The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-22
Assistance Sent From This City Left
the Washington Park District
Practically Without Protection
Against Fire.

hard luck, for the nearest piece of ap-
paratus for Elmwood would have been
the SIS, on Harrison street. and for
Washington Park, the is on Richmond
street--a half mile run in the first, and
more than a mile run in the second in
stance.
COMMISSIONERS OBJECT.
The frequency of these calls from
Cranston neighbors is giving rise TO
much criticism. The board of fire COM
missioners desire TO give all assist
ance compatible with justice TO our
own people; but they object to furnish
ing fire companies TO the imminent
danger OF city property. at times when
local fire organizations are away on
prizehunting expeditions. They query
what the residents of Washington Park
would say IL they realized that at times
their property was placed at such a
hazard as existed under the circum-
stances of yesterday afternoon. They
also suggest that the fire insurance
companies pool issues and raise a fund
out of which the city may be paid for
every run TO, and for all work done.
in Cranston in protecting property up
on which there is large insurance In
the aggregate.
And.in the same breath they ques-
tion whether the taxpayers would sub
whether IL would not be more feasible
for the insurance companies TO insist
in writing their policies, that thesap-
paratus should not be removed from
the town, or perhaps for the under
writer's TO locate a fire company in the
town and one which could be found
when wanted.
INSURANCE MANS VIEW.
One of the leading insurance agents
said today that Ii would be unjust not
to respond to outside calls for assist
ance. for the time might come when
Providence would be looking for SINH
lar help; STILL II was manifestly wrong
for the Cranston volunteers to leave
the Edgewood, Auburn and Arlington
properties without proper protection
from fire.
The rates over the city line are about
SO per cent. higher than those for resi-
Dental property in the city, a fact
which should move the insurance COM
panies to secure the best possible pro-
lection for their risks.
The whole trend of affairs in Edge
wood and at Arlington, he said, was
cityward. The more houses there were
built the keeher would be the agita-
tion for annexation.
The men who were holding un-
improved realty, and In large
blocks. for a rising market. are keep
ing Arlington and Edgewood parts of
Cranston. not the owners of houses, and
the solution of the present fire problem
would, he said, be found in annexation.
just as IL was in the compact part OF
Johnston. which remained dissatis-
fled and ground-down section OF that
town until the people rose up in their
wrath and moved over to and became
part of the Sth ward OF Providence.
The board of fire commissioners this
noon sent the following order to Chief
Steere:
Providence. r. L..
June 81, 1900.
George A. steere. Esq. chief fire de-
partment:
Dear Sir.-The Board of Fire Com
missoners direct that after this date
no request for assistance. In case OF
fire outside the limits OF the city. shall
be granted unless such request Is made
by the officer in charge Of the depart
ment or by member OF thf Council OF
the place for which such request is
made. nor unless such oficer. or mem
Der OF the Council. states that the fire
Is beyond the control NJ the department.
OF the town. Yours truly,
JOHN W. MORROW,
Clerk Board of Fire Commissioners.