Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-18
THREATENS TO
BLOW UP TREES
EXCITED MAN FACES CITY
HALL BOARD
Property Owners and Anselus Hospl-
tai Officials Differ Over Retention
of Forest Monarchs on
Trinity Street

"I'Il dynamite those trees myself II
the citv does not cut them down. SAID
David Campbell excitedly as he ad-
dressed the board of public works yes
terday afternoon during the hearing 10
settle the fate of two big eucalyptus
trees on Trinity street IN front OIL lhs
Angelus hospital.
Yesterdays was perhaps the hottest
tree fight the board has had In years.
the opposition being, so some OF tnose
present stated, not so much against
the trees as against certain lnterests
which want the trees retained.
Nearby property owners have felt
bitterly for some time against certain
owners who hold acreage and oenent
by rise in values to which, it is claimed,
they have not contributed as they 90
not improve their holdings.
Pending before the board was
lengthy petition signed by nearly all
the small property owners near the
trees.
The gist of this petition was that the
street opening proposed was narrow
one, while the trees constituted an
obstruction, being of great dimensions.
They constituted detriment to lawns
and gardens as they stand now, and IN
circumstances such as these the in
tterests of the community as well as
LnOS6 Oh nearby ldllu wv ohooid w
considered, the petitioners said.
Property Owners Combine
1t is asked that grading proceed at
once, as less injury would be done ii
| this work went on now.
Those who signed the anti-tree petit
ton were j. T. Johnson, 124 feet; Mrs
l.. Snodgrass, 4s4; Agnes Yapp, $50; w
F. Golish 100; w. H. Golish, 1870; David
Campbell, 1870; D. F. Hill (per Rider)
325; Hy ]. Simauk, 541; Mrs. Frances
Dee (per Mrs. J. C. D., 54; Mrs. Martha
! Meyer, 81; Mrs. G. Wechlo, 40; P. j.
Gruber. 80 feet; William L. Leigh, 40;
Matt Miesen, As; Joe Caldares, 40;
Harry Lightcap, 40; Joseph Streeton, 40;
John Streeton, 40; K. A. SEM, 40; f.
Schlaget, 40; K. M. Sullivan, 40 Mrs.
Ida M. Parker. 40: A. M. Shook, 40:
Albert OFT, 40; w. H. Johnson, 40; Mrs.
Mary Cloetta, 40; e. G. Aiken, 40; w. S.
Humphrey, 40; Mrs. E. J. Hudd, 1876,
and Robert w. Watson, So.
When Mr.. Campbell had finished his
heated talk Chairman Anderson of the
board said that the board was disposed
to consider the excited state of feelings
of the speaker and would be guided
accordingly.
Attorney Garrett also insisted that
tiC City tame uONll lil6 trees as
the petitioners asked
Hospital Favors Trees
Rev. C. B. Nichols of the Angelus
hospital pleaded for the retention of
the trees, telling of deathbed Incidents
where patients in the hospital asked TO
be moved to windows where they could
gaze on those noble specimens of fores-
try before they dided.
Pastor La Fontaine of the Nazarene
church also pleaded for the big gum
monarchs.
William Niles, on whose home place
the trees and surrounding property are
part, stated that the trees were about
twenty-five years or more of age. The,
had been source of contention before.
Nearby a line of old pepper trees once
got representatives of the Los Angeles
Gas and Electric company into the
courts. These men chopped trees that
were in their way and the case went up
to the supreme court, the court protect
ing the trees.
The speeches for and against the
trees lasted over an hour, and at their
conclusion the board of public works
members announced that they would
pay visit to the neighborhood before
they rendered a. decision