Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-11
ORDER CARLSON
TOTEAR UP TRACK
MUST REMOVE HERMoSA LINE
FROM STREET
NEW TOWN TRUSTEES NOT IN
SYMPATHY
Work on System Started just Before
Local Election, but Laborers
Were Denied Right to
Vote

Unless w. H. Carlson Immediately
tears up the rails and ties OF the Her
mosa Beach-O Orient line the city au-
thorities of Hermosa Beach will wreck
the new system.
Formal notice to that effect was
served yesterday on the promoter Oh
the project and the ultimatum gives
him until Monday to start the work OF
demolition. Otherwise Street Superin-
tendent Butcher and Marshal Ferriel
will do the work at the expense OF the
railroad.
city Attorney Robert Loucks some
time ago notified the Hermosa Beach
trustees that Carlson was trespasser,
inasmuch az he had obtained no fran
chise to lay the rails, and advised tnat
steps be taken Immediately to protect
the rights OF the city. Action was de-
layed. however.
Now peremptory action has been au-
thorized by the board, Trustee Smith,
seconded by Meyer, authorizing that
a notice of ejectment be sent the Of
flcials of the line. Specifically they are
directed to remove 300 feet Of track
and ties extending from the intersec-
ton Of Santa Fe avenue and Canine
real and extending to Santa Fe ave-
nue. and Real avenue.
Recalls Election Fight
The last election for trustees for
Hermosa Beach was held on April 10,
1908. Just a few days over a month
prior to that Carlson sent force OF
thirty men to construct the new line
Only American laborers were hired,
and It Is said the instructions given
to Murray & Ready, employment
agents, was that only qualified voters
should be sent to the work. Only men
who resided In Hermosa thirty days
were eligible as voters.
The men were colonized in the b.
II. Hiss barn, and Attorney Loucks
charges that the plan was TO send eacn
man to the polls to vote the ticket
favored by the trolley interests VINO
sought to control the board.
To offset any trtckery at the polls
Loucks and his peoples committee on
election day objected to such a course,
took legal action and challenged the
vote OF every one Of the seventeen out
OF thirty who approached the polls: IL
is said only two Of the Carlson labor
ers were finally able to vote, these
showing legal residence In Hermosa
Beach.
Three days after the election most
of the Americans were laid 0, It is
alleged, and foreigners engaged.
No Franchise
"It Is now about three months since
the tracks were first put down. and
we think we win have them out OF the
way quickly" said Attorney Loucks
yesterday. "We broke up the colonial
tion scheme and we propose to prevent
the illegal use of the streets by a cor
poration which has no legal franchise.
'sThey called me and my brother an
archists when we tried to prevent mis-
use Of the ballots at the election DAY,
but we acted strictly within the law.
1.-THE Carlson people must act as
other railroad builders act and do busi-
ness IN legal way. That Is all"
Carlson's creditors in the recent
bank difficulty, in which he and the
depositors became involved, are affect
ed by this action, as the railroad was
listed as one Of the assets OF the bank
They are also Interested In the posi-
bility that damage suits will follow II
any one is hurt as result OF the dan
gerous condition in which some sec
tions of the road have been left since
work stopped. There are open cuts and
trenches. the tracks being laid In the
middle Of a public street.
II IL said no lighted lanterns have
been maintained as warning signs, the
oil supply having run short.
Carlson DefIes EN-
Mr.. Carlson said last night:
IT am not uneasy about the threats.
The fact Is, we have deed, an abso-
lutte deed, to fifty feet in that street,
granted before Hermosa Beach became
a city; granted eight years before 1t
became a city.
"Ofacials win do well to learn their
grounds before they undertake to pull
up the track.
1T built seven miles of railroad, It
IA true, and that Job put me into
trouble. If / had not built 1t / could
have helped other people out In the
recent stringency. But since have
done II and shouldered the burden l
would advise others not to tamper with
the rights we have. We don't need a
franchise; we have an absolute deed
and could build a house in the middle
~ the street If we chose"