Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-08

Il
/ that this money be raised by an an
nual building fund, rather than by re-
/ peated bond issues, for the reason that
| IL is q regular annual liability of the
/ city. Again. n bond issue IA too un-
certain and too belated n remedy for
the conditions, and the bonding capa-
city OF the city is limited and must not
he eneroached upon for annual liabill-
/ ties.
one very great advantage which
would accrue to the city from such q
provision as mentioned Is that the
board OF education would be enabled
| to buy school sites in advance OF the
pressure of population and could get
1 them at much lower figures than now
| compelled to pay. In addition to this
advantage larger grounds could be
acquired. IL is my belief that the city
will not have satisfactory school
| system until some such provision Is
made. Unless the money now needed
| for additional grounds and buildings
| Is provided I'm this way an immediate
bond issue for school purposes is Inn
perative.
Parks and Boulcvards
In our efforts to expand and build
up big metropolis. parks and boule-
wards must not be forgotten. Immense
sums of money are spent each year to
| tell people In the east that ours is
city of sunshine and Roses, parks and
| bouevards. AS our city expands our
parks grow inadequate. In this as well
| as in other things II is necessary that
the city keep UP with the march or
progress People who come in response
| to our invitation should not be met
with disappointment. They should be
greeted by all they have been led to
expect. and a great deal more. This
is country where people live out or
doors a great deal of the time. Parks
are necessary for the health and COM
| fort OF our permanent residents. Added
| to this is the economy of buying land
space while the city is still young.
There is no better way, in my opinion,
TO add to the city's assets that to in
crease its system of parks and boule-
wards.
The park superintendent says there
| is urgent necessity of q large park In
| the Seventh ward He also recon-
mends another for the southwest sec
tion and an addition to Echo park.
These recommendation have my ap-
proval.
While the city at the present time
| has many beautiful lawns and gardens
the time is not far away when the
central portion of the city Will be a
mass of stone and brick buildings.
When that time arrives the need of
breathing spots will become all too ap-
| parent, but it will be too late, for land
prices will have scared too high to
permit the city purchasing land for
! park purposes. Parks in the business
center of the city are also protec-
tion against conflagration. 1t was the
parks OF San Francisco which saved
| the fated city from complete destruc-
| tion. Fire burned to the edges of the
parks and died out. These and many
| other reasons may be urged to in
crease our park system and make the
city beautiful.
In apportioning available finances
urge you to he as liberal as you can.
Parks increase the value of property
in their vicinity and the city will get
large returns in the increase of taxes.
A boulevard system, not only con-
Meeting the parks but extending to the
sea through newly annexed territory.
has been long talked of. Such sys-
tenn cannot be built too quickly for the
city's good. I would approve immedi-
ate steps being taken to bring this
about Action of your body I am sure.
the citizens but financial encourag ge-
ment would be given as well. Such
boulevards should be at least $50 feet
wide to allow planting Of shade trees
and parking between sidewalks and
roadway. Boulevards to the sea should
be so planned as to permit of the heav-
lest traffic, so that citizens could use
the same for the transportation of
freight in wagons and motor cars.
In naming these many needed i'm
provements I desire that the council
clearly understand that the Owens
river water system comes first. and
that no other expensive improvement
should be made if it would jeopardize
the success of this undertaking.
Public Fairgrounds
It is recommended by the playground
commission that the city secure as
quickly as possible sites for play
grounds. Investment in Fairgrounds.
like parks. is a municipal economy.
The recommendation has my approval.
Los Angeles should profit by the ex-
perience of older cities. New York,
having neglected early opportunities.
has recently had to pay S2,0o0O00 for
one playground site. a playground
bought in Los Angeles two and half
years ago has increased in value 250
per cent. Sites are needed in the Sec
ond ward north of the Plaza and in the
Sixth ward.
Juvenile delinquency has been re-
duced almost to a vanishing point in
the neighborhoods where Fairgrounds
have been established. Money saved
in the police and court departments
and in the support of reform schools
would far more than maintain the
city's present Fairgrounds. Play
grounds not only save children from
street life but give them the oppOr-
tunity needed for physical develop
ment.
Another recommendation is tha1 Los
Angeles follow the lead of eastern
cities in providing for the recreation of
its older citizens. Boston, with its
Ward gymnasium and Chicago are fur
nishing the finest example of this new
civic undertaking. In the cOngested
districts of Los Angeles recreation
buildings are required providing GYM
nasium, baths, branch library aud as
sembly hall for the use of adults. such
recreation center should be estab-
lished on the recently acquired play
ground site in the Eighth wlcl The
playground commission has this un-
dertaking in charge ap1 it is probable
that private generosity will aid IN max
ing this possible as a beginning of a
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