Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-08
WORK OF THE DEsTRoYERs
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spoil the ornamental trees along the
route.''
Destroy Pomegranate Trees
In front Of the residence Of former
Senator Cornelius Cole yesterday after
noon, the chain gang was busily en-
gagged in pulling out a hedge Of pome-
granates by means Of a team Of horses
and a rope.
A Herald representative went into
the house Of Mr.. Cole to interview him
in regard to his attitude about the
trees being removed. The senator
was not at home but Mrs. Cornelius
Cole was, and she said:
I'VE have become reconciled to the
idea of having the trees removed. We
thought at first that it would be too bad
to destroy the eucalyptus trees which
my husband planted thirty-five years
ago, but now we see where 1t will be
beneficial, for the street must be
widened, which Is an impossibility un-
less the trees are out. Then there Is
so much more sunshine. 1 really am
quite satisfied about it,"
At that moment Mrs. Cole happened
to look out of the window toward the
chain gang which was then pulling
up one of the prettiest of the pome-
granate trees.
Excuse me just one moment" said
Mrs. Cole. She fastened to the cap
tain of the gang and said: What do
you mean by pulling out those pome-
granate trees? 1 planted these with my
own hands and 1 will not consent to
have them taken out. 1 command you
to cease instantly"
Men Obey Their Orders
aLoi or
moment and watched the captain to
see what he would do. 81 am very
sorry, Mrs. Cole said he, but we are
ordered to take out everything that
will interfere with either the street
or the sidewalk. l have no option at
all in the matter. Go ahead, men,"
Mrs. Cole was speechless with in
dignation for a moment and then, dis
daining to argue the case with the
man, she turned and left. Mrs. Cole
said no more in regard t obeng per-
fectly reconciled and would make no
further statement.
Late last evening the men, by an
untoward accident; allowed tree to
fall across the trolley wires, breaking
an iron brace. Traffic was not de-
layed.
The trunks of the huge gum trees
are being prepared for tests by the
to be made at San Francisco to deter
mine the value of eucalyptus wood for
carriage making and other commercial
uses.
Calls 1t Vandalism
81 only own one lot on Santa Monica
avenue, Colegrove, and | think am
glad L don't own more" said Gurdon
Parker of Los Angeles, who has con-
siderable real estate in outlying towns:
1.-The trouble that has been caused
concerning those trees seems to be
endless. 1 did not sign petition 10
have the eucalypts removed. On the
contrary | opposed such vandalism.
"Those splendid trees added greatly
to the value of the property [ have
always intended to build home on
that lot, for the surroundings were de-
lightful. Now l shall not build or do
anything to improve the property 1
think I have suffered more than the
other property owners because the big
black acacias on my lot have been
broken to the ground by the gang of
jailbirds and irresponsible men per-
forming the work of destruction.
Money could not repay the dam
age those people have done to my lot
I am going to sue the county just the
same, and have placed the affair In the
hands of my attorneys.
No Excuse for Act
"There was no earthly use in break
ing down those acacias. 1t looks like
a piece of spite work on the part of
some one. | joined Mr.. Cole in Wig
orouS protest and we were met with
language more forceful than polite.
In short we were informed that the
men working on the chain gang would
do all the damage they could to prop
erty. AS they had destroyed my trees
I came away in disgust and decided to
settle the affair in the courts. l am,
naturally, very sore over such work
and deeply deplore such vandalism"
Fl. ]. Thompson, who lives at Santa
Monica avenue and Ell Centro street,
said last night:
Our big trees are gone and it is a
dreary waste. We have fought hourly
to preserve our homes from the hands
of the wreckers These men came out
here and dug the earth away from the
roots of the giant trees and then went
away, leaving them a menace to life
and property. For three days and
nights my wife and family were in
terror / have had sick child and
we were much worried for fear some
accident would befall us during the
critical part of the boys illness.
Smashed His Fence
when they finally pulled the trees
down they smashed my fence and we
thought the house would be crushed.
MY next door neighbor suffered more
than I did for the top of one of his
acacias was broken out and the tree
ruined. This was done despite the fact
that the women pleaded with the boss
of the gang to rope the big limb and
save their trees. No attention what
ever was paid to these pleas and the
workmen stupidity threw great limb
into the top of the acacia and broke
1T down.
II fought the petition when it was
circulated. Those who have been most
active in circulating that petition have
not greatly profited by it. 1t was bad
enough to lose the eucalypts but it