New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-20

eechirity in its present state an Illumination 9a
otSsr Garnet n aoc to refuse risks en- sccosnt d
electric wires, because competitors woad DO only
So saS Of e %sn np VII
less, II strictly complied With, reduce tho nsm
Manager Edward F: BeddaIl. q the Royal In.
suranee Company No 90 Wsllsi, said ny eo,apsny
writer's IN cases whore electric lighting Is concerned.
and we add to the policy granted the following CLAUSE
| toned premises when the entire equipment 3 n
fun compliance with the standard OF the New-tork
and certiacso Is obtained rom said board to that
effect 1t being understood that no alteration sns
without written consent nom said Board
ss would seo be , impossible for the IN sc t sos
surveys Of wires as almost every new building has
electric wires for some purpose and II would take
Of fire Is IN most eases surmise and unless there
is some visible proof OF oil or inlsmmable material
hanging around building many fires are attributed
TO electricity, as said, on surmisc. think thai
Of fire win be- reduced to minimum. Like other
insurance men am too busy to study this subjscs
and there undoubtedly many, think with proper
and precaution the electric light is as safe as
Do you insist on the compliance with the terms
Of your electric light privllegcs7' was asked.
sometimes strike out the words .when the cntire.
equipment + in fun eompsnce with the standard OF
certificate is obtained from said board to that effect
We cannot be any strict than competitors
or we could not succeed In business
PERFECT INSULATION IMPOSSIBLE.
vlce-PresIdent j. II. washburn, of the Homo Insure
ance Company, said: "The principal danger arises
from defective insulation. and my impression is that
most of the fires attributed TO electricity attrb
utabe to that. Perfect insulation is impossible az
perpetual motion. and the only remedy is moro fire.
Quent inspection by the electric lighting companies of
the work done and closer inspection by the insurance
companies For insurng safety all wires should b.
never BE- used, as it IS impossible to inspect them-
Arc lights are dangerous, owing to dropping sparks
bottom. Electric lgh-, properly put into building
and carefully insulated is probably the safest light IN
'v more ' dangerous danger than gas The Board Of Under
writers grants no certificates OF safety exceps
arc found to be- accessible at all points, but where
the light IS used outside the jurisdiction OF the nos ara
people who put in the wires
"Many policies were issued BY companies whsre
known Our losses by fires from electric light have
bUt IN Pee saving SO would add that electric light plants
al the various companies stations have proved most
hSnd Ss shared 70 in putting IN electric wires BUT ~
sponsibe wiring companies only should be employed.
to any Of those interested. do not think combina-
on lighting by both and electricity IS extra naz-
ardolIs II proper attention is paid to insulation
Mr. washburn showed the reporter a place In the
iron roof of the company's vaults where the wires
esar a a@aR aSS sa IN they eoud
count for the circumstance, every precaufion had
been taken to make the insulation as perfect as pos
sible.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE EDISON
COMPANY SAYS.
Edward H. Johnson, president of the Edison Electric
Light Company, No. 16 Broad-st.. whose experience
extends over wide field when asked for his views by
the reporter said Tho danger OF fire from electric
lighting is, of course materially less than nom gas
the danger, nevertheless exists, and It should %
always intelgently guarded against by the electric
users The junction OF the electric lighting company.
this Respect Is e ESTABLISH 1 Tales and ed
cate the public generally as to the proper etsod o
illuminating; that Of the wiring contractors Is to
observe such rules and regulations, to employ IN
hr wOfk a G%y The duty Of the
himself first, that he is dealing with repuan's
eontractors whom he selects are responsible and
properly authorized by the company whose light IS
to- be r Sse and aa aure done in with the
established rules and regulations, Of which be can
properly accredited officers Of the Board q Fro
UndsrNriters. Given careful obseryancs OF these
from The ncandescent electric light compared with
tho danger from any other artificial iiiuminant Is a
one To 100.
WARNING ABOUT rNFIAMMABLE MATERIALS.
The only fires caused by the electric current sup
plled by reputable electric light company which
have come within my personal knowledge have peen
caused by lack Of observance OF some one or more ol
these precautions There is other point 20 when
80 The general Introduction OF the incandesccnt light
into the private homes of tho city now IN progress:
iamp has led TO an erroneous assumption that none
exists This mistaken idea, accompanied oy the ias
that the incandescent lamp lends Itself SO readiiy
10 ornamental treatment, not nfrequently leads 10
the envcopng of the lamp IN nammaSle q e tr,s
that deicate iaco handkerchief may be thrown
aess the lamp e at tones SUCH lamp WITH
such material would cause gradually me accumu s.on
of amount Of heat sufficient 10 g ned a@ amn
for were 1t possible TO envelop the sun lays IT
IKE hess same wo nre IN the matter
VI safeguarding against nre from eiscuio hs n.
should be-: Intelligence, responsibility anu niS@
class material"
OPINIONS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
]. Elliot Smith. superintendent of the fire alarm
tee eraph was Of the opinion. however. that there
was no more danger In sighting house by electricity
than by gas when due care taken with the work
{" Tho essential point In connection win mis-" no
said Is perfect insulation OF the leading wires and
freedom from contact with metallic substances such
as pipes waterppes, and the Ike. together with
absolute protection from moisture. All of there pro-
visions are covered BY the one expresson-proper
Insulation. There various kinds Of insulation
which Hi these reouiremenise au,.. hi. ,,u,u,.
views regarding the electric light Since I have
been in oileen said the Fire Marshal there has been
no case OF fire whose origin could be traced to the
electric light II, say. there were fwenty-two
fires caused by electricity in the year 1887. It would
seem to me to be large percentage but we have no
record OF the number OF houses SO lighted VI course
danger TO a certain extent is ever present Tho
blowing OF the wind even VIII wear upon the wires
and finally destroy the insulation. There is nothing
which IS absolute proof against the ravages Of time
or the effect of the atmosphere and whom the insua-
on IS injured fire Of course result IL tho wires
come In contact with combustibe material Fire
Commissioner Ftz John Porter and the secretary,
Car, Jussen believed tho danger remote when ths
work properly done and the Insulation 40
complIshcd according to the improved methods.
WRIT "CHAMPAGNE FRAPPE' MEAYA
From The St. Louis Republican
There IS young fellow in one Of the Departuienfs
In WaSh rrho much Of a tatf6