The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-28

Three weeks ago two inspectors OF
the Continental Fire Insurance company
which does an extensive business IN
this city, spent several days here max
ing an investigation of our fire depart
ment. water supply and the character
of construction of our buildings. The
report along these lines, published IN
the Insurancc Review, and copied in
The Tribune of Friday last, was theirs.
As will be remembered. It spoke very
disparagingly of the condition of our
fire department. on that same day
the local papers published Chief Walk
er's report telling of the deplorable
condition of the apparatus
Yesterday, William II. Johnson, gen
eral inspector of the National Board or
Fire Underwriters, came here from
New York city 70 spend week In
making personal investigation into
the accuracy of these reports. He
spent the afternoon in consultation
with Chief Walker and will today begin
a tour of the engine houses.
Mr.. johnson has a national reputa-
ton as an expert in this line of work
and it is upon his reports that the in
surance rates of a city are mainly
based. He has been at this kind Of
business for seventeen years and pre-
vious to that was chief of the Phila-
delphia fire department for ten years.
HE WAS SENT HERE.
To a Tribune reporter who saw him
last evening at the Jermyn Mr. john
son said: II was sent here by the ma
tional board to make an exhaustive
investigation of the condition of the
fire department and citys other facili-
ties for fire fighting. AS yet I am un-
prepared to say anything from per-
sonal knowledge and what might say
from the reports of others would be
unimportant. There will be no secrecy
about my findings. A copy of my re-
port will be furnished your mayor, the
chief of the fire department and the
councils"
Mr.. johnson would not discuss the
relation which his report has with the
fixing the rates further than to say 1t
figured extensively in the matter. He
| could not say whether or not change
in the rates was contemplated.
During the afternoon interview Chief
Walker took pains to impress upon
the inspector that the fire department
| is undergoing a thorough renovation
| and that improvements in its every
feature are now under way.
Between $4,000 and $4,000 is in sight
| for the carrying out of the suggestions
| contained in his report and they will
| be put into effect as rapidly as pos.
| sible. Attention was directed to the
| ordinance for the purchase of $l50(
| worth of new hose, drafted yesterday
and introduced last night into com.
mon council: also the plan to spend
! SO, 400 for the rebuilding of the Frank
lin and General Phinney engines by
! the American Fire Engine company
| end to the fact that Building Inspector
| Jackson has plans drawn for a drying
| tower at the Nay Aug engine house
! which will cost only 5000 and which
| will be Capacious enough to take care
| of all the hose in the central city.
| All this and other IMPROVEMENTS
such as drying towers for the othe
| districts, additional horses where they
are needed and the like, the inspecto
said he would make note of it in his re
| port.
THE MAYORS ESTIMATE.
Mayor Moir stated to a Tribune maj
yesterday that he will make the i'm
provement of the fire department hi
every effort until it is on a satisfac
tory basis. "A paid fire department
isn't to be thought Of" he said. II
would cost at the lowest estimate $75,
900 and we haven't that much none
available. Our volunteer department
can be improved, though, and w
ought to improve it without delay. w
have plenty of men. What we nee
is more and better apparatus. Civ
our present firemen good apparatus an
they will do good work"