollars are to be expended in the inn
provement of the suburban railway sys-
tenn shows the great faith Mr.. Harri-
man and his associates have In the fu-
ture of Los Angeles. 1 believe the city
is going to the sea, and 1t is important
that the best of car service should be
provided. New towns will spring up
and acres now used for grazing will
soon be dotted by beautiful homes. I
believe San Pedro is the natural harbor
for Los Angeles, and viii become the
haven for all deep sea vessels. Santa
Monica Venice and Ocean Park are
splendid summer resorts, and are popu-
lar with the masses OF the people. 1
am pleased to note that the service to
TIE Santa Monica bay district is TO be