The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-05
PUBLIC MEETING CALLED
At board OF Trade Hnll-Expressions
from Insurance Men.


The Board OF Trade will take action at
once on the question OF better fire protec-
ton. Yesterday President l. s. Gordon
issued a call for a public meeting to be
held in the Board OF Trade Hall this after
noon at O'Clock. The call was issued in
accordance with the following written re-
quest received by him yesterday
THE undersigned members OF the govern
ing committee of the Indianapolis Board of
Trade would respectfully urge you to call
a meeting OF citizens in the Board OF Trade
Hall on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 8, at
o'clock, to consider the matter of the in
adequacy OF our fire protection and, IL
possible, to suggest some means of Sc
curing needed Improvement This was
signed by William Scott, Ferd L. Mayer,
John w. Murphy, G. A. Schnull, George Z.
Townley. All citizens are invited to be
present. whether members Of the Board of
Trade or not.
Insurance men were inclined to discuss
the big fire OF Tuesday pretty freely yes
terday, and some of them were not spar
ing in their criticisms. A. Il. Allen, of the
Fire Inspection Bureau. said he was in
clined TO place the responsibility largely
upon the inadequate apparatus. One fairly
good engine in the department throws
Observation-Disclosures stream. while mod
ern engines throw one-and-one-half one
and-three-quarters. A water tower is i'm
peratively demanded. The efficiency of the
department would have been increased so
per cent. If there had been a water tower
available.
THE water pressure was very poor and
many thought water mains in that part
Of the city were not large enough, but the
fire map shows there was an eight-inch
main on Maryland street. a twelve-inch on
and a twelve-inch on Illinois street. As
usually calculated, a two-inch main Will
supply one stream, and on this basis the
water supply would have been sufficient
for twenty-four streams, while there were
only eighteen streams attached 10 the hy
drants. and over half OF these were OF
little benefit. 1 understand the superin-
tendent OF the water company says there
was pressure OF 100 pounds at the pump
ing station. IL that is true il is difficult TO
understand where the fault for the poor
water supply rests. liz is inexplainable to
me how such fire could happen under the
circumstances. The store was situated
and within block of the fire department,
yet not only that store permitted to
burn, but six others were taken with il.
The many recent big fires will I'M
doubtedly lead TO a readjustment OF rates.
i have told the business men Indianapolis
was especially favored in the matter OF
low insurance, but they all seem to think
the companies are living of this city alone.
The business men have been asked on sew
eral occasions 10 join in and help reorgan-
ize and make the fire department what il
should be, but this has never been done
the loss ratio has been sufficient in the
past year TO run the rates up about as
high "a the policies. Up 10 and including
the Eastman, Schleicher & Lee fire in SEN
TENDER. the losses for the nine months
were in excess OF the premiums for the
entire year. The losses up TO that time
were close 10 100000, and this IL greater
than will be paid into the insurance COM