Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-10

r OS ANGELES is to have a sal
wage corps as an aid to its fire
department and protection tc
property owners.
It has been spurred to action by the
recent large fires in the downtown dis
trict where the loss from water has
been far in excess of that from the
flames. A glaring example of this wa
in the fire in the Chamber of Com
merce building early yesterday morn,
ing. The attention which was called
to the dire need of a salvage corps by
Yesterdays Herald is productive of re-
suits.
An Informal discussion of the situa'
ton by members of the fire board took
place yesterday and at the meeting Of
Friday, the secretary of the board will
be instructed to procure data from al
the large eastern cities as to the ex'
pense of a salvage corps and whether
it is borne by the municipality, the fire
insurance companies or the property
owners.
How Los Angeles will handle the sit
uation will depend largely upon the
information that comes as a result Of
the Investigation.
ConqratuIates The Herald
In addition, communication will be
addressed to the board of fire under
writer's of the Pacific coast asking that
association to declare itself on the pro-
posal and If favorable to it, what the
organization will be willing to do in 9
en- tel IN ma ifa
provement. Commissioner Walter j
Wren will take the initiative in making
the foregoing communications.
Members of the fire board yester-
day congratulated The Herald upon the
stand it has taken. With one accord
they assert that they are most heartily
in sympath-, with all that was said ir
yesterday mornings issue on the neec
of such a service. Citizens and prop
erty owners are. as strong in their as
sertions that The Herald in calling at
tention to the need of a salvage corps
is doing an inestimable good to the
community at large.
It is pointed out that had there beer
an efficient salvage corps to follow
closely in the wake of the fire fighters
much of the loss which resulted In the
Chamber of Commerce fire, the damage
to the almost priceless exhibits and the
destruction by water of the fixtures
and Furnishings of dozens of offices
might have been avoided.
Protects from Water
In other large cities the salvage corps
is at the scene of the fire before the
fire department, and is quickly at Its
work 1t does not concern itself with
extinguishing the flames, that Is left
for the flremen. The duty of the
corps is to save from destruction by
fire all property and to protect from
damage by water all things of value
The corps carries with 1t rubber blank
cts and other equipment and If 1t be
efficient succeeds in reducing damage
from water to minimum.
The fire in the Chamber of Com
merce building was what is called q
blind fire." starting In the attic OF
the building and where it was ex-
tremely difficult for Chief Lipps and his
men to do their work. The department
was there to keep the flames from
spreading to adjoining buildings and
confning them to the smallest limits
possible.
Chief Lips says that had there been
corps of experienced men on the
scene with tarpaulins, that the prop
erty loss might have been reduced To
a minimum. No one is more in favor
of The Herald's demand for this form
of property protection than he Is. He
has made frequent recommendation tc
the board to provide corps Of this
character but the department has
found itself handicapped by lack OF
funds.
Hampered by Lack Of Funds
Had the proposed bond issue passed
this salvage corps might have come as
one of the ways In which the board
proposed TO give Los Angeles one OF
States.
Chief Lips aserts that his force is
hardly adequate to fight fire much less