Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-23
RAILWAY WANTS
TERMS OF BOARD
FAILS T0 SUBMIT PROMISED
PROPOSITION
School officials Demand That Los An.
geIes-Pacific Make Offer for
Easement for Subway
Under School

With visions of hundred-thousand-
dollar offers floating in their brains,
the Los Angeles board of education met
yesterday afternoon to receive an Of
fer from the Los Angeles-Pacific Rail
road company for the privilege of tun-
neling under the Olive street school, in
accordance with the company plans
for its new subway. Their fond hopes
were disappointed by communication
from the railroad officials requesting
them to submit a proposition to the
company.
Monday afternoon Messrs. Gabel and
Ellison of the railway company met the
building committee of the board, and
in an informal way presented their
plans and what they proposed to do.
Deputy City Attorney Emmett Wilson
was present and instructed the men,
bers of the board as to their legal
rights in the case.
AT that time the company's repre-
sentatives were told that a definite
proposition would have to be made be-
fore the board could act upon it, and to
give them a chance to make an offer
special meeting was called for 8 O'Clock
yesterday
When the board convened at the ap-
pointed time yesterday afternoon, none
of the officials of the company had ap-
President E. P. Clark was read, the let
ter being as follows:
Asked to Fix Terms
ITO the Honorable Board of Public
Schools of the City of Los Angeles
Gentlemen: An ordinance has been
enacted by the mayor and council of
the city Of Los Angeles looking to the
construction of a subway from a point
on Hill street, south of Fourth street,
westerly to the city limits.
This subway will pass under the
public school building located on Olive
street, and it is necessary for the Los
AngelesPacific company, which pur-
poses to construct said subway, to OBJ
tain easement permitting it to con-
struct, operate and maintain said sub
way through the grounds on which said
school is situated
You are therefore respectfully re-
quested to fix the terms and conditions
upon which such subway may be con-
structed. Very respectfully,
The Los Angeles-Pacific company,
by f. P. CLARK, Pres"
The unsatisfactory character of the
letter evoked no little adverse criticism
from members of the board, and it was
at first proposed to adjourn the meet
ing until such time as the company
might have some definite offer to make.
Mr.. Stlson declared: Il thought Mr..
Gabel and Ellison would be here as
they promised last night" President
Scott said: "A motion is in order to
adjourn to give the railroad company
a chance to make us proposition that
is tangible and able to be taken up"
During the discussion President f. p.
Clark of the railroad company entered,
and seemed very much surprised that
Gabel and Ellison were not present To
Mr. SCott's question he admitted that
his letter was not a proposition. Asked
for a statement of what the company
wanted, he said they desired an ease
ment for constructing a subway under
the school property. He did not believe
that such a subway would interfere
with OF damage the building or prop
erty in any way.
Mr.. Wilson, who was present from
the city attorneys office, advised
strongly against taking action on the
communication which had been pre-
scented. 1T isn't any proposition at
all" he declared.
After a great deal of discussion pro
and con the letter was referred to the
building committee, with instructions
to require of the railroad company a
definite proposition in writing, that the
city attorney might consult with the
city engineer.
If the company eXpedites matters, ii
is expected that the proposition will be
in such shape that it may he presented
to the board at the regular meeting
Monday night.