The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-11-03
CAPITAL AWAITS
FIRE PROTECTION


Davidson Fruit Co., Is authority for the
statement that outside parties have
been figuring with him on the expendi-
ture Of $50, 900 for the erection of cold
storage plant ard fruit cannery on
the ground occupied by the plant Mr..
Davidson lost by fire last summer, but
these gentlemen, and particularly Mr..
Davidson, are averse TO investing their
money here until the city ia supplied
with adequate fire protection.
One man wishes TO build q warehouse
and cold storage plant TO cost $4,000,
with the expectation OF investing sl0,-
900 additional, as the growth OF the
business demanded In q year or two.
Another capitalist, who Is prepared TO
invest some 20,000, desires to put In q
fruit cannery to cost $4,000, and to
have sufficient capital to properly con-
duct the business after the plant is
established.
"Here Is ready money, $4,000 Of it,
waiting to invest In Hood River az soon
as the city Is supplied with q system
for fire protection, remarked Mr.. David
son. ~ have been asked to join the gem
tlemen In the enterprises, but | posi-
lively will not expend another dollar In
buildings In Hood River until | am
assured there will be some chance to
fight fire should another one overtake
me. OF course, If the other parties
desire 10 go ahead with the undertak.
ings, am willing TO sell them the land
and let them proceed, but flom their
statements when here the last time
they have no desire to invest in town
without fire protection.
"a fruit cannery will offer employ
ment to 45 or 30 people oil through the
summer season, and will afford an
opportunity for the irutgrowers TO dis
pose OF oil their Gull Strawberries apples
and other berries. Tomatoes would
also be canned
Then Mr.. Davidson went on TO ex-
plain that short time ago he visited
the business houses In nine blocks and
ascertained that the premiums on insur-
anee paid by the business men OF Hood
River, amount annually to Sl2 900 Now
Mr.. Stone, surveyor for the board Of
Portland underwriters, has given his
word In writing that insurance rates
within this district Of nine blocks will
be reduced on an average Of 20 per cent,
provided system OF fire protection is
Installed according to the requirements
rs stated In the proposition recently
rejected by the city council.
"This," continued Mr.. Davidson,
"would mean a saving OF $2400 year
on insurance premiums. The cost TO
the city Of 20 hydrants at SO each per
month amounts to S75 month or 5000
year. Deduct this from the $2400 and
there Is net saving OF $500,
''0n the other hand the proposed sys-
tenn Of fire protection would cost the
water company $4,000. Eight per cent
interest on this sum is $500 year; two
per cent for maintenance, 5000; five per
cent for wear and tear, $500, q total of
1880. Primary mathematics shows
the company will be furnishing fire
protection to the city at loss OF 5000
q year.
PERSONALLY, l would be the gamer
not 10 be connected with the water
company under such conditions, but
with the other business men OF the city
who are interested In the company and
who have large amount OF property
here, ii stands, to reason that / am
desirous Of the fire protection.
"The statement IS commonly made
that our company has an insufficient
water supply from the present springs
Manager Worse stated at the council
meeting the other night that we would
pump water from Hood River II need
be. But wait. The two Coe springs
have capacity of $50 and 100 gallons
per minute, respectively. The Lyman
Smith spring viii flow at least so gal
Ions minute. This is a total of 430
gallons a minute. Sixty times this
gives 20, 800 gallons every hour, and "a
times this means 500, 200 every day of
"a hours. 1t is generally estimated in
all parts of the country that the aver.
age daily consumption of city water for
all purposes is 40 gallons per capita.
This means that our present springs
have sufficient water to supply city of
over 1900 people" b"