The herald., 1897-04-02

cables, and gave his reasons at length.
He thought that the clause in regard to
the burying of tanks should be- amend
ed so as to permit, tanks to be erected
on permission Of the owner of the
house. when Mr.. Burdette asked him If
he, as lawyer, would state that such
provision would stand IN law.
Mr.. Mcfarland stated plainly that he
did not. He was not present to discuss
the legal aspects of the ordinance, but
as his opinion had been asked he would
state that he did not think It worth
d" The whole matter had been
settled by the decision of Judge Van
Dyke.
Richard Green, an oil man, said that
the business could not be conducted IL
they were forced to put the tanks under
ground, and Mr.. Gray property own
er, also made plea for the removal of
restrictions on the oil industry, saying
that the continuance Of the industry was
necessary for the poor people in the oil
district to get anything out of their
property.
Messrs. Frey, Meek and Keifer again
spoke briefly, the two latter saying that
they were saving respectively So day
and $400 month.
James Burdette, on behalf of the prop
erty owners, followed in lengthy and
exhaustive argument. He protested
against the representatives of the COM
mercial bodies of the city coming before
the council and asking for the repeal of
an ordinance for the protection of a large
number of citizens because few men
are making money! at the expense of
their fellows, and he protested against
an outrage of this kind. No body of
citizens who lived in a different section
of the city had a right to stick an oil
we'll under his nose and say to him that
he must stand 1t. because he was making
money out of it.
Mr. Burdlstte was proceeding to show
that nothing had been heard from the
oil men about the ordinance until an in
spector had been appointed VINO nad
notified them than he .intended to en-
force it's provisions, and then they had
come in and asked that it be rescinded.
Then Mr.. Mcfarland, in answer TO
question, again repeated that the ordl-
nance would not stand in law any more
than the other one had.
Yes" said, Mr.. Burdette, "you drew
up an ordinance as city attorney which
you promptly knocked out when you
went out of office"
There was some further talk between
the gentlemen, when Mr.. Burdette re-
sumed his argument. He read many
sections of the fire ordinance to snow
that the city had the right to regulate
matters Of this kind, and to-take precau-
tions for the prN ection or the .llte anu
property of the citizens. Mr.. Burdette
protested against the claim OF the OIL
men that certain streets had peen gwen
up to the oil industry, and claimed tnat
streets which had cost the property
owners over $4,000 had been appro-
priated by the oil men.
Mr.. Burdette, in answer to questions.
admitted that he had leased a lot for
oil purposes, but said that he had done SO
because the adjacent lot had been
leased, and as he was to get all the bad
effects of the industry, he did not see
why he should not get some OF the pene-
fits. Further. he had provided that the
man to whom he had leased the lot
should keep within the provisions of the
law.
Mr.. Burdette insisted that the provis-
ion in regard to putting the tanks under
ground was the most important clause
in the ordinance, and should be retained
for the protection of the people. The
Insurance companies had yesterday can
celed thirty-five policies, representing
$45. 900, and others would follow.
In answer to a question by Mr.. NC
Farland. Mr.. Burdette stated that the
reason for the cancellation of the poll
cies was because they considered the
risks too dangerous to be carried at any
price. and the tanks were the principal
cause of complaint.
Mr.. Moss, property owner, put In his
protest against the repeal OF the ordi-
nance, and Mr.. Mcfarland followed,
saying that the oil men did not want
the oil ordinance repealed; they Oily
wanted three amendments. the elm
ination of the clauses as to loading, put
ting tanks underground and the over
head wires, and was followed by CAL
Foy and other property owners.
Councilman Toll then gave some facts
about the attitude of the insurance COM
on the introduction of oil for fuel
purposes, and stated how they had made
tests and arrived at the conclusion tnat
they could not take any risks except
when the tanks are buried underground.
He felt great deal of sympathy for the
people in the oil district, and he thought
that they should have protection. Mr
Toll also stated that he was sufferer
from the oil industry, as he owned lot
at Bush and Washington streets, and
every time 1t rained he was compelled
to have the Oil cleaned off. There was
also annoyance and inconvenience ex-
perienced on Figueroa street. There
was no question but what tanks on the
surface were much mora dangerous than
those underground, for in case of fire
the oil In one instance would run on
the top of the ground, while in the other
1t would simply burn out. For this
reason, he thought the tanks should go
After some general talk the hearing
was adjourned and the matter taken
under advisement until Monday next,
when a report will be presented to the
council.
THE POLE ORDINANCE