The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-15
poADS MAY MAKE CHANGES.
,,.s,-aANCE MEN WANT DANGER
FROM FIRES MIMIMIZED.

-. positively Declared That the
N,vaI stores Yards Are Danger
ous. But Local Insurance Agents
Al. the Roads to Make Inspec-
,ious-SIopes Toward the River
Are Not Wanted-Insurance
AGENTS, Board of Trade Members
and Local Agents of the Roads
Net Yesterday AfternOOn-PIant
system officials VIII Go Over the
words With Insurance Men-Har-
mony Marked the Conference.
1aiIrOad News and Notes.
stems are to be taken to minimize the
danger of disastrous conflagrations at the
naval stores yards of the Plant System
ori the Central Railroad. 1t is not a fore
zone conclusion that the present arrange
roent of the yards is dangerous, but the
l,cal fire insurance agents recognize the
,rnortance of taking every precaution,
and as a result of their efforts, the rail-
roads will carefully consider the situation
and seek 10 correct any defect that might
tend to spread a fire once started.
A meeting of insurance men, railroad
uas held at 4,o'clock yesterday afternoon
at the Board of Trade rooms. The discus
sion of the yards situation was entirely
harmonious, and all concerned manifested
desire to adopt any measures that might
be agreed upon as needful to remove to
as great an extent as possible all danger
Of a fire originating among the naval
stores becoming general.
Mr.. Charles F. Prendergast was chair
man of the committee of insurance agents.
The other members were Messrs. R. NJ.
Hull, John D. CarsweH and w. L. Will
SON The committee was appointed at
meeting of the Savannah agents held day
before yesterday, and will remain in
charge of the insurance peoples side of
the question until its adjustment.
The Board of Trade manifested willing
ness 10 cooperate with the agents in Sc
curing the aid of the railroads in the cor
recuon of any dangerous features at the
yards. The board joined with the agents
IN the request that the agents of the Cen
tral and the Plant System meet with the
members of the board and insurance men,
and accordingly Messrs. James Earle, Jr.,
W. ]. Kelly, W. c. Powell, w. E. Coney,
j. 3. Chestnut c. d. Baldwin and c. w.
saussy met with the insurance committee
and Mr.. F. p. Papy, agent for the Plant
System, and MIR. r. G. TreZevant, agent
for the Central
Mr.. Papy and Chief Engineer Tutweiler
Of the Plant System will meet the insur-
ance committee within the next few days
and visit the Plant System wharf. If
there are really any changes that might
better the situation they will be suggested
by the committee and the road Will en-
deavor to make the corrections. Although
matters with the Central have not yet
progressed SO far it is expected that the
same courtesy will be shown the request
Of the insurance men for an inspection of
the yards, with the view of minimizing
danger from fires,
Mr. Prendergast was seen after the meet
ing. lie said it had been entirely free
from the faintest suggestion of strife, all
parties agreeing that every possible means
should be employed to insure the safety
OF property. The representatives. of the
railroads met the insurance men and the
members of the Board of Trade in the
most friendly spirit, concurring in the ex-
presslons made and agreeing to do what
they could to lessen any existing danger.
No positive belief was expressed by Mr..
Prendergast that there is anything wrong
at either the Plant Sytem or the Central
wharves. He is only anxious to reduce
the danger from CONGREGATIONS, and for
the favorable consideration the roads seem
disposed to give the request of the insur-
ance agents he Is very grateful. Mr.. Prem
dergast says the conformation of the Sa-
vannah river at this point is such as to
make the danger of general fire appall-
ing once burning naval stores should get
afoat upon its waters.
Burning naval stores do not yield
to water" said MIR. Prendergast. IF they
should start from the Plant System yards
on a flood tide they would sweep up the
river, probably setting fire to the vessels
wharves and buildings along the entire
river front The same thing would be
true of a fire started at the Central yards
If the tide was on the ebb. That is, pro-
vided the grade of the yards is not as it
should be. If the slope is toward the
river there would be nothing to prevent
the burning masses rolling into the water
and thereby launching themselves upon
their mission of destruction. There IS no
way Of fighting a naval stores fire except
by sand; water will avail nothing. We
have no apparatus for employing sand, so
the stores would be consumed.
We considered the railroads would be
glad enough to adopt any measures of
precaution. 1t Is possible that the slope
Is wrong, and that the grade should be
such as to turn rolling masses of burning
naval stores away from the river. The
erection of a few banks at certain places
might help to effect this result.
i have not visited the scene of the fire
at the Plant System yards a few weeks
ago when the glue houses were destroyed.
II Is reported by some that the glue houses
We're too near the turpentine. Fire has to
pe used TO melt the glue that is put in
Inc turpentine barrels, and of course that
makes it somewhat dangerous. Some
.hought 1t would be we'll to have the glue
houses rebuilt at a greater distance from
'he turpentine sheds. That was readily
agreed to by the railroad, and the dis
t s1nee Will be greater than before the
houses We're deetrovad