The herald., 1893-12-07
FIRE COMMISSIONERS
STEEP BILL FOR REPAIRING
ONE OF THE FIRE ENGINES.
Fire Protection in the Eighth
ward Recommended Some Per-
tinent Suggestions Made to
Councilman Nickel.

The fire commissioners held quite a
long session yesterday afternoon.
Mayor Rowan, Commissioners kuhrts,
Wirsching and McLain, and Chief Dan
Moriarty were present.
Chairman Nickel and Councilman
Strohm of the sewer committee came IN
and asked the board to give them the
use OF a fire engine to assist in flushing
the internal sewer system. Mr.. Nickel
said that Sand and dirt had found their
wav in some OF the sewers, and as 1t
will not be long before the outfsll sewer
is completed, they wished to get the
internal system in shape for connection
with it.
After talking the matter over it was
decided to let the committee have en-
gine No. 2, the repairs on when nave
been completed, also some call men TO
assist in the work, who will be paid
extra ior their services.
Chief Moriarty reported the repairs to
engine No. completed and the engine
ready to turn over, and asked that a
committee be appointed to inspect 1t at
the Union Iron works.
On motion the committee OF the whole
was appointed to inspect the engine,
and went down later in the afternoon
for that purpose.
A protest against granting permit for
the erection OF a planning or saw mill to
s. P. Chamberlain was referred to the
chief for investigation. =,
Building Inspector Eisen was called
in on the petition of Alex. Simpson to
erect an iron shed on lot on the west
side of Main, between Fifth and Sixth
streets. for coal and wood yard, and
Mavor Rowan stated that he had no OBJ
lection to the building. 1t was decided
that the permission should be granted
on condition that the shed be built on
the back of the lot, and that the office
building be of brick.
Councilman Gaffey appeared before
the board and called their attention to
the UNPROTECTED condition of that part
of the Eighth ward lying between the
Sterns Manufacturing company build
inQs and the Kuhrts street bridge, and
from San Fernando street to the river.
He thought the water company should
put down four or six inch main along
New Main street, go that fire protection
could be obtained.
Mr.. Nickel said the same about the
section on South Hayes street, East
Los Angeles, from Downey avenue to
Kuhrts street.
On motion of Mr.. Kuhrts it was de-
cided to request the City Water to put
not less than four-inch mains in both
these sections.
The applications for petitions as engi-
neers of Charles M. Bragg. G. E. Curtis
and Martin Dunn; of III. N. Childs, j.
H. Hogan and William d. Sherer as
caIlmen, and G. f. Lamb as foreman,
were received and filed.
A communication from the city clerk
was read calling the attention of the
commissioners to motion by Mr..
Nickel, adopted by the council, asking
that new hose cart be purchased for
engine house No. 2, to replace the old
cart.
MIR. Wirsching called Mr.. Nickells
attention to the fact that the fire de-
partment has cost $34, 124.39 SO far this
year, out of the total appropriation of
$4,000, and that the department is
going TO be pressed for funds, there be-
ing still eight months in the year, with
a prospective reduction in the revenues
by the proposed looping off of occupa-
tion tax. He suggested to this council
man that if the council will see the
commissioners through he would be
willing to get new hose cart for him
and put in the improvements in the fire
alarm system.
Mr.. Kuhrts-If you take off the
license tax we will be shorter still.
On motion the matter was referred to
Mr.. Kuhrts and Mr.. Wirsching.
Proposals for fire alarm system were
not opened. at the request OF Mayor
Rowan, but were laid over until Mr..
Brodrick could be present.
large number of acquisitions were
read by Clerk Robinson, among them
being several for repairs on engine No.
2. These amounted to some $1,000, and
Mayor Rowan stated that these repairs
would cost in all over $1,000, according
to the acquisitions put it. This was
large sum. and he thought they should
be looked into before approval.
MIR. Kuhrte said he had understood
the repairs would not cost near that.
On motion of Mr.. Wirsching the
acquisitions were laid aside until the
committee had looked at the engine.
demand for $120 for two fire alarm
gongs was also laid aside, being finally
referred to the chief for investigation.
The remaining requisitions and de-
mands were approved.
The board then went into executive
session for about five minutes but took
no action upon anything after reas-
sembling. The members declined to
state the subject of their secret deliber-
stions, but it was learned that one of
the subjects brought up was q charge
against Engineer Martin Wetzsl. Dur
ing the day Engineer Wetzel was sus-
pended pending charge of neglect of
duty, and this it was that occup pied some
OF the time of the executive session.
There are some stories atloat about the
case which the commissioners declined
to discuss.
The commission then adjourned sub
ject to the call of Mayor Rowan, it being
the purpose to have special meeting
to consider the fire alarm system pro.
poEals.
MRS. SAMUELS DISCHARGED.