The record-union., 1895-10-05

Are traced by Hand divine.
Before the mind distinctly they unron,
Lit by Gods dear sunshine
But cen as little children wanting much
That often brings them pain,
so DO we strive. and strive beyond our reach,
| Eager our ends TO gain.
And, having oft attained our chief desire,
| Worked for with keeneSt Zest,
OFT, like a child burnt by allurlng fire,
| We found it was not best.
But, though God counsels us which path to
| take
! Yet GOES He leave US free
| To choose our way; this law he will not break.
| And this is destiny.
ABBIE GERRIsH-GENUNG.
DOING GOOD WORK.
| Inspection of Fire Departments and
Water supply.
The National Board of Fire Under
writers has addressed itself to the con-
! sideration OF many questions during the
| twenty-nlne years since it's organization,
! Some OF which have general interest.
Its administration of fund tor the offer
| OF rewards and the conviction Of incendi-
aries. its efforts to influence the adoption
OF proper building regulations and its
| cautions III reference to the sale and use
of OK Explosives, oils and dangerous COM
| pounds are evidences of this. One branch
of the work conducted by the board dur
| ing the past five years has been lost sight
of by the public, if, indeed, it was ever
| known to any great extent. We refer TO
that OF fire department and water supply
inspection. Ia 1890 the board decided to
take up that subject. An expert was em-
ployed as general inspector. and sys-
| lematic examination OF the IRE depart
ments and water supply systems in the
| leading cities OF the United States was
begun.
The reasons for such a work were
manifest, for II was known that the neces-
sity for improvements In many cities
was pressing. The fact is that in many
OF our cities of rapid growth neither the
facilities for lighting ire nor the water
supply has kept pace with the increase of
population. In some OF the older places
there was disposition to assume that the
fire department equipment and the water
facilities were ample because they had
been long in service. When the new
aqueduct for New York City was begun,
for instance, it was stated that the water
supply OF the city was twenty years be-
hind its needs, and when it was finished,
SO great had been the growth that high
authority stated that the city was still
twenty years behind It's present and
prospective necessities, whereas it should
have been that far anead.
In many of the smaller cities there
as to what was really demanded either in
respect 10 the ire department or the
water systems. 1t was partly with view
to giving this information that the work
was undertaken. OF course the lire in
surance companies would benefited, it
was hoped, by a reduced tire loss
wherever improvements were intro
duced, but 1t was also apparent that
tire communities would be made more
secure In their homes and property.
The difference between weII-eQuipped
department and an adequate water sys-
TEN and the absence of these is very great
so far as the protection OF property is con-
cerned. a fire starts in bad locality in
city or lOwn. Without prompt and ad-
equate fire department service and ample
water the whole quarter-it may be the
business center-of the place may be
swept away. With such aid the fire is
generally confined to or near its place OF
starting. Anything which will tend to
increase knowledge as to what facilities
are absolutely necessary, or any action
which may stimulate municipalities to
procure such facilities, becomes a public
Denelaction, and although primarily the
underwriters are properly acting in their
own interest, they should receive consid-
Grafton at the hands of the public and
proper credit for the efforts they have for
80 many years been making TO awaken
general interest in these aud kindred sub
lects, with view OF reducing the enor-
nous fire loss of the country.
Since the appointment of the General
Inspector OF the board nearly 500 cities
and towns have been visited The re-
ports of the examinations are sent to
members of the board. They contain,
first, statement of facts as TO the condi
ton both OF the fire department and
water supply, and, second, definite rec
n n ~ NM q NJ q
where such are found to be needed. These
recommendations are sent TO the proper
municipal officers of the place visited,
not as demand made upon them, but as
indicating the judgment OF competent
expert as to what is needed if the place Is
to be made reasonably safe and able to
cope with fires should they occur.
Ii is believed that the National Board
OF Fire Underwriters is thus engaged in
a practical and important enterprise. 1t
IS known that many improvements have
resulted, and that the proffered sugges-
tions have been welcome in many quar-
ters. 1t Is usual for commercial bodies
and boards TO meet and pass resolutions
as TO questions OF local and public policy,
but it is not so frequently that we find
them organizing and paying the expense
or important bureaus to carry on the re-
forms they suggest. In this, the fire iu-
surance companies are certainly to be
commented, for their work touches init
mately and vitality the public welfare
and while the Board of Underwriters, as
we have intimatsd, is first concerned for
its own members, the scope OF its action
reaches beyond that, affecting the inter-
est OF every property holder, and having
its influence in diminishing the fire loss
of the country, which has amounted to
S725, 100000 in the last tive years, or an
average of Sl45, 600 per annum with
loss for 1893 of $l67 600. 900 and Sl55, 000, 900
in 1894. Any measures which will tend
to lessen this destruction should be-
sought and applied. Efficient fire de-
partments for which the board is con-
tending are among the important factors
entering into the problem, aud the move
ment to improve them should have the
cordial and earnest support of the public
as well as of the fire insurance companies
and agents.
Most people dread far more the social
frown which follows the doing of some-
thing conventionally wrong than they do
the qualms of conscience which follow
the doing of something intrinsically
wrong.-He bert Spencer.