The morning call., 1893-01-01

as well as the Others mentioned and many
more too numerous to mention, are situated
mostly on high ground and are open, being
thus peculiarly sensitive to the strong west
winds which blow so continually all sum-
mer.
Especially Is this true In the quarter
known as Preshdio Heights. Here the wind
bic s directly off the water, and would soon
fan the flames Of respectable FIRE into
perfect holocaust.
Since the beginning of this year till the
end of December 11S new hydrants were
put up in the city, and most: OF these went
into the residence quarters of the Western
Addition.
There is room: yet. right in this part Of
the city, for about 1900 more hydrants.
1t is far worse than that; there Is an
absolute need for about this number of new
hydrants in the Western Addition.
As matter OF municipal economy the
new Board of Supervisors could make no
better beginning of the new year than by
providing for the making and setting Of
these much needed fire hydrants.
Notwithstanding the general impression
that the Spring Valley Company receives
more for its hydrants than should be paid"
said Julius Jacobs, one of the oldest fire
underwriters in the city, "a considerable in
crease IN their number is a growing neees-
siGy.
''San Francisco is great city. but we
must not forget that so far as the residence
quarters are concerned it is built chiefly of
wood. Our Fire Department, though very
efficient for its size. is rather understood
when compared with cities in the East Of
similar population and territory.
"a I'd the Fire Department that we have
should be given every possible facility for
the extin gushing OF CONGREGATIONS. Es-
pecislly in the Western Addition, where so
- - many fms residences
: wh.. ..sa, are located. there IS a
great need for more
!: underwater hydrants. / under
F: stand that in many
says Instances there are
: -. handsome and costly
: 'S residences in blocks
:.''.'.''.....''.'--.-.--- where the nearest by
drants are 500 TO eco feet away. You can
find any number of costly residences which
are almost entirely unprotected in case OF
fire because Of the great distance OF the
hydrants from them.
az think il is but fair to the taxpayers to
give them a reasonable protection from fire.
il nothing more. And TO do this the n.y.
drants should never be more than a block
away from any given point.
''Of course, some people will say this Is
the talk of insurance men, and that more
hydrants will benefit them most, but these
people forget that hardly one-third of the
actual value of property in this city Is
covered by insurance, and that the balance
of the risks are carried personally by those
who do not insure.
''In this case who would benefit most by
the new hydrants?
"We cannot afford to have repetition of
the Chicago disaster in this city if it can be
prevented by any possible means. Many
parts Of The Western Addition. are unpro-
tected against flames, owing t0.the limited
lumber OF bydrants.
THE CALL is right In taking up this
matter. Let there be more bydrantsin this
section, and let them be placed there before
some great conhagration proves their need
to the nearsighted."
Its like this" said Charles A. Latou,
president Of the Board of Fire Under
writers: elf there should be a number of
very disastrous fires in the Western Addi-