The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-02-11
Price Five Cents.
A BAD PRECEDENT
Is Set by the Board of Aldermen in
Allowing the Denton 'Fire-trapr 10
be Repaired.

be Repaired.
Last evening the board or alder
men met In special session. TO in.
formally consider The following le,.
Ter from Mr.. b. G.. Cowper. secre.
tary OF the Raleigh board of fire
underwriters: "Our board of under.
writer's learns with regret that the
board OF aldermen has given per
mission TO rebuild the frame sior.
building. corner South Wilmington
and North Market streets recently
destroyed by fire. 1t was only last
June that Mr.. Primrose and mvself
were appointed a committee from
our board to appear before your
honorable body TO protest against
this very practice Of permitting
trame or frame metal clad build
ings to he erected within the fire
district of the city; when the fire
committee pledged itself to discon-
tlnue the practice and to adhere
strictly to the city ordinance pro-
h'bltlng it and which was after.
wards unanimously G believe)
agreed to by the ci,y board of alder.
men. AT this meeting of the fire
committee June 3 last our COM
mlttee mentioned numerous instan-
ces OF this nature violative Of city
ordinances, stating also that If the
practice be not discontinued j, m;cbt
result IN having high tariff of
rates forced upon the entire citv.
i he rates of insurance in Raleiob
are low; much lower than any Other
city III the South. those with fulIv
ps'd fire departments not excepted.
Cur board is anxious to maintain
these rates and it wishes their pro-
test In this matter again to be mt
on record. There are numerous
cities whose rates have been in
creased recently for this and
other reasons and we earnestly
hope that it is not too
late TOR your honorable body to re-
send their action in this present
case and would with the facts before
you as above stated respectfully be-
speak your kind assistance in con-
tlnning to the citizens of Raleigh
the low rates of insurance which
they have heretofore enjoyed, but
which cannot be continued if such
license is allowed. We would suo.
gest, as favorable to the city's inter
ests, that an ordinance be passed re-
quiring an investigation and exami-
nation of all buildings to be erected
within the fire district, to be made
by some competent officer who shall
report to your committee or the
board of aldermen before any per-
is given for the erection of
any or all buildings within said dis
frlct. | have addressed this COM
munlcatlon to you as chair
man OF the fire committee,
which / trust / am right
IN doing, but should it have
been sent TO any other official /
trust you will do me the kindness
10 direct it to the proper channel
and see that it receives the early
attention which the urgency of the
matter entities it,
This very direct letter was writ
en- as protest against the action
'f the board in allowing what are
,aued "repairs" of the Denton
The board decided by
What m y be also termed an infor.
nal vote, that it could not pass
lpon the matter at this meeting,
'ut that it would not rescind its
previous action. So the fire-trap
viii be put in shape again. Now
What will the local board and the
business public do: The aldermen
ave taken a false step. OF that
here Is no question.