Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-08
MORE ABOUT STAND PIPES.
Everybody Admits That They are a
 Good Thing in Case of Fire.

Everybody Admits That They are
 Good Thing in Case of Fire.
 The stand pipe and hydrant question seems to be worrying people who want to profit by them but think 1t hard ship to pay few dollars towards the water system, which renders such fire fighters effective. There's nothing wonderful about that. These Jokers got the cost of hydrants whittled down from $50 to $10 and automatic heads from $10 to $5 per hundred. Now they want the whole thing for nothing. Bye and bye they'll demand a deed of the plant. Some of the advocates of free water claim that the present rates were fixed by private water com pany. Is that so? Verify this is the scoop of the season. Nearly every body about town understood that the water system always belonged to the city. Can it be that some folks are thinking of Waterbury when it found all the water it needed in Browns wells? But what matter about that The question is, should people be taxed for water they don't use except in case Of fire? Looked at from a superficial standpoint one would say no, but when 1t is considered that people who main tain stand pipes and private hydrants receive a reduction in insurance rates which more than compensate them for the cost of installing them as well as the pittance for water charges, it will be seen that the proper course for the city to pur- sue is to compel owners of factories and large blocks in thickly settled dis trlcts to put ill fire sprinklers and let the water rents remain as they are The other contention is about as non- sehslcal as that of the man who want ca 10 bargain with the hotel keeper to nave bed in readiness for him at all hours or the day and night with the understanding that he shouldn't ba eiiargea anything for it unless he used
 t. The landlord thought if he did tnis ned nave to go out of business or raise the prices on the other fellows. put the sharp boarder didn't care about that so long as he could drive q good bargain
 This is a selfish age and every man who is putting out a dollar is irvine to have it return accompanied by as many or It's kind as possible There is noYh- ing wrong about this. but why should not the city keep up with the process sion! It is~said that the owners of the proposed new buildings in inc burned districts would dearly love to eo1ip them with sprnklers but that many of them will be deterred from taking this great precaution against fire on ac- count of the cost There is absolutely no truth i'll this. 1t is simply move on the part of q few people to save money at the expense of their neigh DOTS. man who has the sprinklers in his building told representative of this paper to-day that they were big money savers for him and that anyone who has them is more than compen- sated by the low insurance rates. to say nothing of the sense of security he enjoys i'll knowing that his property Is properly protected against fire. One of the most reliable insurance men in the city confirmed this statement. so that the plea on behalf of those who want to install sprin1slers and may be prevented from so doing on account of the cost. hasn't leg to stand on. No doubt they'd like to be relieved from paying water charges and get the re- duced insurance rates besides. but 1t Is the business of those who are acting ltADhi~ not come out i'll the small end of the horn on all occasions.
 Stand pipes are good things and the city should see that they are used in all buildings about the center They are of little use when confined to one or two places. because the fire is just as likely to start in the building that Is not supplied with them as some place else. For this reason the use of them should be compulsory. and so long as they do not put additional bi1r- dens upon the owners no one could call it a hardship if the city should insist upon having them in all our new build ings about the center. and the old ones. too. The city is able to supply the water and the insurance companies will make special rates to all who can show that they have taken advantage of these safeguards What more can Dronertv owners ask for? It looks as if if w1S mn fo fhn cifv fn oornpa1 npo4