The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-12
EXPLAIN RISE
OF FIRE RATES
Insurance Men Talk to the CON-
mercioi Club.
FIRE PROTECTION IS POOR
FIGURES ARE GIVEN AS TO
WATER PRESSURE.


equipped Salt Lake City is 10 do sue
cessful fire fighting. giving this as the
reason for the increase Of insurance
rates. The statements were supported
by stubborn facts and figures. which,
though challenged with considerable
warmth by some OF the members. were
not disturbed 1t was declared by the
Insurance men that while the rates
have been increased in some cases they
have been reduced in others and the
REDUCTIONS are largest where the IRE
risks seem to be proportionately small.
Some of the members took the posi-
ton that the rates represented an i'm
moderate and therefore unjust increase
which could not be excused on the
ground Of an Inadequate water system
| and inefficient fire department. Secre-
tary Fisher Harris in calling the men,
bers to order explained that the OBJ
Ject OF the meeting was to discuss the
recent increase in insurance rates. He
called upon Colonel n. W. Clayton to
preside. One of the first speakers was
Il. w. Wilson, who made an address
which was backed by statistics. There
was an impressive silence for short
time after he finished. Mr.. Wilson
! showed among other things that at
| times the fire pressure has been as how
| as twelve pounds TO the square inch.
He explained that this could be in
creased some when the pressure is
needed for a fire, but all this time the
hre would be burning and gaining head
way.
What the board Of underwriters
want" he said. is a pressure that is
ready at all times and can be de-
| pended on for immediate use when
there is a fire. This is one of the things
which will have to be corrected before
the rates will be decreased"
Figures on Fire Pressure.
less than a dozen times during the
month OF August the water pressure
has exceeded sixty-five pounds. On
the 18th of the month il was only
twelve pounds. and by actual daily
tests varied between twelve and sixty
pounds. On the 18th of the month it
was sixteen pounds. on the I'd twenty
two. on the 18th twenty-five, on the 9Th
| twenty-seven, on the 18th and goth
/ twenty-five, on the 18th twenty-four
and on the 9Th and 18th thirty-five
pounds to the square inch.
I'm the business district there is an
available water supply OF S.500.000 gal
Ions OF water. Three million five hun
dred thousand gallons come from the
! City creek brick tank, 1000, 900 from the
| Thirteenth East street reservoir and
1000. 600 from the Capital Hill reserve
reservoir. This supply is inadequate.
considering the fact that in an emer-
gency the draft would be heaviest in
that district The water waste is alb
normal. with an absolute shortage dur
ing the summer months and in extreme
cold weather. This supply will be
/ greatly benefited with the new pipe
now being laid The FRACTIONAL loss
viii be an important factor until the
mains are enlarged. The underwriters
recommend an Increase of the storage
supply, with larger feed and supply
mains. This storage capacity should be
$1,000. coo gallons. Until the city reduces
the waste for irrigation. street sprink-
ling and sewer flushing the pressure,
which is more than ample, cannot be
relied on for fire purposes, and the fire
chief will always hesitate to use hose
streams direct from the hydrants.
More Engineers Needed.
''If the hydrant pressure was less
treacherous the engines could be re-
served for use on high buildings. -Four
extra servieable fire engines are needed.
On account OF the city blocks in the
business center, FIRE would generally
be handled from street sides only. To
overcome this defect not less than six
inch mains should be run through such
blocks and connected at each end with
| the distributing system and have at
least two standard MIGRANTS with two
hose outlets to each. These hydrants
should be housed in with not less than
$50 feet of standard hose on racks.
While the width of the street re-
duces the danger of a confagration,
yet the danger of a block confiagration
Is more apparent in Salt Lake. owing
TO the great number of compact build
ings so constructed that under adverse
conditions fire would be uncontrol-
able.
The fire engines are back numbers.
One is too small and the other Is too
old TO be depended on. New boiler and
complete repairs would result in two
good reserve engines. The department
also needs another hose wagon. The
fire alarm should connect with a large
bell and fire whistle, the sounding OF
which would require the stoppage of
the water for irrigation or other pur-
poses under penalties to be imposed
by the city. The efficiency OF the de-
partment should be increased by addI-
tional men The wiring and electrical
apparatus is also In bad shape and
should be under the supervision of a
competent electrician. The fire waste
has increased to an alarming extent IN
the last few years and while the COM
bined interests of the insurance CON-
panies are larger than those of the in
dividual, they are always ready to rec
ognize any improvement seeking a re-
duction of the risks"
Mr.. Wilson explained that the critical
condition of Salt Lake has attracted the
attention OF the underwriters for sew
eral years, but the local agents have
exerted their influence 10 avoid the In
crease, which finally could be avoided
no longer.
If the FIRE had been communicated
10 the Dooly block at the time this
building was destroyed, there is nc
doubt that u would have leaped across
the street and spread in every direc-
ton. as with the present facilities foI
lighting fire IL could not have been held
in check.
We need a system that viii give US
water when the fire breaks out Tt
wait fifteen minutes or more for fire.
pressure may mean a big loss"
Comparisons were made with othel
! tA~tNof SAAoNAilh N2t1A SAT- -@n-HNI - ~ G
disadvantage in fire fighting facilities
There are cities which have low water
pressure, but such cities depend entire
! ly upon their FIRE engines.
Injustice Is Charged.
George Y. Wallace called attention 4
the fact that the rate on the Telephone
, building had been increased while tina
on the Mccormick building had beer
reduced He characterized this as un
Just and said that an examination d
. the construction OF the two buildings
would show that the Telephone build
| Inc L. &c "a fa y ,lsk as The Afcl,nrrasc.