The early settlers of the Cahuenga Valley are often heard to remark that up to a very few years ago it was almost impossible during the rainy season to drive from any part of the valley to the city of Los Angeles, owing to bad condition of the roads.
From time to time a little work was done here and there, but no organize effort was made to put the roads of the valley in proper shape.
There seems to have existed a spirit of jealousy among the earlier residence, so much so that if the country attempted to do any work in one section of the valley, the Supervisors and Road Overseer were immediately charged with favoritism. Thus standing in their own light the property owners themselves prevented what little work might have been done in the otherwise favored Cahuenga Valley.
Instead of having the best roads in the county, which they were entitled to, the Cahuenga roads were known as about the worst. This, of course was before the term of the present Supervisors.
In the early part of 1899, H. J. Whitley, a gentleman living in Hollywood with large interest in Los Angeles and eastern cities and with long experience in public work, foresaw the immense benefit which would accrue to the valley, as well as the convenience to the residents, if a system of good roads, a boulevard and a foothill branch of the electric lines could be built from the city to the sea. Mr. Whitley was not only instrumental in developing Hollywood Boulevard but also spearheaded Sunset Boulevard. To learn more go to: https://thefatherofhollywood.com/images/pdf/NewCahuengaValleyBoulevardLATimes5-26-1901.pdf
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