Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-11
WOULD RESTRICT
THE FIRE LIMITS
MOVEMENT ON TO INFLUENCE
CITY COUNCIL
Insurance Men Inclined to Oppose
PIan-EeIieve 1t Would Have
Bad Effect on Out
sIders

A new movement has taken shape to
restrict the city's fire limits, embrace
ing in the proposed separation much
greater territory than has heretofore
been suggested. The advocates of
1essened fire limits who own property
in the hill section have been work
ing with realty owners in the south
west district north of Pico and east
of Figueroa and in that part of the
city east of San Pedro street and south
of Third.
It is hoped to make a concerted move
against the city council of such
strength as to force some concession.
Property owners concerned in the
northwest section of the fire limits make
the argument that there are many lots
there requiring heavy fills, and that
construction of frame buildings should
be allowed to ease the expense and
bring about improvement not contem-
plated under present conditions. 1t IS
argued in the east section that its de-
velopment is being held back, While
west of Grand avenue and south OF
Eighth to Pico the contention is ad-
vanced that a residence section is dis
criminated against in way that Ia
vors lots lying beyond.
If the movement secures sufficient
support to bring it before the council
Fire Chief Lips and the members OF
the fire commission will oppose it Wig
orously.
"If any change is made in the fire
limits 1t should be one of extension"
said Secretary McKeag of the fire COM
mission yesterday. Buildings are
going. up all the time just beyond the
present limits which should not be or
frame construction. The argument FOR
withdrawal of part of the northwest
portion may sound plausible but on
the other hand it should be remem-
bered that 1t is a section hard to get
at with fire apparatus, and a fire well
started in windy weather menaces a
wider area than in any other part OF
the city. If such move is presented
1t will certainly be fought by the chief
and the members of the fire commits
sion"
Have Bad Effect
Insurance men present another ad-
verse reason which should appeal es-
pecially to owners of city realty.
"I hope no such restriction will be
seriously proposed, although I have
heard on excellent authority that 1t
has good backing" said prominent
fire underwater. "The fire limits
should not be narrowed If for no other
reason than the~bad effect such move
would have outside. 1t would indicate
through many avenues that the city
is not going ahead, which is of course
far from true. The report would nee
essarily go to all the companies and
in that way it would injure the good
name of Los Angeles.
"A backward step in regard to any
thing that refers to fire risks is Sc
rious, and ought to be well considered
before it is taken. Very few persons
can realize how far-reaching such an
effect may be, and one that has evil
in its makeup takes a great deal longer
time to wipe out than the better sort" !"
The present fire limits extend from
Orc and Macy streets to Pico, Eleventh
and Ninth streets, and east of the
west side of Figueroa below Seventh,
from which street the line includes the
west lots on Grand avenue. On tha
east the limits run to the Los Angeles
river north of Stephenson and angle
south to include Central avenue. All
property within the fire limits is now
Inspected.