Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-13
MEASURES OF SAFETY.
Two Important Municipal Mtters to
Be Settled the Present Week.
FIRE AND TRACTION ORDINANCES.
Chief Brown Comments on Rules for Gov
ernment of Street Cars.
SNAP SHOTS AT A CITY'S HAPPENINGS

will have two very important matters to
consider this week. On the result of their
action depend several enactments directly
relevant to public safety, and in which
every citizen of Pittsburg is more or less
concerned. Tomorrow msrning at 10
o'clock the members of the Board of Fire
Underwriters will meet in Mayor Gourley' s
Office to discuss the various features of the
new ordinance for the Fire Bureau. The
ordinance passed Councils Thursday last
and only awaits the signature of the Mayor
to become law. The meeting has been ar
ranged in accordance with the wish of the
underwriters expressed to Chief Brown, of
the Department of Public Safety. The un-
derwriters, representing over S5,000 900 in
capital, felt that the great insurance inter-
ests of the city should rightfully be allowed
word or two on an ordinance providing
for such radical changes in the fre-fghting
equipments of the city. They felt that any
objections they might have to the measure
Grafton from the officials. For this reason
they asked conference.
The Mayor Expresses His Satisfaction.
Mayor Gourley said yesterday he was
glad they desired to be heard on the matter,
since their opinions on such questions would
be of great assistance to him in making a
decision on the ordinance. Chief Brown
plain the necessity of having additional
facilities for overcoming fire.
1t is not thought likely that underwriters
will have any serious objections to the Or
dinance. The bill, as explained by Chief
Brown yesterday, provides for just about
what the underwriters have been asking
In recent letter to Chief Brown they ad-
vocated the purchase of fire boat and
water tower, more engines and the employ
ment Of an additional number of firemen, as
well as an efficient head for the bureau. All
these the ordinance provides for. Having
such high opinion of the judgment of the
underwriters, Mayor Gouriey will doubt
less sign the ordinance if they agree to its
provisions. Chief Brown will then name
the man who is to fill the position of Chief
Engineer.
Another question to be acted upon is that
OF regulating street railways. The ordi-
nances requiring cars to stop before cress-
ing intersecting lines and providing for
Licensing each car are now in the hands of
the Public Safety Committee. That body
will meet before the week is over to take
action on them, as speedy settlement of
the matter is necessary. While the ordi-
nances will be somewhat modified by the
committee their general import will remain
and Councils will act on them at
a specified meeting before very long. Chief
Browns plan is a very decided one. He in
sists that all cars must stop before crossings,
and will make an especially strenuous effort
to have that feature go through.
Necessity of the Greatest Caution.
'1 has become absolutely essential to the
public safety said the Chief yesterday,
''that all rapid transit cars come to halt
on dangerous corners. Imagine corner
where ], 800 cars pass during the day. Such
is the case at Wood street and Sixth avenue.
can see the necessity of having
these cars stop before crossing each others |
lines. We have many such corners Out |
in the East End there are no corners |
where so many lines pass, |
put higher rate of speed is maintained,
making them equally dangerous. One |
going in different directions and meeting at |
he corner almost together. 1t would be an
clear-headed cornerman who,
while all the cars were running toward him,
Gould Judge which one was the nearest and |
lad first right to the crossing. If they all
would stop within a short distance of the |
corner it would be an easy task for him to
get one and then another over the crossing"
The ordinance provides that cars stop
within three lengths of the crossing. Since
On some lines the cars are much longer than
IN others, Chief Brown favors the plan of
etting a definite distance-say 20 feet
beyond which they must not 60 until sig
laled by the cornerman to do SO.
Another Proposed Precaution.
Another plan of the Chief is not only to
make cars stop before crossing, but after
getting over to run at least 20 feet before
lalting to let off passengers. There is great
langer to passengers alighting from cars at
hese crowded corners, which could be
wooded by running ahead 20 feet before
stopping. With regard to police power at
he corners the Chief is also very decided.
'It has been clearly proved, said he,
Sin Philadelphia that the care of dangerous
corners is police power. and the men en-
,loyed at these places should be members
If the Bureau of Police and hired by the
,ity. The danger at corners is not so much
o the patrons of the roads as to the people
IN foot and in vehicles. 1t would be un-
wise to give the companies control over
hese officers. By placing tax on street
ars sufficient to cover the expense of hiring
he police, no additional burden will be
,laced on the taxpayer, and the safety of