The herald., 1897-03-31


This would in some instances foster d
monopoly of pumping, which would en-
tail additional expense on Well-oWners.
Another objection to this clause is tnat
the stringing of wires or cables is at
times absolutely necessary in rigging up
derricks for cleaning out wells, and u
this could not be done, it would compel
the abandonment of a we'll as soon as
anything went wrong, thereby resultins
in the confiscation of the property OF the
well-owners Another Objectionable
clause was that forbidding the loadinS
, of oil on the graded streets. Portions
of certain streetsin the oil district were
almost wholly given up TO the use OF
the oil industry, and no harm couid re-
suit from loading at these points, nor
could the oil men see any harm IN ioau-
ing or unloading on any street, provio-
ed that proper precautions are taken
against spilling oil on the streets. But
the greatest objection was to the clause
recurring storage tanks to be buried un
derground The enforcement OF thls
clause. Mr. North said, woud WORK
great hardship on the INDUSTRY anu
cause the abandonment of nine-tenths
Of the wells. 1t was argued that the
danger from buried tanks was realay
oreste rhan from those above ground,
a G the gases from the former were mucn
more liable to become ignited thah the
latter. Besides. the use of underground
tanks was absolutely impractlcaple III
many instances, as it was necessary 70
have settling tanks above the storase
tanks. in order to get the oil IN me-
chantable condition. 1t was more 10
the interest of the oil men to prevent
dres than any one else. said Mr.. North
and they could be relied upon TO take
all the precautions possible. MI North
said that while there had been two serl-
ous fires in the oil district, neither one
had originated from an oil tank anu Tue
total loss of both fires was less than
that of the Hooker fire on Los Angeles
streat Mr. North said that the oil in
dustrv nut $50, 900 month in circulation
in the CITY and furnished employment
ia 200 men at high wages, ana ne uiI
not belive that the council Wahteu W
shut this off. He therefore asked ina.
the action of the council by which the
ordinance was adopted be reconsluereu'
and the matter referred 10 some colis
mittee before which the oil men coult
appear and give their views as 10 "Ha'
amendments are necessary.
Councilman Toll moved that ths
whole matter be referred to the special
committee which had CONDUCTED the
hearing prior to the adoption OF the OF
dinerce when Councilman Order op-
iected. saying that committee nau uoIe
its duty and the hearing shoulu pe COL,
Quoted before the whole couhcll. ma
ly. on motion of Councilman Dam Iii S.1i
whole matter was referred to speclal
committee to be appointed by the presl-
dent Later President Silver appointed
Councilmen Baker, Grider and Toll as
such committee.
THAT TELEPHONE FRANCHISE.
Henry O'Melveny, representing the
Home Telephone company, appeared De-
fore the council in behalf of the fran
chise asked for by that corporation he
said in view of the position taken by the
council in the matter of poles IN the
conduit area. the company would not
make any further effort in that direc-
tion. They would ask for but one
change. and then requested that the no.
tice of sale be printed. The change
asked for was the elimination of the
words "or wires" from that section
which prohibited "the erection of poles
or wires" in the conduit area. MI.
O'Melveny said that in case the COM
pany secured permission from the own
ers of private property to erect poles
on their land. it might be necessary to
occa sionally string wires across the
streets. and they wanted this privilege
With this single change they were will
ling to waive all the other restrictions
placed in the franchise by the council:
Ex-Attorney Dillon objected TO tne
advertising of any franchises at this
time. A bill had passed the legislature,
and been signed by the governor. which
would go into effect sixty days from the
10th of March. This law prohibited the
sale of franchises for a lump sum, but
bids must be made on basis OF a per-
centage of the gross earnings, not less
than three per cent, but no tax was TO
he exacted for five years. Mr. Dillon
deriving
a considerable portion of their revenues
from the earnings under franchises.
thereby reducing the taxes, and as
citizen, he did not see why Los Angeles
should not have the same advantages.
Mr. O'Melveny briefly replied ana
then Mr.. Order moved that the words
:. or wires" be eliminated. Mr.. Toll said
that while he thought the company
should be given all necessary latitude,
he could not vote to permit either wires
or poles
A vote was then taken and Mr.. Girl
der's motion was defeated by vote of
to 3. On motion the notice of sale as
prepared by the board of public works
was adopted by the council and the
clerk ordered to have the same printed.
on motion of Councilman Toll. the
matter of the application for an cleo
trio power franchise was referred to the
board of public works. with instruc-
tions to report at the afternoon session.
The matter of the contract for the
Improvement of Bauchet street was
taken up. and on the request of the
property owners the same was awarded
10 Frank Harmon, in place of Clayton,
recommended by the board of public
works.
The hearing of protests against the
acceptance Of Truman street was taken
up, but the hour for the noon recess
having arrived. the matter went over
until the afternoon session.