The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-14
FOR A WATER TOWER
INSURANCE MEN DISCUSS FIRE DE-
PARTMENT's WEAK POINTS.
In View of Recent Fires VIII Ask the
Board of Safety TO Add to the
Present Equipment.

The local insurance men have decided to
take action regarding the many fires recent
" and they will make a demand upon the
city that the fire department be strengthened
by additional companies and apparatus. 1t
has been a common opinion with the public
generally for some time that the present fire
protection is not adequate. Chief Webster,
In his reports for several years past, has
asked for more men and modern apparatus.
In the name Of economy the suggestions of
Mr.. Webster have been ignored. The fire
insurance companies have reached the con-
clusion that the city has proceeded upon a
false basis of economy. which opinion is
shared by a number of business men who
own property. The experience with fires
during the past few days has clearly shown
that some improvements are needed. If
downtown fire had commenced during the
progress OF either the Conde Denison House
or Stout fires the department would have
been wholly unable to attend to it without
sacrificing the fire under charge. The de-
partment has but eleven companies, and
can throw not more than twenty streams
during a fire. Fortunately, the big fires re-
Gently have been confined in one locality
and did not spread.
Mr.. Webster yesterday said that should a
big fire start in this city and spread the de-
with the available force. On each of the
fires recently the entire department has
been called out leaving no reserve force at
the houses for use in case of another fire.
There is also much cheap hose in the de-
partment, and recent experience has shown
that there is no economy in buying cheap
equipment, for at each fire it was the cheap
hose that caused delays by bursting. Some
time ago the insurance men met, and their
attention was called to the condition of the
department. 1t was decided to demand some
improvements, but the proposition never
carried out, and the agitation died out be-
cause there were no fires of consequence I'M
til the recent large ones. 1t is announced
that they now propose To make some en-
phatic Demands upon the Board of Safety.
MI. NJ. ". hIceiilliard has reviewed the
condition of the department and compiled a
list OF the improvements needed. These he
Will submit to the other insurance men, II
the city should refuse to agree to the pro-
posed improvements a revision of the insur-
ance rates Will probably take. place. 1t is
asked that three new companies be estab-
liShed-one north of Fall creek. one in the
eastern part of the city and one in the
hose wagon be placed at headquarters to
carry hose to be used on the chemical en-
which would be- a great aid to the depart
ment In fighting-fires in business buildings,
as 1t would carry streams where the men
dare not go with lines of hose. 1t is also
asked that each hose company be Increased
one man. and that each truck company be
increased by two. The burying of the tele-
phone and telegraph wires upon the irnpor-
tant downtown streets it also demanded. It
was shown by the recent fires that the great
network of wires interfered greatly with the
work of the department. Mr.. McGilliard
Will also ask that 5000 feet of the best grade
of hose be purchased.
The Board of Safety has already decided
to establish two new companies, one in the
eastern part and one in the northern por-
ton of the city. The board feels the neces-
sity of the department owning a water
tower. but it is doubtful whether the city
has the money with which to buy one The
are needed. In fact, the board realizes that
number >of improvements are necessary.
but the department is cramped for funds
with which to make them. Ii is not known
what effect the demands of the insurance
men will have, but they will at least call the
attention of the board to the Immediate
need of improvements.
The insurance men are simply distracted
over the recent heavy losses. They feel that
the department, has handled each fire as
well as possible with the apparatus on hand,
but they also feel that if the city had owned
more modern apparatus and better hose the
loss in each case would have been less They
also realize that improvements are neces-
sary in order to be prepared for other fires
New York, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland
Cincinnati. Chicago and all the leading cities
and they have8 proved a great aid during
fires When not extended they resemble an
screw steel stand pipe or tower can be run
up in a short time to any reasonable height
A water tower apparatus is generally kept
in the business portion of a city, where they
are most servlceable. They are hauled to a
fire the same as a truck engine, and
taken close to-the burning building The
pipe is elevated, and started on its upward
course. A man on the wagon control
its direction and the height to which it is
desired to raise it. On the top is a huge
nozzle. also operated by the man on the
wagon. To the bottom five or six streams
can be attached, which come forth at the
top in one large. powerful stream The lat
ter can be turned into a window on the burn
ing floor and the fire put out. Oftentimes
the tower can be used when it is impossible
for firemen to approach the building because
of the smoke and flames. AT the Stout fire
the streams could not reach the third floor
where the fire. seemed to be burning the
most If the department had owned a tower
a stream could have been turned into that
floor and the fire extinguished or at least
controlled. SO there would have been little
danger q. d Of it spreading. A tower costs from
The Board of Safety recently purchased
some rubber hose. which was declared out
Oh Oh, da tie, nlteen years ago. The price paid
brands. The experiment has proved costly
Tor the new hose acted badly during last
week. The old board made several expert
ments in the hose question, but expert
ence has always been that It is cheaper TO
buy the higher price hose. There are num-
her of brands on the market recognized bv
different cities as standard The guarantees
which the makers of hose offer have proved
to be worthless, as in case of complaint
company will claim that the hose was cut
or roughly treated. During the excitement
of a fire it is impossible to prove the con-
trary. Controller Trusler. who has bad
some experience with the hose companies
SAID to the Journal yesterday that ne
thought the department made a mistake by
net testing all hose upon which bids have
been submitted before making a purchase
He would have each section put Under a
strong pressure The department says the
only reason this is not done is that no pres
sure can be found about the city sufficiently
strong for q test. Many of the brands show
up all right at first, but weaken after taking
water once or twice