Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-16
SITE ABANDONED
BY SOLID THREE
TRIUMVIRATE GOES BACK ON
ITS FIRST RESOLVE
REJECTS CoUNTY-oWNED LAND
FOR DETENTION HOME
Supervisors Vote to Purchase Property
at Yale and College Streets, AL
though Estimated Cost of lr-
proving VIII Be Greater

Why did the "solid three of the
board of supervisors go back on thelr
proposition, made some time ago, to
use the county land adjoining the
county hospital property for a deten-
tion home site? Why did they abandon
the idea of using that land when the
county surveyor estimated it would
cost $1,000 less to improve it than the
site they have decided on? Going fur
ther, why did they give up that same
idea even after Supervisor Pridham
stated the land could be used in its
present condition, only a few improve
ments being necessary? Why did the
solid three" decline to make an in
vestigation and determine whether or
not Pridham was right? Why are they
so anxious TO purchase the site at Col
lege and Yale streets, and why has that
site increased in value $4,000 within
the past twelve months?
These are some of the pertinent ques-
tions that arise out of the discussion
at the meeting of the board of super
visors yesterday, when the solid
three" Nellis, Eldridge and McCabe,
voted down Pridham's and Man
ning's motion to use land owned by
the county, and favored Eldridges mo-
tion to advertise for the purchase OF
the Yale and College street property,
which has been offered for $4,000, and
which may be regarded as already
bought for detention home uses.
County Surveyor l. B. Noble, to
whom the matter was submitted for
estimate as to cost of Improvement a
week ago, reported to the board yester-
day the county-owned property-all of
it-could be improved for about $4,000.
improvements Would Cost Little
The comparatively small portion that
would be needed for the home could
be improved. if necessary, for a great
deal less money.
Pridham favored the use of the
county property. If it could be used
without going to the expense of MAX
ing improvements in the way of filling
and building bitches, he explained, so
much the better; If improvements were
made the property would enhance in
value and thus the county would
benefit.
When the "solid three opposed this
idea Pridham called attention to the
fact they themselves had proposed the
same thing some time ago and wanted
to know why they had faced about.
Speaking of the site at Yale and
College streets, opposite the old French
hospital he wanted to know why this
property, which, he said, was offered
for sale a year ago at $4,000, had in
creased in value to $4,000, the price
now asked of the county.
Eldridge said he could tell why the
Yale and College street property was
favored. Because" he said, "a man
named Thomas had been told to
| knock it,"
| What reason can be found in this
explanation is difficult to determine
as a large number of the numerous
sites offered have been objected to by
persons living in the vicinity of the
| various properties.
In any event the motion to advertise
for the purchase Of the Yale and Col
| lege street property was carried, three
to two, and the county in all proba-
| bility, will spend $4,000 that it is
urged just as we'll could have been ex-
pended i'm other directions If the un-
used land near the hospital grounds
was selected.