The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-15
FIRE SALVAGE SERVICE.
An Important Adjunct 20 tho Local
Fire Department.

Fire Department.
As indicated by TnE APrEAL on Sunday
last, unless facilities for supprcssing fires
arr improved in Memphis the insurance
companies will increase their rates.
This course was pursued by the compa.
MES OF both Atlanta and Nashville, who
advanced their rates one-iourth. In the
policies the clause was added that the in.
crease was made TO cover failure OF the city
authorities TO provide proper facilities TO
prevent heavy losses.
The insurance companies here are not
disposed TO adopt this policy as n measure
OF seli-protection, and will use their ut
most endeayos 10 impress upon the city
authorities the imperative necessity Of bet
ter FIRE department equipment
"But their plea is that there is no money
on hand 10 make the improvement, NJ
marked an APPEAL reporter 10 Mr.. James
T.. Beasclcy, 10 whom he had gone for In.
formation on the subject.
That's what understand. Maj. Petit
tells me that while Il Is conceded not less
than 5000 feet Of new hose are needed,
they have not the money 10 buy any Of Il
worth speaking Of. But that is not our
fault People pay taxes 10 have their
property sufficiently protected from de-
stroying agencies Of this sort, the insur.
ancc companies issue policies based upon
this protection. and some effort should be
made TO protect. We cannot afford 10
maintain present rates with present facili.
ties aud lose In two or three condagrations
more than our receipts for the entire year
In the two big cotton fires Of last year We
suffered the loss Of our income for five
yeau. II We, ~ q measure Of Helf.pro-
lection, add the ono.fourth increase, then
the property owners who pay the taxes Ia
the Inst instance will see that something
Is done 10 bring II down"
al understand the home and foreign In
surance companies having agencies her
have combined 10 establish n fire salyag,
department 10 that oouect2'
Eyes, we have been organizing 10 tina
end for some time, aud hope 90 have Il Ia
operation before tho LIST Of October On,
wagon IL now being constructed for tb,
service, some four OF Ave dozens Of rcgula
ton tarpaulins have been contracted for
and altogether We have agreed 10 an imme
diatc expenditure Of about ~ 500. In ad
dition, two men will be employed, who
In connection with our inspector, Mr.
James T.. Clary, and secretary, Mr.. Jor'
Sullivan, will take charge Of the service
The salvage department will be statono'
, ai tho Babcock house, al the city's OK
pcnse, men excepted, and will re
spond 20 every alarm. Their plan o
,, operation IN this When FIR
occurs In building when good
are endangered more particularly iron
, water, the tarpaulins are placed owe
them and thus prevent loss from thi
] quarter. Fay II occurred In retail store
J the tarpanlues are on hooks which NAV b
. thrown over the top OF the shelving, su'
. pending the cloths In front"
How is this department TO DO mnir
: taincdl"
"By monthly dues Of 81 from the con
/ panios, Of which there arc some seventy
: 1--WE In the city. OF these ten are hom'
the remainder agencies"
Dir. Bun'f. Bricc, smother intelligcr
j and bus,linn insurance man, believes HI
hre salvage institution win be In ope
. alton by September |.