The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-10
CITY NEEDS AN INSPECTOR.
MAGUIRE WANTS ELECTRICAL AP-
PLIANCEs EXAMINED.

Ins TraceabIe 10 Defective Wiring
shows Chief Mcguire the Urgent
Need for an Electrical Inspector.
He Wants Council TO Create and
Fill such n POsitiOn-Money Would
BE Saved by It-sOme of the Chiefs
Views and Experiences-What Ex-
supt. walker Recommended in
This Connection.
Until there is a city electrical inspector
in Savannah. Fire Chief John E. Mcguire
will not believe that all necessary precau-
ton against fire has been taken. He is
confident that such an officer is greatly
needed, and every fire that is caused by de-
fective electric wiring makes him even
more positive that hany could be avoided
by careful inspector of electrical appli-
ances and fittings by one competent to
make IL.
Now and then a fire occurs that is clear
ly the result of some trouble with the
wires. Chief Mcguire thinks 1t stands to
reason that an investigation of the wires
in all the buildings would discover radical
defects, the correction of which would in
sure safety from what Is now becoming
ton.
Some time ago Chief Mcguire began his
agitation Of the need for an electrical in
spector. He has not yet found a Council
that seems 10 agree with him to the extent
Of passing or even proposing the necessa-
~ ordinance for the creation of such an
office. A few months since he drew up an
ordinance himself, after careful study of
the question, and submitted 1t 90 Alder
man l. G. Haas, chairman of the tlre COM
mttee of Council. Nothing has ever been
done about it. The chief is anxious to see
it presented to the body, and hopes the
frequently recurring evidence of the need
for such an officer may induce considera-
ton OF the measure.
For something like 81 200 a year, not
more than that. Chief Mcguire is confident
a competent man could be secured 10 fill
the position. That small expenditure
would doubtless save much property by
preventing fires. Nor would the city have
10 pay The inspectors salary. On the
contrary according to the plan as con-
ceived by Chief Mcguire, il would make
by his work, as those having electrical
plants, apparatus or lights placed in their
buildings would have to pay nominal
fee for The inspection by the officer.
In his position as fire marshal Chief
Mcguire himself. though he is no eleclri-
clan, is yet able, through his Slight knowl-
edge of the science, to observe electrical
arrangements that need no experts eye
to recognize the danger that turks behind
them. The dropping of one loosely fasten-
ed wire upon another settles the business
when everything is thought to be working
smoothly. the arc is formed and forthwith
woodwork or anything touching where in
su!ation is broken is set on fire, if the
current is strong enough. The chief re-
calls instances to show that defecI,
when it will hold no longer, often causes
trouble at more places than one. In Chief
Puder's time, he says, dozen small fires
were once the result of a single fault in
wiring.
No blame is attached to electrical job
bers by Chief Mcguire. He believes those
engaged in the business in Savannah use
every endeavor to do f1rst-class work He
is influenced in the belief not merely by
his personal acquaintance with the cleo
trcans but also through the knowledge
that they know their advantage lies along
the line of the best work. In other cities,
and the chief says all the larger ones now
recognize the importance of an electrical
! inspector, there are defects in the wiring,
but they are discovered by the inspector
IN many cases and fires averted.
The Waldburg building fire was what
put the chief to talking again. Every fire
he believes to have been due to electricity
sets him off and makes him more anxious
than ever to see Council create such an
office. At an expense that would be en-
tirely disproportionate to the amount that
might be saved in a year, the inspector
could be hired, the chief maintains and
he fails to see the economy in the policy
that insists on taking the chances OF de-
fective wiring causing fires.
In the last annual report of the Savan-
nah fire department, Mr.. Joseph F. Walk
er, ex-superintendent of the fire alarm
system says the statistics of the eleetri-
cal bureau of the national board of fire
underwriters show that Savannah is the
| only city in the United States of 40, 200
population without an inspector of electri-
/ cal appliances. He further says:
Il find many of the wires of the various
! telegraph companies supported in places
by small knobs screwed into rotten poles
! and entering buildings without being prop
! erly protected at the entrance. These
| wires should be substantially screwed to
! poles on cross-arms or brackets; porcelain
! cutouts should be at the entrance OF every
! building automatically disconnectlng wires
! when an abnormal curr-lt comes in on
| the line. The careless inside construction
| of this class of wiring VIII draw in light
ming discharges when grounded on pipes
! or metal of any kind, causing fire. Some
| time ago, at Habersham and Perry street
| lane a wire of low voltage was lying
| across the trolley 600 volts) for three
| days. Any one coming In contact with
this wire would have been killed instant
| ly, as it was thoroughly charged from the
! trolley II has not been many months
! since a wire at the corner of Drayton and
! Charlton street lane was supported by a
| gutter, and in passing that corner many
| people were severely shocked. Upon in
| vestigation it was found that this wire
was crossed with some high voltage wires
the result of careless pole-line construc-
| ton.
1T is known by all experienced electrl-
| clans that the overhead construction work
of the street railroads in the city is not In
| accordance with the requirements of the
| Southeastern Tariff Association. All troll
| Icy wires are without insulation. therefore
should be protected by having guard wires
| above the trolley to prevent broken or sag
! glng wists coming in contact. The cross
! referred to at Habersham and Perry street
! lane Is result of the failure to supply
this protection. A recent fatality proves
| the danger q no, having all wires put I'D
/ IL.