Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-09
FIGHT EXTENSION
OF FIRE LIMITS
Real Estate Men and Property
Owners Declare 1t Viii En-
tail Hardship.

Fearful lest the adoption Of the
new fire lines might affect the value
OF their properties, especially near
the city lines, real estate men and
property-owners made a determined
stand against its adoption at a pub
& lie hearing before the councilmanic
committee on construction and alter
atoms last night.
The new districts, despite the OPP
position, will In all probability be
passed by the Common Council at its
meeting on Friday night.
The ordinance extends the present
fire limits and provides that no frame
or wooden structure shall be built
hereafter In this city within these hre
limits. The contention of all against
Its adoption was that it would great
ly affect their property. 1t was the
concensus of opinion, however, that
the fire lines should be extended to
the city limits on all parts of the
city and no discrimination made.
Louis Schlesinger, who speaks as
vice-president of the Union Building
Company that owns a number of lots
In the vicinity of Woodlawn Gene
terry, objected to the new fire limits
and asked that the line which is
proposed to come down Avon ave-
nue. be changed to run over South
Tenth street to the cemetery.
The cemetery, he explained, would
act as a barrier and that no hazard
GUS risk would be taken. The COM
pany contemplates erecting one and
two-family houses, and the new fire
limits would greatly affect the con-
struction and handicap the work.
Colonel Harry S. Wrighter said it
was a hardship on property owners
to allow one section to built up and
then close it up with such an ordin-
ance.
Mr. Wrighter then submitted a Sec
ton to act as an amendment. 1t says:
THAT nothing this ordinance con-
tanned shall apply to or in any way
affect such property owners, lessees
or tenants of property included within
the bounds of the fire limits, as in
section l established, excepting there
from the fire limits as described in
the ordinance adopted February z,
1896, who shall erect frame houses
on said lands. provided said frame
houses or buildings shall be at least
fifteen feet from any other frame
building or part thereof, and of no
greater height than two and half
stories.''
Albert Gasser, chief of the bureau |
of fire risks, said that the entire city |
should be within the fire limits, and |
advocated that each house should be
separated by ten feet in order to |
avoid any conhagration hazard.
Windslow Zeliff, rs Wakeman ave-
que, represented the Eighth Ward |
i Improvement Association and asked
d have the present line, which runs
ROM Arlington avenue to Second ave-
me 'emain unchanged. The new line
-uns rom Summer avenue to Mt.
prospect avenue. He ssaid several
residents of the ward own property
n that section and contemplate build
ng soon.
Captain charles. ]. Allen, secretary
II the state Tenement House Com
mission. was asked If he had any
hing to say He said he did not
come to speak, Isut advocated the ex-
tension of the fire lines to the city
limits and spokes on the congested
tenement districts.
James M. Reilly, secretary of the
Board of Trade, alsoA favored the ex-
tension.
f.. "A. Raymond, a member of the
National Board of Fire Underwriters
was the next speaker, and said unless Y
the limits are extended the ordinanceI
Is weak one.
Robert Ross was the last speaker,
and also upheld the contention of the I
other speakers in extending the linn
Its and said that all tenements should |
be hh-eproof.
The committee will consider the
questions seriously before the final
reading of the ordinance Friday night.