The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-26
F;re Protection: Give Richmond
the Best.
the Best.


r,are Is nothing but sound sense IN
Mr.. John p. Brnnch's recommehua''o'''
regarding Richmonds fire-fightihe SCI
,,,oe exnressed in letter to the Mayor
,.,,.oa IN The Times Dispatch yes
terday.
,,,,nressod nv the rather unfaVorapie
rating given this city by the N"e'o'a'
Hoard of Fire Underwriters, Mr. br'ii'eA
,.rres the taking o. immediate steps To-
>,,ord securing better one. he wants
"a SEQ our water supply ana System
a,s+rhntion so improved as TO NC equ"
n any demand, and our Fire Depar'ii'e''e
provided with q full equpment oi ap
.r,tus and men; and every thl1h'i's
citizen will deem that wish q props
one. 49,,
1,,ro rates are not based on faVoritisil''
nra,udice. sentiment or pull. ~ c''S uoe'
not cot n high general rating as -
80. 80 he,nr out of favor with the powers
,,,a,,ar m It is all a question OF PLAIN
mathematics and business. GIVES 80
nave thus and so in the way o. ou''o
,nrs. water supply and engine serv'oe' e1N
o,a such a rate. Cities that arc
,.ro fayorably equipped in these respce's
,,at,er one. Cities easily pass from
one rating to Il lower one a''o
.x,ct,y what Richmond shoulo ~"
,erm,ne to do. a high fire ra'e %
,,o,,e 10 a town that means 10 sio"
80 genuine aid. Says MI.
Branch: .,o
A minimum of risk by eNposule ~ ,,re'
"a economy in smaller insurance Pr
hi.u .,.,n al once be an open appear
fnro,on capital seeking inVcstlnellt unu
.ao,tilJe ia invitation to locate ih.i''"-
saat,,ring nlants here and 1t Is heeo'eas
~ ,ad that the manufacturing ih'eios's
~ any community are the sreh'es.
r. the upbuding OF It's wealth. anu pop
ulation.
This question of fire protection is oe'hs
,,resncd out all over the United states
,,st now. Throughout the broad lano
voc arisen n great hubbub OF protest over
the proposed increase IN rates ENo''
,,tv is advancing long strings Oh 'ea-
sons why it, in any case shou'u W
exempt from such increase. But ai'et
MI, tho insurarces companies nave 10
.ro.oo. themselves, no less than their
ro]tcyhoders They cannot rest WIN
merely showing balance over the or
binary years business. They are o"'seo
r.. accumulate surplus against the eS-
+raordinary year They have got TO DO
readv for the Overwhelming needs OF
Chicago or Baltimore or san fFahc'sco'
Paving a high premium for pfotectlo'
,oay not be desirable in itself but II Is
certainly far better than 10 Tina m 'ho
hour Of sudden devastation. that the IN
srrance company is unable to meet Its
obligations.
There Is but one way for a city TO on
tain a low fire rate and that IS by de-
serving 1t. II must qualify for place
among the favored ones by the only pos
sible method--Dy providing proper water
rressure and u Fire Department luHy
supplied with the best appliances, ana
men TO handle them. Here, from the
Municipal Journal. is a paragraph that
Richmond may we'll take close to heart'
In nearly every growing city-and prac-
itca(ly all In this country are growing
The chief of the department is continually
asking for more men ana addltoihl APP
paratus The continual requests are maze
rot because OF the rapid growth cacl
year, but because every twelVe-inoh'l
The requisiuon is passed ~ llshtiy OF
ne little granted as is absolutely posi-
bile. Is this not false economy? 1t u
time that all interested should unite II
oua concerted move I'm all municipalities