Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01

breadth of view, and not only breadth
but an honest recognition of the existing
situation, with a daring based on faith
in Los Angeles to meet 1t.
Limitations outgrown
What is the situation? Here, frankly.
ic an enlightened community which has
loutgrown Its early limitations In swift
and unsystematic expansion. With site
extraordinarily beautiful in typography and
lavish in extent, It has permitted the
business of the city to be tammed ana
crowded into narrow streets that are still
unrelIeved by open spaces or imposing
Idevelopment and the residences to
sprawl clumsly over vast territory OF
hill and plain. There have been reserved
some beautiful park tracks, but they have
not been converted into a system; in the
city most sought in the United States by
pleasure lovers there are no fine drives.
The private building has outstripped the
public; and on streets that might DC
| those of q little town are rising CONNER
cial structures so splendid and imposing
and numerous that they insistently de-
lmand a metropolitan provision for them
Finally the railroad entrances to the city
are through inadequate little stations In
mean and shabby parts of town.
| Whatever the dreams for Los Angeles,
such then, are the present realitles' they
show the stuff of which the dreams must
be made II the city Is to realize the des-
tiny that is believed to be In store for H.
They show where we must plan and indi-
cate with what courage or convictlon,
with what breadth of view and with
what public as distinguished from private
spirit we must act.
| A UNION RAILROAD STATION AND
| IT'S APPROACH-A convenient point OF
beginning is the railroad entrance. Prac-
tically all the visitors to Los Angeles
tourists, investors, future residents
come by the steam railroads, and at the
station and ride thence through city
streets they receive their first impress
sion. 1t is an impression that is lasting,
coloring. Justly or unjustly their future
thought of the city. 1t would be well. II
for no other reason than more worthily
TO impress strangers, to make such an
entrance dignified and splendid; but 1t
so happens that the existing conditlon
is exceedingly unpleasant to the cltlze- )
themselves One of the arterial streets
of the city, Alameda-broad, direct, falrly
leyel--is abandoned to railroad, WHICH,
in semblance of old village days, passes
along 1t at grade, crossing a. grade all
the intersecting streets. Three or four
blocks east are two other railroads, and
all three have separate stations-the lat
ter two inconveniently located and none
with an adequate approach.
1t is obvious that there ought to be a
union station. The location of the Ar
cade station is good IL it be suitably de-
veloped the tracks on Alameda street
are bad, and if possible must be given
up; the location of the tracks OF the
Santa Fe and Salt Lake roads is, per-
haps, as little Objectionable as possible
We have, then, basis on which to work.
o,,l ha rAanUniZa6 that there
must be both give and take. as between
the railroads themselves and as between
the city and the railroads, to obtain
result that will be to the advantage
of all.
For Union Station
My recommendation is that the union
station be located on the land now occu-
pied by the Arcade depot and its sur
roundlngs; that the Southern Pacific
abandon the use of Alameda street by
through trains. thenceforth' collecting
and delivering freight, to such plants as
are reached by the sidings from that
track, in cars propelled by electricity;
and that in return for this relinquish-
ment of Alameda street the Southern
Pacific be given right of way directly
east from the present Arcade depot to
the present freight yards of the Santa
Fe. From that point the roads can be
depended upon to work out their own
trackage arrangements. The Santa Fe
and Salt Lake should be allowed track
age facilities over the new right Of way,
and the trains ct the Southern Pacific
should then enter and leave the city along
the line of tho river. AS the Salt Lake
road now does this, and is allied with
the Southern Pacific. and as the latter
would still have, near the Buena Vista
street bridge, convenient access to the
extensive yards, this plan would seem
to involve no serious difficulties in view
of, the advantages to be derived
But the city, in requiring these changes
and the cor struction of a splendid union
station. should improve the opportunity
to provide worthy approach. This can
be done easily and effectively by widen
ing and Frightening Fifth street. Piac-
ing the new station on the present
Southern Pacific holdings at the Arcade
depot and cut out Central avenue, the
drawing suggests big terminal station
built on the modern plan-mafl, express
and baggage taken care of in long
building at the side, into which run
tracks for the loading-and unloading of
cars, while the passenger cars stand be-
tween esplanades that terminate. at the
end of the main station, in wide con-
course onto which open waiting rooms.
Fifth street, centering on 1t, so as to give
fine effect, closing the vista of the
street. The effect is further heightened
by the suggested peristyle, a cannonade
describing a long arc across the struc-
ture's front. Fifth street is widened to
1924 feet, from Gladys avenue to Los
Angeles street, and is Strengthened. so
that it leads straight away from the
broad plaza planned in front of the sta
ton to the heart of the business district
A very remarkable effect can be secured
here at relatively little cost. For the four
b'ocks from Central avenue to Crocker
street 121s-foot alley runs parallel 70
| Fifth street at a distance of only 100 feet
10 the south. BY widening the street on
| This side to include the alley there 's
| obtained thus the whole broad sweep de-
sired. For the block beyond Crocker the
alley has not been cut through and the
strip to be acquired is twelve and one-half
teet wider as consequence. Then comes
| the streets present awkward turn, which
| Is remedied by taking such decreasing
amount on the south side and increasing
amount on the north, as to maintain its
straight line From Wall street to Los