Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-10
SAY SPITE WORK
PROMPTED ACTION
GLENDALE DECLARES PACIFIC
ELECTRIC INCENSED
Citizens Wait Eagerly to See What the
Railway Officials VIII Do
Toward Restoring
Spur Track


nection between the old and new busi-
ness sections Of the town. AS was
related in The Herald yesterday the
Pacific Electric railway, working a
large force Of Mexicans and Japanese
in the early Sunday morning hours,
tore up the spur track leading from
Brand boulevard up Fourth street to
Glendale avenue.
This action on the part Of the railway
company was not entirely unexpected
by the residents Of the little suburb.
Some time ago an application for
franchise was turned down by the town
trustees and the railway officials
threatened to change the geographical
location Of Glendale's principal busi-
ness section.
AS things have existed In the past
the real center of activity was to be
found on Glendale avenue, between and
on Third and Fourth streets. There
the postoffice, town hall and various
business houses drew the villagers to
the vicinity and the new business sec
ton, built after the advent of the
trolley and situated on Brand boule-
ward, was comparatively unimportant.
"Dinky" Car Operated
Connecting the two sections the rail-
way operated a "dinky" car, to which
transfers to and from the main line
we're issued. It is about one-third OF
a mile from Brand boulevard to Glen
dale avenue, and while the spur line
was 9 great convenience to the Glen
dale residents it was in no wise a
financially paying enterprise for the
Pacific Electric.
When the line was built the railway
company was forced to post bond,
which would be forfeited If at any
time the Fourth street branch was
discontinued. But it is not the money
which goes with the bond that the
Glendale residents want, and they are
seeking to have the spur track re-
placed.
According to legal authorities there
is no way in which the town trustees
can compel the Pacific Electric to re-
place the tracks torn UP by their work
men yesterday morning. A restraining
Injunction, could it have been secured,
might have prevented the work being
accomplished-for time, at least-but
the railway chose a time when no
Injunction could be obtained. No work
was started until after the midnight
hour of Saturday and as no legal busl-
ness can be transacted in Cal1fornla on
the Sabbath the Pacific Electric was
allowed ample time to complete the
work in hand.
No Legal Remedy
The Glendale residents know they are
I'm against it, so far as legal measures
to compel the railway to relay the
track are concerned, and their only
hope lies with Chief Engineer Pills
bury and the conference he has grant
ed to the town officials, to take place
this morning. When telephoned to
early Sunday morning Mr.. Pillspury
stated to Clerk of the Town trustees
woodbury. that he did not know Wheth-
er the spur track would be replaced,
and even professed ignorance that 'ile
work was being done.
Expressed indignation at the actlon
of the Pacific Electric can be heero OF
all sides in Glendale. Most OF the
residents look upon the railways ac-
ton in the nature of a piece OF spite
work, and still others say it is a clever.
game of the Huntington interests to
make little money on the side in real
estate. These latter contend that
Huntington and his agents have Sc
cured options on all the available busi-
ness property along Brand boulevard
and by cutting off the old business
section of the town from all car facil-
tiles will boom the Brand boulevard
lots and greatly enhance the value of
these holdings.
Await Definite Action
AS. soon as the Pacific Electric's fu
ture%plan of action is definitely known
there will undoubtedly be a scurrying
among the business men of Glendale
to secure new locations adjacent to the
car line. Without car service Glendale
avenue will undoubtedly deteriorate, so
far as realty values are concerned, and
the threat that Huntington made some
months ago-that he would move the
town over to Brand boulevard-will be-
come an accomplished fact.
1t is probable that unless the town
trustees are favorably impressed with
the interview which they will have
with the Pacific Electric officials this
morning mass meeting will be called
.in Glendale tonight and some means
of bringing the railway to time con-
ceived.
But at present the fact remains that
Glendale avenue and the business
houses in the vicinity are cut off from
car service with the main line and Los
Angeles. The Pacific Electric work.
men did their task well, and long be-
fore the daylight hours yesterday
morning had the Fourth street spur
completely dismembered and the rails
and ties deposited with other wreckage
at the Ivanhoe station.
IInnor rII1nUIo IIoAHAM