The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-16
ment OF the losges since 1ss9:

Regarding an electrical inspector, the
fire chief saws:
Il beg to recommend the appointment of
an Inspector of electricity, or the appoint
ment of an assistant TO the superintend-
ent of fire alarm. II the assistant were
appointed, the superintendent of fire alarm
should be clothed with The authority nee
essary to compel the owners or occupants
of property to comply with his instruc-
tons in the installa lion OF electric plants
OF every description All electric wires,
whether of high of low current, should be
put in under his personal direction.
In general, every fire caused by eiec-
tFicity may be attributed 10 faulty work
manship and improper care. Electricity
is the safest lighting agent known, but
may become potent source of danger by
careless manipulation. Recent experiments
in other cities demonstrates that the heat
from glass of l6-eandie power lamp will
char wood and burn paper black. Once
within the past two years no little eX-
citement wns created in the Savannah
theeter by the ignition OF a piece of col
ored cloth, which had been wrapped
Ground an incandescent light, to initiate
fire In a scenic CRATE. On another occa-
sion smoke was discovered issuing from
one OF the dressing rooms, which, upon
investigation proved TO have been caused
by a towel wrapped around an ncandes-
cent light, having taken fire. A short
while since a fire occurred
in the store of S. Guckenheimer
& Sons, which was found 10 have
been caused by the electric wires. As a
rule people are too careless with this
lighting agent. They have been told re-
peatedly that ii was safe that only on
rare occasion would fires result from its
use, but the experience Of the leading fire
departments of this country show that
the constantly increasing number of fires
attributed TO electricity should warn the
r.F44I ~ f~~
that no sound principal of caution, is VIC
lated by wiring, and ABOVE all that all
wires are liable to lose their insulation
from any cause should be placed in such
position as to reduce as much as possible
the chances of fire by crosses, grounds or
overcharged circuits.
Regarding a fire boat the report saws.
In mentioning the wants of the fire de-
partment ! am impressed with the neces-
eity of fire boat and in presenting this
matter TO you, DO not mean TO say that
the fire department should be furnished
with a fire boat, fitted up ana equipped
similar TO the New Yorker or Sophie
Mills Of New York. which cost something
over 100000 a piece, but / do not hesitate
to say that we should have a CHEAP built
plain boat for the purpose of fighting fires
on the river front. / believe a CITY OF
this size, with miles Of inhammable
material scattered along the wharves
of the city should long since have provided
means of protecting this valuable property
1T may be that this facility has never been
purchased because of the fact that the
means were not at hand to warrant tho
city in making such an expenditure II
may not be generally known that oul
merchants are paying dearly for this lack
of facility in a high rate of insurance.
OF the building laws the report saws
"The want OF proper building laws in this
city has long been felt. During the pass
year the number of fires resulting from
defective construction and Improperly
erected stove pipes and chimneys warn
us that something should be done in this
direction. In May, 1894, City Council took
this matter up, spent a great deal Of time
discussing it, ana finally framed excellent
building laws which, however, were laid
upon the table to be considered at the time
of the preparation OF the budget for 1925
since then nothing has been heard from
inns ordinance and as a result the fire
loss caused by defective construction con.
unues to run up into the thousands. A
comparison Of the laws Of Savannah wlth
those Of other Southern cities
n SHOWS that We are very far be.
nlnd the age, and sincerely trust