Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-15
ENDORSES BONDS
IN HEARTY TERMS
FIRE BOARD DRAWS UP SET OF
RESOLUTIONS
Makes an Appeal to All Citizens
to Lend Support to the Issue
to Be Voted on Next
Thursday

Endorsement in strong terms as a
safe and sane measure has been given
the proposed issue of bonds for fire
protection purposes by the board of
fire commissioners OF Los Angeles. At
a meeting held last night q set of
resolutions embodying the principal ar
guments in favor of the bond issue
was drawn up by the commissioners.
Not only does the board indorse the
proposed issue of bonds, but in an
addenda to them an appeal Is made to
all citizens and improvement organi-
zations for hearty support Of the is
sue in the election which will be held
Thursday.
Los Angeles is, considering the area
of the city, the least protected from
fire of any city of q like number of
Inhabitants in the United States, it is
argued by the commissioners. Louis
Vile, KY, a city having about 5000
less inhabitants than Los Angeles and
having an area of but twenty-onh
square miles, employs 23O fire fighters.
Los Angeles has a population of 23S,00O,
an area of forty-three square miles,
and employs a fire force of 1872. Many
cities with much smaller population
and area employ a force of firemen
larger by far than the department in
Los Angeles.
Give Pledge
A pledge of judicious expenditure of
all money derived from the sale of the
bonds has been given by the commits
sioners. They argue that IL the money
is properly spent it will place Los An
geles In the front rank of cities well
protected from fire.
Following are the resolutions adopt
ed by the commissioners:
Whereas, Some of the daily papers
of the city of Los Angeles having seen
fit to attack editorially and otherwise.
the proposed issue of fire bonds to be
voted for on next Thursday, May II,
1906: and
Whereas. The board of fire commits
sioners, after careful and earnest delib-
GRAFTON, having requested the city coun-
Gil to call said bond issue for good and
sufficient reasons; therefore, be 1t
Resolved That we, the board of fire
commissioners of the city Of Los An
geles, in extra session assembled, here
by make an appeal to the citizens of
the city of Los Angeles to vote for said
bond issue on next Thursday for the
following reasons, to wit:
Try to Give Protection
First--The board of fire commission
ers is endeavoring and has at all times
Angeles fire department that will pro-
vide proper protection and be credit
to the city, but cannot do so without
sufficient funds therefor.
Second-The population of the city
of Los Angeles has increased SO rapidly
the past few years that the present
system of making tax levy for the
maintenance of it's various departments
is inadequate to provide sufficient funds
to enlarge and take care of the same,
in keeping with the general growth of
the city.
Third-Every company in the fire
department at present is improperly
manned, being short handed from one
to three men each.
Fourth-Nearly all of the fire houses
are badly in need of repairs. Many of
them should be removed to better loca-
tions to secure quicker service.
Fifth-Some districts of the city have
practically no protection at all and
numerous complaints have been made
by citizens in said districts, and re-
quests made to the commission to pro-
vide necessary protection. The new
bond issue will provide funds for seven
new houses and equipment in these
districts that at present have little or
no protection.
Makes Comparison
Sxth-The following comparative
statement obtained from the latest sta
tistics, showing the number of men,
area and population of Los Angeles.
compared with other large cities in the