Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-27
POLICE CHIEF SAYS HORSES ARE
TOO SLOW
FIRE DEPARTMENT DEMANDS
MOTOR CARS
System in Use in Many Cities Is Urged
in Los AngeIes-Condltons
Are Peculiarly Fa-
vorabIe

prODaDly De met very SOoH. lHe CouilCii
has already authorized the advertisement
for bids for two auto patrol wagons.
Several years ago the Los Angeles po-
lice department was given an electric
it was thought it would be better able to
supply the service demanded. This ma
chine was a 1903 model Pope Waverly
time had not attained the present stage
of perfection. The electric worked all
right for while and then it began to
give trouble. Once or twice 1t broke down
a long distance from the station with
patients aboard whose life hung in the
balance. Express wagons had to be
called and the patients transferred and
carried into the hospital.
Since then the electric machine has
been standing in the basement of the po-
lice department covered with an accumu-
lation of years dust. 1t was forgotten
long ago and is only remembered when
there is fresh agitation to secure an
automobile for the department. Then OPP
ponents of the plan step up and say
"automobiles have proven failure" and
the old dusty skeleton in the Jail base
ment is again brought to light.
But even this so-called failure cannot
long keep the police department without
the automobile service that it needs and
will have. The area of country subsi-
diary to the central police station makes
it impracticable for horse-drawn vehi-
cles adequately to perform the work. Los
Angeles is peculiarly we'll conditioned for
the use of automobiles, as is shown by
the number in use.
Animals overworked
Horses are not fast enough and they
cannot endure the work put upon them.
When a team has run out to Jefferson
street and back to the central police sta
ton on First and Hill streets it is too
much to expect it to start off at once on
another call With an automobile ambu-
lance or patrol the distance could be COW
cred three times as fast and the machine
could be continually on the run.
Often the police patrol starts out on
three calls at the same time. These are
often in widely separated parts of the
city. Not infrequently the patrol must
cover ten or fifteen miles on the run at
one trip. This is too hard on the horses
and the delay is too great.
This condition of affairs was appreci-
ated by the council some time ago and
Chief of Police Kern was asked to in
vestigate the automobile patrol service as
he found it in eastern cities on his re-
cent tour. He found great divergence
of opinion. Some departments would not
be without machine service. Others did
not want automobile service. In New
York the city contributes to the support
of hospitals which have automobile am
balances and the city has the right
to use these machines in emergency But
for it's own hospital service the city of
New York still uses horse-drawn vehi-
cles.
1.-The streets are so crowded that single
horse drawn vehicles can get along bet
ter than a heavy automobile declares
L. Pendergast, secretary of Chief Kern,
who accompanied him on the eastern trip.
Besides they do not have to haul patients
long distances as we do here. There are
more substations.
Conditions Unusual
1.-The situation in Los Angeles is pc
cuilar. We have here larger area to
cover than most cities. We cannot do the
work as promptly with horse ambulances
as it should be DONE"
This situation led the council to author
ize the city clerk to advertise for two
ambulances. Automobile
dealers interested in the matter have
been furnished with the list of specifica-
tions. The machine must have a capacity
of fourteen passengers and a place for a
stretcher. 1t must be able to carry ten
people up the West Second street hill and
a full load up the hill on Broadway from
First street to the Broadway tunnel. The
machine must be guaranteed against
breakage of parts for at least one year,
and the company selling the machine
must agree to keep 1t in repair for $50
per month. 1t must develop 30 horse
power and be able to go through the
crowded section of the town with a full
load at high speed.
There have been few bids received so
far. The period of receiving bids will
close September 3 This gives little time
for dealers to present their cars. Only
few companies make a stock model am
bulance. They have to be made to
order in most cases. Then there is delay
in getting them to the coast, as few of the
local dealers carry such machines in
stock, there being little demand for them.
The White Steamer people have stock
car on hand. This rendered
service to the police department during
Fiesta week this year.
May Lengthen Time
Besides this car the local Tourist fac
tory may be able to turn out car before
the bids close. The period for receiving
bids will in all probability be extended
in order to give other makers a chance
to get machines in from the east
In the fire department the same need |
of more rapid transportation has been
felt. Every fire chief in every large city |
on the coast has an automobile except
Chief Lips.
I'VE need a machine, not only for run
ming to fires, but for inspection work" |
said Chief Lips last evening. "It is hard |
to meet the demands made upon us with |
our horse vehicles We have a machine |
shop and blacksmith shop and we could |
take care of car at little cost. In my |
last bill of expenses included $500 for |
an automobile. which. in my Judgment,
is needed by the department, but this
item was blue penciled by the commits
sion.
MANY cities much smaller than Los
Angeles have provided their fire depart
nents with automobiles Many cities are
also using motor power chemical engines
which are propelled by the same power
With which the engines are operated after
arriving at the fire. 1t is only question
If time before all fire departments will
De thus equipped"
Other departments of the city govern
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