The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-10-08

tuV COUtnuuty UcuCv tuv ptVoouSvs
at best. was not equal to tho do
mand.
Conclusions and Recommendation
In view Of tho foregoing facts.
deduced from tho evidence submit.
tod at tho hearings. interviews with
prominent citisens and other infor-
nation gathered during our invcs.
tiEation. We are led TO tho following
conclusions and to tho correction Of
tho errors and evils ~ pointed out
In these conclusions We most respect
fully submit ~ our recommenda-
tions:
The fire started from sone un.
known cause In rubbish At the rear
Of the Houston hotel.
The fire department 10 utterly
lacking and sorely deficient In me
chanicai and other fire-fiGhtinG APP
pAratus and equipment and the man
power Ia far too low for a community
OF the size. CAS- q result OF tho fire
some extra men have been put on
the fire fighting forcc-at least tenn
porarily)
The water system. especially the
mains In the business section. IL
wholly inadequate as was evidenced
by the failure OF the pressure when
put to the crucial test. The mains are
these originally installed for the
small town Of n few hundred people
and their capacity In not ut all In
keeping with the Industrial and pop
uiation growth Of the city.
The fire alarm system IL not In
keeping with the community Of kla.
math Falls and its rapidly develop.
Ing proportions and responsibility.
ties.
The city is depiorably lacking In
fire prevention and protective ordi-
nances and sadly In need Of lesisla.
tion to cure the evils which exis, ut
present and have been permitted TO
exist for more than . year past. and
to ciothe the fire chief with ample In
spection and curative authority with
out being handicapped and hindered
by petty political and factionai strife
and jeaiousics.
''somrbosiy Is Responsible"
The officials who shape the politi.
cal destiny OF klamath Falls from
the mayor down are men Of sterling
worth and unimpeachable character.
so far as the results Of our investiga-
tion disclosed. The great trouble
seems to be that they are too easy
going OF the 1T never has happen
cd and. therefore. II never will hap
pen" sort. They feel and appreciate
their duties and responsibilities keen
iy: their motives are unquestioned
aud their openly avowed ambition
to clean up and rio their proud city
Of its deadly menaces may be sin
cere. but they seem to lack the eour-
age Of their convictions. They shrink
from hurting anyone's business or
feelings and their courage crumbles
and fails before the least criticism
or oppoistion until they have come.
by force Of habit. to choose the
course OF least resistance.
The citizenship OF klamath Falls.
too. 10 OF the highest order Of God
fearing and God-loving people. There
Is not man or woman endowed with
ordinary powers or observation and
reasoning but is and had been aware
Of the dangerous conditions that
have threatened their community
and home-life for many months.
They. like the peoples Of other COM
munities. are so thoroughly imbusd
with the love Of peace. harmony and
prosperity that they dread the dis
cordsnt agitation fora bettermsnt OF
civic conditions. Most everyone Ii
too busy making money" and hav.
Ing Q good time to lend ear 10 tho
caismitous haSpings for civic rs-
forms. "Rstrenchment In govern
mental affairs" along the line Of cut
ting down budgets and lowering
taxes is far more musical and har-
monious. w
Chief Of fire department Ambrose
d particularly qualified for the POSI-
tion OF chief and 10 greatly interest
Cd in fire prevention and Inspection
work. and II given the 1905 cs-oD-
GRAFTON Of the city officials II 70 only
reasonable 10 presume that tho fire
waste In klamath Fails could be re-
duced at least 5o% and possibly
more.
Too Much "PassinR Tho Buck"
The mayor passes the buck" 70
the council and the council passes II
on to the people. Klamath Falls.
however. has learned her lesson In
the hard school Of experience. hsart-
rsnding and rssretsbIs though u hes