The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-12

north-and-south mains should be confin-
Gus from South street 70 New York
| With such a system as above outlined.
supplemented II would be by the twenty
| four-inch main on Washington street as an
i plain OF a lack OF supply or OF pressure. so
| hong as the pumping stations were in op-
| Grating condition
Even with an enlarged service supply a.
| above outlined, the proper and effective
| work OF the fire department would be
hydrants are kept / in us use: these MIGRANTS
were constructed with a view TO be used
for the attachment OF hose using the direct
| pressure OF the pumping stations and have
| no provision for the attachment Of a sue
ton pipe from the engines. thus creating a
Quite SnSn IN All oaSe
drants should be replaced by modern ones
the mains. and each TO be provided with a
coupling for steam engine suction In add
ton to the usual hose connections; such
district outlined and in the heavy business
portion of the city. where the hydrsnfs are
| irants should be located at the alleys to
| avoid the necessity for long lines of hose
and consequent loss OF pressure and volume
/ by friction.
SPECIFIC APPARATUS NEEDED.
The subcommittee composed of J. B. Con-
ner, ]. p. Dunn. c. F. sayles. Robert Mar
| tindale and e. c. Rassman. appointed to
| inspect the organization and equipment OF
| the Indianapolis fire department reported
| having made an examination OF each OF the
| different fire houses The committee found
| the department far from what 1t should be
/ for a city OF this size. In the judgment
| of the committee the following improve
ments are absolutely necessary at this umes
| The purchase of a water tower: three en-
gines OF Class al; two engines OF tne a hs,.
| smaller size; twelve thousand feet OF nrst-
class hose in addition to the heavy hose
necessary for the water tower; fifteen IRE
ons and other apparatus and fteen no.zles
| for the same purpose. The committee
| thinks the present fire force should pe IN
men. The report maEes SPECIFIC mention OF
| the requirements at each engine ana nose
The engine n fou mss to be ee
| worthless. Engine company No. was
found with 80 feet, Of good hose ana go
| was reported. protects the largest special
| fire hazards In the city. Hose house NO. q
sSe cty The 70 ' Committee that
1t be torn down and new one erected. IN
nearly every branch of the department the
| The discipline OF the department was found
| to be too lax for efficient service rms
trouble the committee Attributes 70 , uns
of the department. revision OF the rules
| regulating the department and the express
possible under Ter sections IS and % Of the city
charter is advised. In conclusion the report
says: In our opinion the use OF gooe en-
or after fires should be stopped for the rea-
son that 1t is iiabe-to result in serious In
eSd e that she n snsaes Of Old
| engines two or three be kept py the city
for such work: The saving on good engines
nance. To this arm of the service the
Of SNn These ana
sacred to permit IL TO become the foot
ball of political and party interests The
purposes to the end that good party records
in economy may be made in order 10 eaten
votes at the next election cannot ne 100 Sc
| ommends that all these things be urged
upon public attention as necessary TO fur
Their improve the service
CHANGES WOULD BE EXPENSIVE
John b. Conner. ex-member OF the Board
of Public Safety, was Of the opinion that
the changes urged by the committee
would cost the city about $500 ID. p. Err
win feared that the committee might over
reach itself in asking for these improve
ments on so large a scale. He believed
they should be sure OF what they would be
able to get from the city before going too
far. ]. p. Dunn. of the committee. took
different view Of the matter. He said
the department was in bad condition. and
| he believed the sentiment Of the people
/ raise the money, IL il were necessary.
~ o nave to be ' special one ~ Il the
Council did anything in the matter.
An interesting report was heard from the
| the various large buildings about the city
and the efforts owners employ In protecting
ordinance %dii, hc To begin with. the COMMITTEES
finds that the building laws Of the city are
very imperfect Persons are s, permitted a 10
wall. an iron shutter or even a closed
hatchway. As an instance OF these irreg..
the the ; joint Committee to the building at the
corner OF Meridian and Maryland streetss
bv By sa sna
ing once begun in building Of this kind
Snd n thus ' whether the s had its
beginning under the. roof or In the eeii isI
it would soon spread throughout the build
| ing With such a combination or circum-
| stances opposing US there Is but one thing
that the iremen could do TO master the fire
| ed the stocks are ruined and the department.
| Is censured for Acknowledgement
BUILDINGS AT FAULT.
The subcommittee would recommend the
amendment of Section 26 OF the building or
! dinance so as to require fire walls IN brick
or stone business buildings more than one
story dnstead OF two stories) high. and 30
as to require coping Of either stone or terra
Gotta. A further suggestion was as follows
mo openings shall be made In party walls
until plans, including provisions for stand
ard fire doors, shall have been submitted TO
the building inspector and have received his
approval, and II shall be his duty TO see
| that such changes are made in accoroance
with the approved plans Further the re-
port recommended the amendment or Sec
ton 3 by the insertion after the woTes
.'oyer-loading Of floors" OF the words the
danger from fires, SO that the anen'e0
.IIe shall examine all public school build
ings public halls ana churches, theaters,
hotels business houses, and all puiinings
used for manufacturing or commerclai phi
poses at least once year. TOT the putpose
of determining the safety OF such nuiidings.
the facilities for egress In case OF nre. tne
Overlooking of 1oors the danger from nre,
and where defects are found shall Apply
such remedies he may be empowered 70
USE"
fire walls or parry walls now being con-
structed should be carried up at least two
feet above the roof Of the building and
should have no openings except such AZ
are provided with standard fire doors. The
the question of forbidding. within certain
districts as between Louisiana and Mar
ket streets and Capitol avenue AMI Della
! ware streets. of any structure cher than
fire proof or slow-burning buildings. The
advisabiity OF regulating by ordinance the
electric wiring Of buildings was suggested
and the use or automatic sprfnklers ana
| caves sprinklers urged In connection with
the recommendation or sprfnklers the SUD