The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-12
TALKS FOR
THE PACKERS
State Insurance Agent Says
DoId Plant Is Immense,
SHOULD HAVE PROTECTION
Cudahy Is of Great Value 10
City of Wichita.
SHOULD HAVE PROTECTION

Il have just looked over the Dold and
the Cudahy packing plants in this city
for the purpose of giving them thei:
/ proper rating since the city water works
has been extended to that part of tn
city. and I found the Dold plant one Of
the most perfect buildings in this section
Of the state. Fred Dold is sparing nc
expense to make good house. ard find
that Cudahy is doing nice business and
making his arrangements for complete
fire protection.
That is what State Insurance Agent
| Charles E. Eldridge said al the Hamilton
last night after he returned from ths
packing hoaes He is state insurance
agent, but he is not a state officer. al
though recognized by the state insur-
ance commissioner. He occupies a posi-
ton with regard to insurance like tha-
OF Dun's commercial agency in respect to
the business world. He examines build
iEgs and then gives them rating as to
the risk, and it is important for packing
houses which contain products of such
immense value should have a good re-
port, because it makes their rate of in
surance less
Mr.. Eldridge not only examined the
houses but the means of protection. both
by the city and by the packers them
selves. lie went over to Dold's and had
them turn on the water just the same as
e there had been a big fire. and IN very
few seconds Dold had eight streams of
water running from his own fire hydrants
and the water was sent higher than any
o. the buildings.
The same thing was done over at the
Cudahy plant, and then. after eompl-
menting the packers for their arrange
ments, Mr.. Eldridge went after the city
and the waterworks company with a
sharp stick. He told a reporter for the
Eagle last night that the packing houses
End the big Watson mills were of i'm
n.ense value 20 the people of this city
but they were not given the protection
by the city to which such valuable plants
were entitled.
He objected TO the waterworks company
shutting the water off from the Cudahy
plant on Lawrence avenue, so that N
case OF fire they would have To go to the
engine room and get the wrench and then
rrn to Lawrence avenue and turn on the
water. He went to see Superintendent
Fred Alley and got the promise that the
pressure should be kept on around the
plant at least until the new. engine and
standpipes which the Cudahy people
we're putting in was completed. He also
got Mr.. Alley to put in another hydrant
for the steam engine on the north side Of
the Cudahy plant.
Another thing to which the insurance
agent objected was the management Of
the new fire house at Lawrence avenue
and Eighteenth street. He said they had
four fremen there. and one of them was
eDtitled to be off duty every eighth day,
and if fire were to break out in the Dold
or the Cudahy packing house or the
Watson mill while one of the men was at
dinner there would be just one man to
manage the fire engine and one for the
hose cart. That. he said. was not enough
and there ought TO be at least seven
hremen at the station.
Mr.. Eldridge went to the fire chiefs Of
fee. but the assistant chief said they did
rot like to make any appointments in the
absence Of Chief Walden. who is now in
Europe. He then called on Mayor Nc
Lean and urged him to give the big in
custries in the north part Of the city
better protection by appointing more fire.
men. he said while the Dole house was
rot running there was a vast sum OF
money expended in the plant. and they
were still putting in more. What viii be
done in regard to the appointment %
more iremen could not be learned last
night.
Mr.. Eldridge, Of course. would not state
what his rating would be. but it was very
evident that the big industries in the
north part of the city VIII not get very
much. If any. reduction on the rate Of
their insurance unless there are men
enough placed in the new fire house It
Eighteenth street 70 handle the engine
and hose cart in case OF a fire He TOLD
q reporter for the Eagle that the plans
OF the Dold house had been submitted 10
him before the house was built and that
he had approved them. What particular
IL pleased the insurance agent about the
DoId house was that they are all brick
and placed far enough apart and the walls
are all SO thick that in case fire started
IA one building the walls would stand az
tel the stringers We're burned out and the
Ere could be confined in the building where
il originated II It could not be extin-
suished. lie said Dold was all right II
be did not construct any wooden build
ing- about the plant but he found pack
ers Inclined 10 fiji all the space they have
With sometime