The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-03-03
Indifference OF City Officials Alleged
to DO the Cause
of IL.
PROTECTION HEREINADEQUA1E

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tically monopoly. and which arc
suffring more or less from the recent
big fires in Baltimore, and other cities,
are disposed TO treat Paducah with
consideration no longer. For sveral
years the underwriters have endeav-
ored to have the city provide fire
equipment commensurate with the
size and Importance of Psducah, but
the city officials have preferred to
spend the money in other ways, such
as in raising salaries and creating ne W
Offices. They only recently passed an
ordinance which will make the sal
aries OF those in the fire department
alone eat up ali but about 81, 900 of
the total FIRE appropriation for the
year The latter is all that is left for
an additional station, the apparatus
TO equip IL, for repairs, new horses,
and such things. Although some Of
the sensible members Of the boards
protested that the amount was insult
cient for tho needs of the city, the
boards passed the ordinance just the
same.
The recommendation of the insur-
ance underwriters which have been
ignored include;
/. An additional company of cap
tain, driver and eight men, with
chemical engine, wagon and about
1000 feet OF hose, and to be located
somewhere near sth or 10th aud Clay
streets.
2. A similar company somewhere
near Eleventh and Tennessee streets.
3. The aerial hook ana ladder
truck. now held as a reserve apps.
ratus. shoull be placed in commits
sion, and both trucks 20 answer all
first alarms in the business sections;
to place this truck in service will re-
quirc an additional force of captain,
l driver and 3 laddermen; also team
OF horses permanently employed and
located at the central fire station.
4. 1000 feet Of fist class service
hose is required.
3. At least . five additional fire
alarm boxes, especially for the built
mp suburban districts.
O. An improved storage battery
should be installed in connection with
the fire alarm system; this is an all
important requirement for reliable
alarm service; also new and improved
switchboard.
Z. one new and improved chami-
cal combination and hose wagon
should be- obtained for the central fire
station the present wagon should b.
transferred TO the south side station
corner of Eleventh and Elizabeth
stroe,s). and hose reel now at the south
side station be placed at the new
north side station.
s. One concentrated city
service hook and ladder truck, with
extension ladder of 66 foot length, and
full equipment Of ordinary lengths Of
service ladders, should replace the
present old truck now at the central
fire station.
8. II is very necessary that the fire
men and laddormen OF the central sta
ton be regularly exercised for quick
hendling Of the aerial truck ladders.
10. The numerous overhead wiring
in the business section along Broad.
way should be placed underground to
facilitate the handling and raising of
the aerial ladders.
The city officials nave always been
disposed to treat the recommendations
lightly, and to presume that It was
none of the underwriters bushes $
what sort of fire protection Paducah
had. They accepted . recommended
tion for one new fire station, but it is
claimed didn't leave money enough to
establish it.
In Knoxville, Tenn, rates have re-
Gently gone up from 90 to 80 per cent.
because the city officials treated the
underwriters recommendation in Il
similar manner. The recommends
tions were made by the same men who
camo to Paducah and after inspecting
the city made them here, Secretary
Nelson and Inspector johnson.
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