The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-12
INSURANCE men
vANQUISHED.
Lumber Dealers Prevail at City
Caucus Hearing.
WOODEN SHINGLES TO REMAIN.
Real Estate Brokers Were Also Opposed 10
an Extension Of The Fire Dis
tict Limits.
WOODEN SHINGLES TO REMAIN.

The committee on ordinances OF inc
city council gave a hearing yesterday al
ternoon, I'm the office OF Clerk Hayden
IN the city hall and there was certainly a
large attendance of active and interested
spectators The petition that was the
occasion for the lengthy hearing-it lasted
several hours-wss presented at the meet
ing OF the common council Monday even
ting. and was signed by the insurance men
and underwriters OF the city generally
The fight was simply not alone for the
abolition Of wooden shingles but the re-
ouirement was proposed that buildings
Of larger floor area than 1000 square
feet on any floor and over three stories
fn height TO be occupied for manufac-
turing or mercantile purposes, should pe
constructed OF hreproof material or or
standard slow combustion construction
.nd have all stairways and elevators
Enclosed in freproof shafts. constructed
wholly of brick or other approved nom
combustible materials and provided with
standard nreproof doors at AL openings
at such shafts. Buildings OF greater area
than 1900 square feet OF floor or OF greater
height than three stories were 10 DC
eouipped with such automatic sprinklins
devices as might be approved by the IN
snactor OF buildings. An additional pro-
vision was against the erecting OF wooden
buildings within the fire building dis
trict
WOODEN ROOFS NUMEROUS.
Councilman Balch, chairman OF the
committee. presided and the first speaker
was ex-Lieut Gov. shepley, of the hrm
OF starkwesthor & Shepley, who SAID that
the insurance companies In the last teW
years had been Interested IN the great
increase IN confiagrationss In Providence
Qnmnara1iNc immunity
from FIRE due partly TO the well manned
fire department and the sufficiency OF the
water supply. There were several very
vulnerable points, however The insur-
ance people therefore asked for adui-
tIonal legislation. The place had grown
not into great city, like New YORK.
Boston and Philadelphia, but into
large. conservative community. Il don
know any city" said the speaker. where
there are so many wooden roofs as there
are IN the city OF Providence.
Mr.. Shepley suggested That in some
cases the shingles might be placed ia
Mortar as they were years ago. anu
thereby there would be no interference
with existing contracts.
In speaking Of the extension OF the
fire limits. Mr.. shepley said that the ex-
isting building law should be applied to
the parts OF the city used for manufac-
turing and storage purposes.
REFORM THE BUILDING LAWS.
Frederick w Arnold. president Of the
Equitable Insurance company. endorsed
the Views OF MIR. Shepley. and Alfred
Stone, architect. declared that there
ought to be greater protection than at
present He hoped the insurance COM
panies would so adjust their rates that
men who are willing 10 erect fireproof
buildings Will find sufficient nducement
to do so. The whole building law of the
city should be taken up, root and branch,
and reformed and smplified.
Alderman Freeman said that ne ap-
peared TO enter a protest against one sec
tion OF the amendments. that prohibit
ing the placing OF wooden shingles upon
buildings. He thought that to attempt
to take I'm the whole city Of Providence
was overreaching II would affect tho
workingman who was building his own
home, and also strike blow at the lum-
Der business In the city OF Providence.
lie didn't think such a far-reaching
amendment should be passed. He also
looked upon IL serious matter to his
own business. He didn't believe the dan
ger from fire lay in wooden shingles the
Baltimore FIRE didn't start from wooden
shingles. He hoped the committee
wouldn't recommend that section.
LUMBER MEN OPPOSED.
0dIpcultIs NnoleSult anu re-
tail lumber dealer, thought IL was a bad
thing to pass an ordinance OF that kind
and inquired OF Mr.. Shepley what could be
used besides slate.
Mr.. Shepley suggested i'm reply metal
shingles. instead OF slate
Mr.. Carpenter added that he knew OF no
material that could be substituted for
slate and, Furthermore fires In wooden
buildings. rooted with wooden shingles.
were more easily extinguished than those
In buildings rooted with Different material
IT. A. GrmwoOd. president and treasur-
Or or the H. a. Grmwood company. call
ed attention TO the fact that the plan TO
extend the fire district involved the taxi
ing In OF vacant lots which were owned by
poor men and the building OF new
houses In those sections would be pre-
vented and the growth OF the city retard-
ed He said the understanding was that
the Ore district should be extended TO
Grace Church cemetery.
Mr. Sweet of L. Sweet & Co. lumber
dealers. said II am opposed to tho pas
cage Of this measure because Il is too
drastic and is detrimental 20 the business
interests OF the city. 60 the growth OF the
city. and because OF the burden II imposes
upon the man who desires 20 build The
amount OF shingles used In this city IN a
year is 50.00.0o0 and the average cost Ald
and placed Is s25O.000. To replace them
with slate would cost $4,000 making an
increased burden Of s2o0.O)0 The adoption
OF this law would retard building opera