Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-07
URGE CITY TO
VOTE FIRE BONDS
CONFERENCE IN MAYORS Of
FlCE SOUNDS ALARM
Unde derwriters' Expert Explains Situa-
tion, Chief Concurs, and 100000
Issue Is Recommended
for Los Angeles

| the Fire UnderWrlterS' association lHe
conference held in the office of Mayor
Harper Yesterday morning decided TO
recommend that a special election be
called at once to vote on bond issue
of 100000 to improve the fire depart
ment.
Chief Walter Lips indorsed the state
ments of the expert and suggested that
without a days delay the city should
establish engine houses and companies
Immediately near Main and Winston
streets and near the Santa Fe depot,
and others later. Two engines of the
largest type made should also be in
stalled at once in the heart of the city.
Representatives of the chamber of
commerce, the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' association and the Municipal
league attended the session and prom
ised to do all they could to arouse
sentiment for the improvements, These
men included o. T. Johnson, Hugh N
Calender, =. NJ. Schneider, j. Baruch,
H. Jevne, Frank Coulter, H. w. Frank
and F. Zeehandelaar
Inspector Porter said in part:
1.-TWO years ago the national board
of fire underwriters sent a committee
to Los Angeles to study conditions and
these men pointed out the need of i'm
mediate improvements to better the
protective systm. Nothing has been
done by the city to install these i'm
provements.
The conf1agration hazard here is
enormous and if the city's business dis
trict We're wiped out it would take a
long time to recover from the blow,
even if the insurance were paid in full.
You have been so busy growing that
this situation has been overlooked.
Many of the companies are reduc-
ing their lines of insurance and others
are refusing to renew their policies.
There is no definite understanding, but
the companies have been hard hit by
conflagrations and the San Francisco
fire has made them very cautious.
Rates are governed by risks and
they will go up as the delay in taking
precautions continues The time may
come when you cannot buy insurance
at any price. With your present in
sufficient department you will in time
be likely to suffer serious conse-
quences."
Chiefs Recommendation
Chief Lips recommendations are as
That engine house be built on lot
owned by city on Figueroa street, near
Seventh, three stories high. Cost of
house and equipment, S4S,20O.
That lot be bought between Fourth
and Main, Sixth and Broadway, 26 by
100 feet, and three-story house built.
Cost of house and equipment, $2S,700.
That lot be bought near Santa Fe
depot in factory district Cost of lot
and house and equipment, $17,200
That lot be bought near California
and Hill streets for chemical engine
and city service truck, this being in
hill section. Cost of lot and equip
ment, $22,5OO.
That present quarters of engine COM
pany No. II be sold and proceeds used
for purchase of lot near Seventh and
Union avenue and house built there.
Cost of house, $4,000
That present quarters Of engine COM
pany No. 3, at Fourth and ToWne ave-
nue., be sold and lot purchased near
Third and San Pedro. Water tower
now At Also street be moved there and
house built. Cost of building differ
ence in lots and equipment, $3S5O0.
That present quarters of engine COM
pany No. >, at First and Chicago
streets, be sold and new house erected
i'm same vicinity and ladder service
added Cost Of lot, house and equip
mont, 500 500.
That lot be bought near DAILY street
and Pasadena avenue and that engine
company now at Pasadena avenue and
Avenue Nineteen be moved into new
house. Cost OF lot, house and equip
ment, S2550O
That SERIAL truck be bought to re-
place water tower on Also, Cost,
$G50O
That house be built on lot owned
| by city at FOrty-fourth and Main
streets. Cost of house and equipment,
| $25,70O.
That present fire alarm system be
! changed from automatic TO manual.
| Cost of change, $4,000.
| That new repair and machine shop
be built al Pasadena avenue and Ave
nue. Nineteen on city property. Cost
of building and equipment, $l00 600: hose
to be bought, $4,000; horses to be pur-
chased, $4,000.