The herald., 1898-10-04
WILL HAVE A HEARING
OIL MEN WILL BE GIVEN CHANCE
TO SHOW CAUSE
FOR THE POSITION THEY TAKE
Soap Factory Matter Partly Settled,
but Not to Satisfaction of Com
plainants-Council News

All day long yesterday the residents OF
the Westlake district and the oil operators
who are anxious to develop the Knob Hill
tract field spared for an opening at the
council meeting. Both sides were out n
force and sat around the lobbes through
ont the morning session, each expecting the
ether to strike the first blow. But the noon
rs,ess was reached without move being
made by either side, and then the announce
ment was made that something could be ex-
pected at the afternoon session.
Even then all the street protests were as
posec Of, the list of petitions gone throush
and the clerk $ desk was just about cleared,
when a commun .cation from the mayor
was announced. 1t proved to be the signal
far the opening of hosu.lities. The mes
sage read as follows:
TO the Honorable City Council-Gen-
tlemen: l herewith return to your hon-
orable body, without my signature, the
inclosed ordinance prohibiting the drill
ing. pumping and operating of Oil wells
within a certain distance OF the exte-
rior boundaries of Sunset park, a pub
Lie park Of the city of Los Angeles; also
please find inclosed protest or s. Z. HUB
bell ct al against the granting Of the
said ordinance.
AS members of your honorable body
have expressed a desire to further con-
s.der this matter, and as the lncIoseo
protest was not in your hands at the
time of taking action. l return the or
dinance to you, thinking that you may
perhaps see fit to set a time for rehear-
ing the same. While l believe in ord.-
nances which will protect our public
parks from nuisances Of any KIND, do
not beheve an ordinance should be
passed till all parties interested nave
been heard.
This was regarded by the council as prac-
t,cally a veto of the ordinance passed last
week to protect Sunset park from the Oil
operators, and Councilman Nickel imme-
diately made a motion that the ordnance
be reconsidered. The motion prevailed, and
Mr. Nickel then followed it with motion
that the ordinance be passed regardless Of
the mayors objections
Hold on, just minute" broke IN Attor-
ney Mcfarland, who was present as rep
resentatve Of the oil prospectors before
you vote on the passage Of the ordinance
1 would bike to call your attention to the
fact that the oil men protest against such
action, and respectfully ask that you give
them a chance to be heard on their side
of the question. 1t seems to me that 1t is
no more than fair that you should set q time
for hearing and let all parties appear be-
fore you with such facts as are obtainable
on both Sides
"Call the roll on the passage of the ord!-
nance" called President Silver.
"Seven ayes" announced Clerk Hance,
recording una ni1nous vote.
The attorney began to realize that he
stood about as much show as a SNOWFALL IN
Yuma, and he knew enough to quit, any
how w. E. De Groot, reputed 70 be the
motive power in all this stir over the Knob
Hill tract, wore look of ineXpress.ble dis
gust, as he wended his way thoughtfully
thence Not so with the venerable Hola-
bird. He wa tched the proceedings with an
ever alert eye, and when it was all ever
toddled away In De Groot's wake.
Everybody thought the oil matter was
Done with for the day. That is, everybody
but a cunning few. Mr.. Stewart was the
leader Of this faction, and they quietly sat
still in the lobby until the council had dis
about to adjourn. Then Mr.. Stewart came
forward and introduced the following Pc
tit.on:
The Oil Men Pray
We, whose names are hereto sub
scribed, respectfully represent: That
we are owners Of lots in Knob Hill
tract and of lands westward Of said
tract. or are otherwise pecuniar.ly in
terested therein that part Of said lots
are on opened and improved streets
and part are not; that on none Of sad
lots or lands are any buildings, trees,
shrubbery or other improvements; that
a large part Of said lots and lands are
within 1900 feet Of the boundary line
of Westlake park; that between said
lots and said park a natural ridge, un-
broken throughout its whole length
across said tract. renders it physically
impossible that drainage from oil op-
eratlons on any Of said lots should in
any wise affect the park: that your or
dinance No. 4061. N. s. stands in the
way Of the only feasible profitable de-
velopment Of our property, and is an
unwarranted and unreasonable restrlc-
tion Of cur rights; that as tt the land
lying on the north Of said ridge, there
is very grave and general doubt Of the
validity Of said ordnance.
Wherefore your petitioners pray that
all lands lying to the northward Of sad
ridge. which substantially comedies
with Ocean View avenue, be, by amend
n1ent or otherwise relieved of said re-
strict.on.
This petition bore the signatures Of Ira
W. Phelps. John C. Kofoed, Lily H. Kofoed
John D. B.cknell, S. C. Hubbell and ]. f
Cosby.
Mr.. Stewart reviewed the situation ir
conservative talk to the council in request.
ing that the petition be referred to the
proper committee for a hearing on the
question He insisted that the ordinance
In question cannot be sustained in the
courts. and that the council should there
fore SO amend it al to make It true to II.
purpose and at the same time legal. Mr.
Toll stated that he did not acknowledg,
the ordinance to be weak or Illegal. an(
that he could see no advantage in the de
sired hearing. After considerable discus
sion, however. the petition was referred t.
the board Of public works, and a hearins
will be granted the oil men,
Mayor Snyder's Idea
'While my action on the Sunset par|
ordinance" said Mayor SNYDER later /,
the day, was practically veto. II wa
really intended to call the councils atten
ton to the fact that the oil men are on
titled to a hearing on the questions in
volved. There is probably no one in tn
city who has suffered more from the en-