Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-21

The conference between representa-
tives of the fire committee of the City
Council and the committee of the
Board of Underwriters, with regard to
the present unsatisfactory condition OF
the fire alarm apparatus, was held last
night in the Office of the City Clerk.
The Council committee was composed
Of Messrs. Baird, Nesbitt and Gartley.
The insurance men were Messrs. f.
Reister, j. Y. l.. Rodgers and w. B.
Simpson.
Major Rodgers made the first state
ment. He said the underwriters have
known for some time that the appa-
ratus is not in good working order.
and that the efficiency of the depart
ment is impaired thereby. He empha-
sized the Importance OF having every
thing connected with the department
in such order that there will be prompt
responses to calls from different parts
of the city. He showed the possibil-
tiles Of great fire losses in the event
that confusion in an alarm would
call the department to wrong box,
or cause any material delay IN reach
fng the fire. He reiterated what was
said in the communication of the IN
derwriters to the fire committee.
Mr.. Baird explained what he knew
about the cause of the present condi-
ton of affairs, mentioning the alleged
trouble with the wires and the boxes.
Several specific cases in which alarms
came in wrong were discussed by the
gentlemen.
Mr.. Reister supplemented the state
ment made by Mr.. Rodgers, and asked
who was attending to the alarm sys-
TEN. Upon being informed that the
Chief was handling the matter, he
thought, without desiring to say any
thing to the disparagement of Mr..
Klieves, that it was a matter which
might well call for the services of an
expert.
Some little technicalities were ex-
planned by Mr.. Gartley, who is an en-
ploye of the telephone company, and
therefore familiar in a general way
with the subject of electrical ap-
planes. The poverty of the city
treasury also figured in the discussion.
Mr.. Baird referring to the inability to
replace all the old boxes at once on
account of lack of funds.
There was no division of opinion as
to the existence of the evil, and this
matter settled, the conference took up
the question of the best means of pro-
viding remedy.
The underwriters stated that there
was no i'll feeling against the Chief or
the department on their part, but they
were of opinion that the only way
to remedy the evil would be to get a
proper man from headquarters to
overhaul the system. 1t was explained
that insurance companies rate different
cities according to their facilities for
fighting fires, and charge premiums in
accordance with these ratings. This
city has escaped serious fires through
eXtrame good fortune. 1t would be a
small item of expense to secure a
competent man, in comparison with
the possibility Of heavy fire losses. If
there would be a destructive fire, Coun-
Gil would act Immediately. "An ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of
cure"
After a further discussion about the
importance of the matter under con-
sideration and the necessity for prompt
action, the Subcommittee of Council
decided to call a meeting of the full
committee this evening, to which it
will make recommendation embody-
ing the views of the representative of
the Board of Underwriters.