The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-02-09
NEW INSURANCE RATING.
Secretary of Louisiana Fire Prevention
Bureau Announces Result of Recent
Test of Local Waterworks System.
Classification Changed from
Third to Second, with De-
fniant Fire nerartnnant

II
It worth and Morris D. Pierce, official
connected with the Louisiana Fir
Prevention Bureau, of New Orleans
The result of the test, together will
$ other information required in fxinl
: insuranceclassifeations and schedules
is set forth in the following repor
3 submitted to the fire prevention bureal
by Secretary BloodWorth under dat
of Jan. 26, 1907:
Donaldsonville, the parish seat O.
Ascension parish, La, is located
in the southern part of the state. or
the Mississippi river, covers an area
of about three-fourths of square mile
and has population of about 5000
The town is located in comparatively
level agricultural community the prin.
cipal product of which is sugar. The
prevailing winds are from the north
in winter and from the south in sum-
mer.
Streets-The streets throughout the
town are regularly and we'll laid out
and are of an average width OF so feet,
both in the mercantile and dwelling
| districts In all there are about twelve
miles of streets. Contract has been
let and work is now being done on
paving one and three-quarter miles of
streets which will cover the entire
mercantile section and give one paved
street the full length of the town. The
soil is sandy loan and does not get
extremely heavy in wet weather. The
streets are we'll worked by the town
authorities and are maintained in good
condition. Il was stated to the in
spector that the paving now being put
down would be completed in sixty
days.
Buildings-The buildings in the mer-
camille section are one and two stories,
about evenly divided between brick
and frame, and generally have metal,
slate or composition roofs. The build
ings are of the usual type of joisted
construction with various interior
finish, including lath and plaster and
wood sheathing. The majority of the
division walls between the brick build
ings are party walls. but number of
cases where independent walls were
built were noted. The division walls
as a whole are fairly we'll parapetted.
As rule the rear and side wall open
ings are unprotected. Some few build
ings have been provided with shutters
on exposed openings and while they
are not fully standard, they are con-
sidered as being of ofconsiderable value.
In the dwelling and residence sec
tions the buildings are one and one
and hall stories high. OF frame, and
have shingle roofs.
There is practically no manufacture
ing section.
Confagration hazard The principal |
mercantile section is considered as be-
Ing fairly well divided by streets and |
under normal conditions the confagra-
tion hazard is not considered as serf.
Gus. There are, however, adjacent TO |
the mere cantile section a large number |
OF frame buildings, including some ex.
treme area frame livery stables. which,
under unfavorable conditions, would |
greatly endanger this section of the
town. In the dwelling sections it is
not considered that conhagration
hazard exists, the buildings for the
most part being we'll detached.
Fire limits-Fire limits are estab-
lished by ordinance covering the area
extending one-half block from both the
north and south sides OF Mississippi
street and the east and west sides of I
Railroad avenue, inside the corporate
limits. This ordinance prohibits the
erection OF other than brick, stone, or
fire. proof buildings, with metal, slate,
or composition roofs, inside the fire
limits, except that buildings to be oc-
eupied exclusively as dwellings may T
be erected of frame, providing stan
dard roofs are put on. Frame metal
clad buildings are not considered as
being fre-proof under this ordinance.
It was stated to the inspector by the
mayor that in the event of damage to
frame buildings inside the fire limits
they could not be repaired unless oc-
eupied as dwellings. There are
great many ffsarne mere ar9tj1a hlgildin0a /
in the fire limits.
Building laws-There are no or
dinanees governing the construction
of buildings nor is there a building
inspector.
Electrical ordinance There is an
ordinance governing the installation
of electrical systems of all descrip.
tions, which ordinance embodies the
National Electric Code. The city
does all its own wiring under the
supervision of the city electrician and
all private work done by outside
parties is inspected by the city cleo
trieian before current is turned on.
It was stated that the electrical In
stallations are being brought up to
a good standard and as whole the
town is fairly we'll wired.
Other ordinances There Is no or
dinance governing the handling Of
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