The herald., 1897-03-16
The NEW OIL ORDINANCE
Passed by the Council by 4
Unanimous Vote (
BELIEVED 70 COVER NIL P0|Nh
The Danger From Fire Reduced
to a Minimum
A VERY STRONG AMENDMENT 7
Adopted on the Suggestion Of the Schoo
Board aud Fire Chief
Stringent Regulation for the Storage Of o.
Near Any Frame Buildings '.-
The Appointment Of the inspector and HIS De-
putty VIII Probably Be rlade by the
Council Thursdey Mornlng-FuIl
Texx OF rne DOCUMENT
A VERY STRONG AMENDMENT
Adopted on the Suggestion Of the School
Board aud Fire Chief
Stringent Regulation for the Storage Of OIL
Near Any Frame Buildings .'..

The city council yesterday ADOPTED
the ordinance for the regulation Of the
oil Industry at the morning session. 1t
was at once transmitted to the mayor.
who in the afternoon signed the docu-
ment and filed the same with the city
clerk. 1t Will be published today, and
will at once go into effect. The oil In
spector and his deputy will probably be
appointed at the adjourned meeting Of
the council Thursday morning.
Shortly after the council convened Mr..
Nickel moved that the mayor be re-
quested to return the oil ordinance with
out his signature. The motion pre-
vailed by a unanimous vote, and the ex-
ecutive was at once notified. Shortly af-
ter a message was received returning
the ordinance, as requested, and the
vote by which 1t was adopted was re-
considerd by unanimous vote.
The matter then being again before the
council. the following communication
was read:
To the Honorable Mayor and Council
of Los Angeles City.
Gentlemen: The serious conhagrat.on
that occurred Friday night in the oil
district In the immediate vicinity Of
the Union avenue school building Is
only another demonstration Of the fact
that not only the lives of the children
that attend that school and the school
building itself are in constant danger
and liable to destruction a any time. but
also the property and lives of individ-
uals residing in the oil district, ON ac-
count of the large quantities of oil that
are permitted to be stored In the dis
trict and in that vicinity.
At Friday nights fire II was clearly
apparent that the school building and the
destruction of other valuable property of
individuals in that vicinity was by the
merest luck and chance averted.
The ordinance that has just been
passed by your honorable body provides
in subdivisions G against the storage
of oil within a hundred feet of any
building in greater quantities than 30
barrels without the consent Of the own
er of such building. Aside from the
question of the constitutionality of tais
provision. which is seriously questioned
on account of the discretion thai Is left
with individual property owners in per-
mitting oil to be stored, we feel that the
provision is inadequate for the protec-
tion that is necessary for the property
and lives in that district and that no
oil should be permitted to be stored
above ground for any purpose.
therefore, we, the undersigned men,
bers of the board of education recon-
mend that that clause of the ordinance
be amended so as to read az follows:
1T shall be unlawful to store, keep or
maintain any oil. crude petroleum or the.
products therof, other than refined kero-
sene oil, within 100 feet of any frame or
wooden building within the above-de-
scribed district. in greater quantities
than 30 gallons. unless the same is kept
In tanks or receptacies buried entirely
at least two feet below the
surface thereof and covered by at least
two feet of earth.
And we further respectfully recon-
mend that this ordinance be amended
ana passed so as to become law at the
earliest date possible, consistent with
your duties.
A. G. BARTLETT.
Chairman Building Committee.
CHARLES CASSET DAVIS,
L. F. ADAMS,
N. P. CONREY,
WALTER L. WEBB.
j. c. McINERNEY.
heartily endorse and recommend the
above, and feel now as 1 have always
felt, that all property within the oil
9istrlct IS In constant and imminent
oapger or destruction from fire owing
to the loose and careless manner IA
which the ell business has been con-
quoted, and the great quantities of oil
that have been stored in tanks above
ground In the near proximity to wooden
buildings and other structures.
WALTER S. MOORE.
Cnier or the Fire Department OF Los
Angeles City.
On motion OF Councilman Mathuss
the amendment as suggested was adopt.
eo py unanimous vote, and the crd-
nance as amended was then adopte
under suspension Of the rules. also by q
unanimous vote. 1t was at once return
ed to the mayor Just before the noon re-
cess During the afternoon the execu-
tive carefully read the document. and
shortly after o'clock attached his sig.
nature, thereby making It n law. aftsr
which It was sent to the city clerk for