Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-17
MAYORS FAMILY
GETSACQUAINTED
COMMISSIONERS DINE AT CRIF-
FIFTH PARK
AUTO RIDE WINDS UP WITH BIG
JoLLlFIcATIoN
City Officials Hear Each Others
Views on What Los Angeles
Needs Most to
Grow

Mayor Arthur c. Harper had all his
official family of commissioners as his
guests at Griffith park yesterday, and
with the park commissioners as hosts
arranged the most delightful, informal
affair of the administration.
Practically all of the members of the
city council, the commissions and the
two boards of Los Angeles attended,
the guests also including four woman
members of boards.
Primarily the object of Saturdays
outing was to get the different city Off
cials better acquainted, but another
object was to call attention to the fine
work and possibilities afforded by Los
Angeles fine park system, the excel
lent work recently done by the unem-
ployed in making park roads at $1.6O
a day, and the magnificent vista of
scenery afforded by Griffith park, which
some day will be the show spot of Los
Angeles.
Automobiles were utilized in carrying
the guests from the city hall to Crit
fifth park via Elysian, and 1t was trip
marked by enthusiasm.
Multiplying Trees
The results of the tree nursery which
Park Superintendent John Morley has
established in Elysian park was shown
by the thousands of pines, acacias,
eucalypti, palms and other greenery
which is dotting the slopes and valleys
of the Elysian and Griffith park, yet
the tree planting Is only in its infancy.
The remarkable extension of the wa
ter pipe systems was also favorably
commented on.
Compared with other cities Los An
geles spends a fraction for its parks,
yet more results are obtained here In
one year with a dollar than in five
years in the east.
Arrived at Griffith park the touring
cars headed for the big open place at
the foot of Harper rock, where the bar
becue ovens sent out fragrant odors or
cookery, and Chef Joseph Ybarra and
his corps looked after the tables ar
ranged for the feast.
Mayor Tells Why
Mayor Harper opened the flow OF
speechmaking by praising the v1ands
Superintendent Morley and his aids
had prepared, and then explained that
the object of the gathering was to con-
vince the Individual commissioners that
ssthe other fellow" was actuated by the
same common enthusiasm to upbuild
Los Angeles. BY personal acquaintance
many misunderstanding could be re-
moved.
"No harm will come from the barbe-
cue, and I am sure only good will re-
suit" said the mayor.
He said the highway commissioners
had twitted him about the lack of
automobiles owned by the city. but he
said the city officials showed that on
occasions they could mobilize plenty of
machines.
DR.. Charles r. Lummis was called on
first. He said he was lost in admira-
tion of the size of the official family
Father Harper was able to summon.
some of them patriarchs in doing good
for Los Angeles and others were mere
novices-yet all actuated by the same
motives.
DR.. John r. Haynes followed, his
comment being that one of the good
effects of gatherings such as this was
that the members will get personal
knowledge that none of them grow
horns.
DIR. Haynes eloquently told why her
people loved Los Angeles, then ad-
dressed himself to explaining some of
the needs which would make Los An
geles greater.
What shall we do to keep Los An
geles in the vanguard of American
cities?" asked the speaker. "See to 1t
made to produce every unit of electrical
force possible and practicable from a
business standpoint. This is estimated
at about 95,000-horse power. See to 1t
that the generating plants are owned
by the city and that the electricity be
not farmed out to private companies
as has been suggested but that the city
supplies directly las it does it's water,
light and powero to itself and its resi-
dents.
Aqueduct and River
Encourage manufacturing by sup
plying power at very reasonable rates.
Do not be afraid of freezing out the
light and power companies for the de-
fnand for electricity will be so great
that our local companies will all grow
wealthy despite the city's competition.
do not sell the river bed to anyone.
Reserve that for the city and build your
own wharves at San Pedro and Will
mington, which cities (and especially
Wilmington by the way should be-
come part of our city as soon as pos
sibIe, and any surplusage of electricity
from the owens river water use on
your own railroad to the sea.
do you know that it is estimated
that at least one million tons of nom
perishable freight is hauled across the
continent at an average rate of S25 per
ton that should be carried by water at
about So per ton? According to the in
terstate commences report for 1907 the
average freight rate throughout the
United States was 7-10 of one cent per
ton per mile. We pay about ten times
that much to bring our freight from
San Pedro. Six dollars per ton in car
load lots is the price charged from
Chicago to New York, 900 miles. We
pay about So per ton for thirty miles
haul, just ten times as much If these
figures are correct.
City-OWned Road
do you not think that a city owned
road run by city owned electricity and
carrying freight from city owned
wharves would be a paying invest
ment? 1t would mean millions of dol
lars annually to our merchants.
Nothing is more important than the
care of our children, and I cannot
commend too highly the steps taken by
the board of ducation in establishing
health department, the object of which
is to examine and treat Cor have treat
ed) the children in the public schools
for ailments that are very commonly
overlooked even by parents who are
not usually considered careless.
1--WE spend an immense amount nj
money for the education of our cItizane
that are to be. 1t is just as much a
part of the duties of our educational
bureau to see that our children are
made receptive of our educational ef-
forts as it is for a farmer to pillow his
ground before planting seed. A child
suffering from defective eyesight, from
: 90 - =, I D sSs =,