Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-09-20
TURN DOWN PERMIT
FOR PLANNING MILL
HIGHLAND PARKITEs MAY NOW
BREATHE EASIER
Fire Commissioners Declare Further
Attempts to Invade the Residential
District with Industrial Plants
VIII Be FruItIess

After an exciting session the fire COM
mission yesterday denied the application
for a permit of the neutrality-suspicious.
Lumber company to establish a planning
mill on Avenue Sixty-one, between Pasa-
dena and Piedmont avenues, adjoining
the Santa Fee tracks in Highland Park.
With this refusal comes the official an
nouncement that no further steps need
be taken to reopen the question.
1t appears that the two Improvement
associations in Highland Park took OPP
posite sides on the question.
Commissioners Kolff and Larronde es-
poused the cause of the Protective league,
which favored the mill, while Commits
sioners Schwamm and McGarry went
over to the other side with Mayor Har-
per and the permit was lost.
Schwamm Changes His Mind
In doing so and incidentally resenting
the statement of the lumber company
representative, Secretary A. l.. Jurdon
that he (Schwamm) had promised to vote
for the mill Commissioner Schwamm
said:
II want 1t understood that l am the
kind of a man who won't stay bought or
promised. / do not wear any collar and
ut doesn't make any difference what ]
promised am going to vote against
this now because / don't believe the peo-
pie want it,
A dozen attempts have been made In
the last two years to establish planning
mills In Garvanza and Highland Park.
The other side of the controversy as
presented by special committee OF the
board, Commissioner Jno. C. Kolff, is as
follows:
Why kolff Voted for Mil
Having been appointed a committee
of one of our board August % to con-
fer with the residents of Highland
Park relative to the installation OF
planning mill in that section, beg to
submit report.
After devoting almost an entire day
in talking this over with representa-
tive citizens of Highland Park, by
whom l was most courteously treated
and shown every respect, was given
to understand that such an estab-
lishment would meet with the APP
prevail of the people and would refer
YOU to letter from the Highland Park
Improvement association under date
of August 20, asking that the permit
be given therefor.
A communication is also on file from
the Highland Park Protective league
land to which / take exception TO the
last paragraph, as that was not an
indication of sentiment expressed at
that time.
There is also on file another letter
from the Highland Park Improvement
association under date of September
II, going on record as being opposed
to a planning mill.
Can't Understand Inconsistency
1 made this investigation in a fair
and impartial manner, and from the
standpoint of a business man can
hardly understand the inconsistency
of a body of highly intelligent men,
formed together for the purpose of
Improving their section Of the city
and protecting their own interests to
| first say st will be of great benefit
| to the community, the avoidance of
/ serious delays and the ocheapening of
| the product" and then going on rec
ord as being opposed to the estab-
lishment of such an institution"
would not for a moment favor the
placing of a plant in any section of
the city which would be fire hazard
and a detriment thereto, but the To-
cation selected is in my estimation,
for the surroundings, an especially
favorable one, being in lumber yard
already operated there by some of our
most representative business men, on
steam railway and In close prox-
unity to the electric cars, both OF
which no doubt cause more noise and
dust than would this mill.
Cite Mo Reasons
I desire to call your particular at
tention to the fact that no reasons
whatever are specified as constituting
the objections of either association,
and to my mind eliminates the fouD-
dation of a very earnest or forcible
protest
The plant is to be operated by an
electric motor; there will be no smoke.
sparks or danger from fire. and as l
understand my duty as fire COM
missioner in connection with the
granting of power permits take into
consideration the fire risk, but not the
restricting of districts relative to the
class of business to be conducted.
I quote herewith extract from the
report of the chief, who is the man
in charge of the fire department, read
ing as follows: I'm business dis
trict and would recommend that the
permit be granted, as the petitioner
is complying with the requirements of
the ordinance and the fire risk Is
safe
This planning mill proposition has
been before the people of that sec
ton for two years. Why have they
not appealed to the legislative body
of this city for a restricted district?
Is 1t not within their province or
power?
am not personally acquainted with
any member of the firm of Montgom-
cry G. Mullin Lumber company and
have known their representative only
through contact with the board; and
after talking with him, in order to
eliminate the unsightly spectacle of
a lumber yard, which I am of the
opinion constitutes the most serious
objection, he has promised to plant
gum trees around the plant, making
1t as attractive as possible.
In view of an unbiased opinion,
after a careful and thorough investi-
CATION, l feel as a member of the
board, a business man and as citi-
zen Interested in the growth and well
fare of a greater Los Angeles that
it would be an injustice to take any
thing but favorable action on the APP
plication now pending
4$4