The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-30
MORE FIRE ENGINES WANTED.
INSURANCE COMMITTEES REPORT
ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The Council to he Petitioned to In
crease the Appropriation to the
Department in Order That the
Force May lie Restored to Its For
mer strength and Also to Increase
the Equipment of the Department
by the Purchase of Two New En-
Eines-Water Department Is All
Right, the Committee Says.
The city is 10 be requested TO re-equip the
fire department and place it in condition
to contend with fires such as have proved
beyond its control in the recent past. The
request will be made by the insurance
agents. backed by business men.
A committee of insurance agents will
begin the circulation of a petition to this
effect to-day, stating the needs of the de-
partment and the advantages which may
be expected to result from its proper
equipment
Shortly after the Conklin fire COM
mittee, consisting of Capt John F. Whea-
ton. Mr.. w. II. Daniel and Mr.. Joseph E.
Harty, was appointed at meeting of the
local agents to investigate the loss of the
Conklin building and report to the body
The committee, however, was given
sort of rowing commission, which L in
terpreted to mean that it was at liberty
to investigate generally as it saw fit. The
report will be interesting and refreshing
reading to the readers of the Morning
News, it is so absolutely different
from all previous Investigations and
criticisms of the fire department. II
Is devoid of political prejudice or personal
antagonism, and deals solely with the
equipment of the department without re-
gard to the question of the chiefs abil-
ity or his management of the department.
The report was submitted at a meeting
OF the Insurance agents several days ago.
but was withheld from The public until
the committee should be ready TO begin Its
canvass
Mr.. w. H. Daniel, a member of the
committee, said yesterday: 1--WE were
somewhat surprised at the condition of
affairs. For the last ten years the matter
of inspection of the fire department has
been left entirely TO the Southeastern Tar
iff Associa ton. The local agents have
been practically out of it, We were UNI
der the impression that the fire depart
ment was well equipped, and that the
black reports of Savannahs fire record
which we have received so frequently for
many years past were due
entirely to insufficient management
We concluded that 1t was about time to
take the matter in our own hands and in
vestigate for ourselves and the result is in
the report"
The report deals first with the loss of
the Conklin building. The superior con-
struction of the Conklin warehouse, which
the committee believed to exist, was not
entirely up to its expectations. 1t was
found that the parapet wall on the River
street side of the building had been de-
stroyed by a cyclone and that In repair
ing the roof the parapet was not restored.
but the tin was carried over the top of the
remaining walls. The evidence of firemen
showed that the building caught on that
side at the point that the parapet would
have protected. The committee concludes,
however, that, Notwithstanding this fact,
the department should have been able to
have kept the fire out of the building and
that it was not properly guarded.
The weak point of The department. the
report states, seems to be the pumping
force of a majority of the engines. The
six engines combined has a pumping
capacity of only $500 gallons per minute.
Engine No. ! has a capacity of $50 gallons
per minute, and No. 8 of 800 gallons. Nos.
2, and have a capacity of only $50 gal
Ions per minute each No. 2, the report
states, was built thirty-six years ago, aid
No. Is literally worthless and unrela-
bic. As a remedy for these defects, it Is
suggested that measures be taken to Sc
cure the purchase of two new first-class
engines, equal to No g.
1t is suggested that steps be taken to Sc
cure an additional appropriation from
Council for the fire department in order
that the suspended men may be restored
to duty, the commissioners and the chief
having complained that the force has been
injuriously reduced and that there are rot
sufficient men to man the machines.
The report deals with the fire alarm sys-
tenn as follows: THE fire alarm system,
which has been so much at fault for the
last two months, has had our attention.
The charge was that Mr.. Claiborne, the
former electrician, had been discharged,
and that his successor, instead of perform
ing the duties himself had employed an
inefficient person to do the work
for him. The employe referred to, we
have discovered, is simply a lineman, and
his duties are such as a competent cleo
trician does not perform; that Is, are what
is said to be beneath the duties of an edu-
Gated electrician. The bad condition OF
the boxes seems to have been the result
representative of the Gamewell alarm sys-
tenn, who has recently inspected them"
The committee gives the water depart
ment its complete Endorsement. A state
ment of a number of tests made and the
satisfactory results is given. The con-
clusion is that the fire protection. so far
the water supply is concerned, is all
that is needed for the present.
The committee recomends a permanent
and thorough system of building inspec-
ton under properly framed ordinances.
This work, IL thinks, can be done by mem
bers of the fire department.
The petition TO Council. which will be
circulated for signatures to-day refers TO
the report. a copy of which will accom-
pany the petition. and asks for hearing
of the committee by Council The petit
ton urges the purchase of two large fire
engines, the establishment of a proper
system of building inspection and the in
crease of the number of men i'm the SER
vice. The movement, st is stated, is with
the ultimate view of having the prevailing
insurance rates so reduced that the out.
lay for carrying out the recommendations
shall cost the city nothing.
s-4-S