Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-29
LAND OWNERS
WILL HOLD S. P.
TO ITS PLEDGE
ARCADE DEPOT IS SUBJECT OF
HARTMAN LETTER
ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IN
BUILDING STATION
Members of Committee Recall That
100000 Property Was Vacated on
Strength of Railroad
Promises

A committee of influential owners of
land in the vicinity of the Arcade
depot, believing that every opportunity
has been given the Southern Pacific
company to redeem its pledges to erect
a new station adequate for the bust
ness in Los Angeles, addressed a letter
to e. H. Hartman, as president of the
road, asking an indication of the COM
panys good faith in the matter.
Mr.. Hartman received and noted the
letter and advised William r. Burke,
who was chosen chairman of the COM
mittee. that he had referred the ques-
ton of a new depot building to julius
Kruttschnitt, director of maintenance
and operation of the Southern Pacific
system If Mr.. Kruttschnitt does not
reply within a reasonable time the
committee will send him a letter on
the subject.
The niemb ers of this committee, Will
liam r. Burke. John +. Brink, George
N. Black, w. B. Merwin, r. c. CUR
ado, F. J. Steele, II. Harrington, F. c.
Lehmer, F. S. Hicks and Frank Grit
fifth believe that action of this sort
was imperative, inasmuch as the city
had vacated a portion of Fifth street
worth 100000 with recompense only
of the company's promise to construct
a station creditable to Los Angeles.
AS more Indu Two years has CielPSCN
with no move to meet the company S
obligation the business men who are
most interested through ownership of
property i'll the vicinity of the depot
feel it incumbent on them to take the
matter up.
The letter makes a strongly put ar
gument for immediate action, review
ing the details of the appearance of
Judge Mckinley before the city council
on behalf of the railroad company and
the subsequent vacating of the land
asked for. The letter sent to Mr.. Har-
riman is in full as follows:
Much Money Spent
''Some time in the fall of 1906 your
company, through it's .egal representa-
tive, Judge ]. w. Mckinley, applied to
the council of the city of Los Angeles
for the vacation of all of Fifth street
abutting on your property upon which
is situated the Arcade depot.
at was represented to the council
that the Southern Pacific company de-
sired to commence as soon as possible
the erection of a large and commod1-
Gus depot building which would take
the place of the one now in use, and
that many thousands of dollars had
been expended in securing property to
the north and to the south for the pur-
pose of obtaining a site that would
answer your purposes in constructing
building that was not only demanded
by the railroad company on account of
it's then present and rapidly increasing
business, but was also great public
necessity.
Judge Mckinley spoke at great
length as to the plans, which were
described as fully up to every condi-
tion. At this time Judge Mckinley de-
clared that without the city vacating
the said strip-which, of course, would
mean complete REIMBURSEMENT of the
cityS interests to the Southern Pacific
company-it would be impossible to
construct the depot as laid out.
Vacation Made Conditional
"There was very considerable Op-
position to the proposition thus to do
nate to the Southern Pacific company
q piece of ground which. according to
purchases made short time previous
was valued at from $4,000 to 100000
and for some days the matter was held
in allegiance. 1t was then referred to
the board of public works, which re-
ported back to the council recommend
ing the vacation of the said strip If
the railroad company would agree to
deed to the city an equivalent piece of
ground on the east side of its property
for the depot grounds, which would
thus insure the public against an ex-
traordinary crowded condition.
ell Judge Mckinley said that its adop-
tion would prevent entirely what the
/ company sought to do, as in addition
Mo the construction of the depot build
ing a line of parking, with roads, trop-
tcal plants and grasses, was cOntem-
plated, a great deal more in area than
the board of public works asked for
and, while this grass plot would be
free to the public, the road desired to
control ii for the purpose of maintain
ing it in the best order and condition
possible, which could not be done il
any part of it was decided to the city.
Order Street Vacated
Judge Mckinley further stated that
7. he was anxious to have the street va
Gated that the company might go on
with the building as quickly as posi-
BILE; that the plans were almost COM
pleted, and that he was authorized to
state that a depot would soon arise on
the ground that We not only answer
every public requirement but would e
an ornament to the whole city.
ION account of these representations
and as we had for some time been
feeling the effects of business depres-
sion consequent on the San Francisco
earthquake, d great deal of opposition
passed away, and many supported the
proposition who would otherwise have
been in stout opposition.
1.-THE council took the matter up after
your representatives had gone over the
ground time and time again, and or
dered the street vacated. This was an
December 10, 1906; on December 16,
Mayor McAleer vetoed the ordinance,
whereupon. on the oath OF December.
1906, the council passed the ordinance