Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-11
PASADENA COUNCIL AND
Pc. OFFICIAL TO MEET
President of Rapid Transit Com
pany Comments on Service
of Electric Railway

PASADENA, April 11.-General Man
ager Mcmillan of the Pacific Electric
railway is expected in Pasadena today
to confer with the city council in re-
gard to the proposed double tracking
of South Lake avenue, from Colorado
street to California street, in connec-
ton with the improved service prom
ised to this city from Los Angeles by
way of Oak Knoll. The session VIII be
held behind closed doors, and city Of
ficials who were interviewed yesterday
would make no statements as to the
probable nature of the meeting Mr..
Mcmillan comes in response to an In
vitation from the city council. con-
tanning a special request at the instiga-
ton of Councilman Fogg, that the trip
be made from Los Angeles at O'Clock,
the hour of greatest congestion on the
short line cars. 1t is stated, however,
that Mr.. Mcmillan will come earlier
in the day.
Much interest has been occasioned
here through the publication in The
Herald on April of the first authorized
interview with the head of the Pacific
Electric, which was later verified by
him as a correct quotation. With an
idea of ascertaining what bearing the
improved service OF the Pacific Electric
will have on the proposed Rapid Tran
sit line which received the indorse-
ment of the board of trade through the
appointment of a boosting committee,
and which promises a. tWelVe-lnlnute
service between Pasadena and Los
Angeles, The Herald obtained yester-
day from President Dobbins of the
Rapid Transit company the following
statement:
PRESIDENT DOBBINS' STATEMENT
'It would hardly be ethical for me to
criticise the plans of the Pacific Elec-
trio company. These plans, like all
other transportation plans affecting the
welfare of the city, are, of course, OF
the utmost importance to the citizens
of this town, and The Herald is to be
commended for its wisdom and enter
prise in going directly to headquarters
for its information instead of printing
vague rumors and for giving to PaSa-
dena the first authoritative statement
as to just what are the Pacific Elec-
tries plans.
IF Mr.. Mcmillan was quoted cor
rectly. and / have not the least doubt
he was. then it seems that fully 90 per
cent of the traffic between the two
cities will be diverted from the present
business center of Pasadena, The new
service. no doubt, will be very gratify-
ing to those who live on the east side
at Oak Knoll, and such portions of Al
hambra and South Pasadena as lie on
that line. OF course, with the installa-
tion of this new service no one living
east of Los Robles avenue, say would
think of taking a local car, going 10
Fair Oaks and Colorado and there TAX
ing transfer and waiting for train
to Los Angeles, when one could take an
express train directly into the city over
the Oak Knoll branch. This obtains
as well with those returning from Los
Angeles. Thus, until our road is COM
pleted there are thousands of persons
who now go into the present business
center of this town every day who Will
never visit this section unless they
make a special trip on local car or
walk.
you ask me the bearing this new
service will have on the Pasadena
Rapid Transit company. 1t simply
shows, I think, how very necessary is
our road to the preservation Of the
present business center Of this city and
the preservation of the city's balance
as existing. In the authoritative state
Inent printed In The Herald Mr.. McMil-
Ian says:
over one-half of the traffic from
Pasadena to Los Angeles in the morn
ings and evenings comes from and goes
to points on East Colorado street and
territory adjacent. BY running a
through service to that section we will
be able to serve the bulk of Pasadena
patrons WITHOUT the lecSSSltS VI - e'i4H
ferring, which will give the business
center less congested service over the
present line on Fair Oaks avenue
ITO throw the bulk of its Pasadena
patrons to quote Mr.. Mcmillan, away
from the present business center and
around by way of Oak Knoll must and
Will have tendency to throw the CEN
ter of population to the east and south,
for population always follows the line
of best transportation service. And
with this change there would no doubt
fnlInru In q short time a consequent un-