The herald., 1896-05-14
BETTER FIRE PROTECTION
Business Men Argue for More
Municipal Bonds
CITY'S FIRE ENGINE HOUSES
Directors Of the Merchants Association
Were Out Yesterday
They Stand Ready to Assist In Securing for
the City Its Own Fire Houses and
CITY'S FIRE ENGINE HOUSE

A delegation from the Merchants as
socitaion appeared before the board Of
fire commissioners yesterday to advo-
cate for increased facilities for fire
fighting purposes. The mayor Informed
the delegates that more apparatus
meant more money and more money
meant more taxes. Commissioners
Kuhrtz informed the delegation that the
Los Angeles fire department is amon.s
the most perfect in the world. b. r.
Coulter informed the board that the
Merchants association was only anN-
ious to lend to the board any assistance.
moral and financial, in its power. The
association would like to have the city
own its engine houses in lieu OF IN"
present system of renting from private
parties. Kuhrtz thought that all that
the department needs is a MODERN
hook and ladder truck. Every member
of the delega ton expressed himself as
being willing and anxious to vote ior
bonds for engine house property. He
paid a high compliment to the ability
and capacity of Chief Walter 5. Moore
The delegation urged for fire plugs at
every street crossing and at the corner
of every alley.
The mayor differed from COMMISSION
er Kuhrtz in that he favored the use OF
FIRE hydrants for sprinkling purposes.
Commissioner Netter told the delegation
how the board had tried time and again,
sought to bring about the reforms ad-
yocated, being. however, In every IN
stance turned down by the council Vet
ter expressed himself against the apuss
of fire MIGRANTS for sprinkling purposes
He had figures to show that the city Is
now paying what figures out twice
as much per annum for interest charges
as would be needed to pay interest
upon bonds for money to build munici-
pal engine houses. Vetter did not want
TO be understood as censurlng the coun
ell. for the board had gotten sfea,
deal more than any other pouy aoou'
the city hall The delegation VIII now
go before the council to request the
reforms which formed the basis for yes
tertiay's discussion. The various I'M
movements needed will be itemized in
to an official document for ACTON py tle
council Commissioner huhrtz was ann
ious to load the document with rlueI
for a fire department headquarters Oh
the site of the city hall lot, but to TINS
the other members of the board would
NOT consent Commissioner order
stated that three new fire compahle'
are at once needed there being at pres
emf SO. 000, 900 worth of property unPlo
tected about WeStlake park, ana the
mayor expressed himself in favor OF a
full paid fire department, but upon thes''
matters no action was taken.
The following passed by the trustees
of the town of Long Beach on May was
read:
Resolved. That this board tender our
thanks to Fire Chief Waiter >. Moore
and through him to the Los Anseles
fire department, for their prompt ana
generous response to the request of this
CITY for aid at the fire of this morn
ing And also to j. A. Muir. division SUI
perintendent of the Southern Paclnc
Railroad company for furnishing tram
for the use of the Los Angeles fire de-
partment in coming to our city.
Commissioner KhurtZ intimated TO
the MAYOR that the latter's action IN
not opposing the use of fire hydrants for
sprinklng purposes was due probably to
a political alliance between the powers
that be and the street sprlnkllnS con-
tractor. The charge. if such 1t can be
called. was made jokingly and was in
similar spirit denied.
The action of Chief Moore in respond
ing with his apparatus to the Long
Beach fire last week was approved.
NJ. l.. Cresswell was granted permis-
sion to operate a steam engine and boil
er on EdgeWare road, opposite Omaha
street. W. Gosan was granted permits
sion to locate a blacksmith shop on lot
5, block "a. Ord's survey.
The chief reported that l.. Schwartz
had offered TO erect an engine house on
Third street near Los Angeles, for a
rental OF Sis month for five years and
5000 for five years more.
Capt G. j.. Thorn had offered to con-
struct a house on Third street below
Main. the rental depending upon the
terms of the lease and the cost of the
building. Action upon the matter was
postponed.
The board granted Electrician Ira +.
Francis permission to locate the cleo
trio lights in the city hall for the coun-
Gil.
The request Of the Meek Baking com
pany TO he allowed TO place boiler and
engine al Sixth and San Pedro was re-
| ferred 10 the chief