The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03

Considerable feeling has been aroused
among insurance men over the handling
OF the GriggS, Cooper & Co. fire by Chief
Cook, Thursday night. and the course
pursued in taking all Of the apparatus to
the one fire, thus leaving other parts Of
the city unprotected, as evidenced by the
total destruction of the Diamond Knitting
factory. Avon street and University ave-
hue, while the Griggs, Cooper & Co.
fire was burning. Some of the insurance
agents severely criticIse Chief Cook, while
others maintain that he did what was
most reasonable under the circumstances.
Said one prominent insurance man yes
terday:
Chief Cook was confronted by two
evils, and undoubtedly chose the lesser.
It IS unQucstionab unsafe to leave the
entire city unprotected for one fire that
might have early been seen to be fairly
well under control, but in view of eX-
pediency it was better to allow a $4,000
plant to burnethan to take chances or let
ting a S409009 loss. occur. The real fault,
in my opinion, lies in the fact that the
city has rot a large enough fire depart
ment. Ii 1t took aIl2zof the apparatus in
town 9fIsholds stse ariggs, Cooper & Co.
fresin oheeastzlf this much apparatus must
GO TO every big down town fire, then,
obviously, there is not enough apparatus
available to leave any behind to look
after other parts of town. In fighting a
big FIRE like the one Of Thursday night, it
does not pay to take chances. It was a
question whether or not the iron doors
of the fire wall would withstand the
fierce onslaught of the flames and If the
fire had gotten through into the main
buidinG and this section had been
destroyed, the criticism on tho departs
ment for not having enough apparatus on
hand. would have been far more severe
than that being INDUCED N now. 1t IS
unfortunate that other fires should have
started while the department was at
wcrk on the big blaze, but it was a
dilemma met, I believe, n perhaps the
best way" .-.....-.
Chief Cook denies the charge that the
city was left without protection during
the big fire.. He says" every possible pre-
caution was observed fer other fires. He
says. d reserve force was kept at central
fire. headquarters, Eighth and Minnesota
streFtsf having been sent there from the
Griggs, Cooper & Co, fire. The force
consisted Of Chemical Engine company
No. 6. and supply hose wagon No. 5.
While at the big fire. Chief Cook says, a
man was kept constantly at the tele-
phone, In the Office, ready to receive a re-
port Of other fires, while another man
was stationed at the alarm box. on the
. corner, for the same purpose. When the
Knitting factory fire broke out Chief
Cook says the reserve force went to It.
also Hook and Ladder company No. 3.
which was sent from the Grigses, Cooper
& Co.'S fire. Still 1t IS claimed that the
appara tus sent was not enough to handle
an insignificant blaze, much less sucn a
fire as it had to fight.
The fire in the ruins Of The Grggs
Cooper & Co building, Third and Wacou
ia streets, is still burning, and an en-
CINE continues throwing water into the
burned part Of the building. This fac
will somewhat increase the total loss, a!
the constant heat and deluge of water
will destroy much Of the stock that Nigh
have been saved as salvage.
Building Inspector Haas was yesterday
requested by Supt. Mcmillan, of th1
Union Depot company, to have the real
wall Of the burned part Of the building
torn down. 1t is claimed that the wall /:
In an unsafe condition and might fal
upon the depot sheds, closely adjoining
Building Inspector Haas says he canno
exercise jurisdiction in the matter unit
the fire is eXtinguished and he can MAKE
q personal examination of the wall Chic
Cook. of the fire department, says he doe!
not feel authorized to pull down the wal
because Of the damage that might result
20 salvage in the basement.