Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-10
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Visiting Fire Engineers Forget
About Business.
BY TROLLEY TO FORT MYER
Witness Exhibition Drill by Troop
of Cavalry.
ARE GOING TO MOUNT VERNON
Discuss Papers at Session Last Even
ing-Place for Holding Next
Annual Meeting.
BY TROLLEY TO FORT MYER
ARE GOING TO MOUNT VERNON

All thought of business was banished
by the members of the international AS
ISOLATION Of Fire Engineers today, and
the delegates and their wives and fami-
Hes gave themselves up to thorough en-
3oyment OF the historic and interesting
scenes in and about the Capital city.
Nearly all of the visiting fremen this
morning at O'Clock essayed a trolley
ride to Fort Myer. and an exhibition drill
by the troopers was feature of the
trip. luncheon was rendered the as
ISOLATION at the Ebbtt House at noon. and
this afternoon there will be a trip by boat
to Mount Vernon. Another session of the
convention will be held this evening
Session Last Evening.
At the opening of the business session
last evening President Kellogg introduced
Mrs. Jennie Smith of the railroad division
OF the W. c. T U. and she presented
the greetings of that organization to the
International Association of Fire En-
eineers. The report of the committee
On credentials was submitted and on its
recommendation 1O4 new members, whose
qualifications had been passed upon as
satisfactory. were received into the asso-
were also received
letter from the Chamberlain Club of
ashington extending the privileges of
the club to members of the association
was read. On motion the invitation was
received and the thanks of the association
extended. Similar action was taken on
an invitation of Chief Edward F Croker
or the New York fire department for the
association to attend a presentation of
medals to firemen and a review of the
New York department at Union Square
that city. Saturday, October II Greet
ngs TO the association were contained
a NJ
OF the First NJ E. Church. Duluth. A
communication of similar tenor was read
from F. w. Fitzpatrick, executive officer
or the International Society of State and
Municipal Building Commissioners and
Inspectors Mr.. Fitzpatrick sought the
cooperation of the fire chiefs toward
securing more adequate building laws as
q method OF fire prevention.
Invitations to the association to hold
It's next annual convention In various
cities were read. as follows: George
shumWay, mayor OF Galesburg. Ill: the !
bureau of publicity of Niagara Falls and
Mayor Joyner of Atlanta Ga On mo-
ton. all were laid on the table for con- |
sideration of the convention when 1t takes |
UP the question of fixing its next meeting |
place
A letter was read from Charles 8. Swan
or Providence, X. l.. in which he ex-
pressed regret at being unable to attend |
the meeting. Mr.. Swan is no longer In |
service as a fireman and on motion his
the honorary roll. Chief James ID. Nc
Neil of Fayetteville n. c. spoke in favor
OF united action by members of the Assoc
citation to secure the enactment of laws
Tor the protection and assistance Of the
fireman in his work.
Discussion of Papers.
Taking up the regular order of business
President Kellogg called upon Chief r.
W. Haney Of Jacksonville. Fla. to read
paper on Are Shingle Roofs in Cities
ConfagratiOn Hazards? -
Fires in shingle roofs of themselves are
easily extinguished," the chief said. but
the danger lies in the number of such
roofs. Given square after square of shin
gle roofs. all dried by a long season with
out rain until they are like t.nder then
hre gaining considerable Roadway and
TANNED by d strong breeze. and the blaze
Will spread with such startling rapidity
that the efforts of any department viii
De taxed TO get il under control"
As examples the chief cited a fire in
Spartansburg. n. c., March %. 1907 in
which hfty-three frame and three brick
houses were destroyed and fire in his
own city, Jacksonville May 4 1901, In
which several lives were lost and prom
erty valued at So. $4,000 was destroyed
In the latter instance the chief stated that
the fire. starting IN a mattress factory
jumped from house to house so quickly
that at one time dwellings for a distance
e.
ciared the whole Confagration, except it's
very inception. was Chargeabe to shingle
roofs. Chief Haney urged all chiefs when
they return to their homes to make siren
uous efforts TO have ordinances or regu-
lations enacted which will eliminate cheap
shlngie roofs from building construction.
Fire Protection.
Fire Protection for Private Corpora
tons was discussed by Fire Marshal
art Dt
recommended the installation of modern
apparatus In all manufacturing and mer-
camille establishments. and the drilling
OF the employees for emergency fire bri-
gade work.
II. @. Henley, chief inspector of the St |
Louis fire prevention bureau. discussed at
length the question, rs Fire Prevention
o. More Importance Than Fire Extln- |
guishment?' Chief Henley presented sta
tstics showing the average fire loss in
the United States during the past five
years. He reviewed at length the gen
eral causes of fires and of confia grations
spreading from floor to floor of one build !
Ing and from one building to another and
he CUunseled a general adoption of the
code Of the National Underwriters Asso-
ciation and particularly the elimination
OF vertical openings, such as stairways
elevator shafts etc. in buildings and the
protection of windows and all exterior
openings by proper fire-proof shutters or
other fire-resisting material
There Is no difference between fire pre-
venion and fire protection" Chief Henley
said. In conclusion. and a small loss ratio
In any city is an Indication of good man
agement."
Prevention Measure.
General discussion OF fire prevention
measures followed the reading of Chief
Henley's paper and the debate took on
spirited turn when ex-Chief William H
johnson Of Philadelphia made the state
ment that the influence of politics fire.
qu-ntly hampered fremen and fire de-
partments In cities. Chief George A Wal
lace Of Cleveland. Ohio. stated that a paid
inspection force was one of the most valu-
able adjuncts to city fire department
and his structures upon Chief Johnson's
reference To the influence of politics pro-
voked a more or less heated debate in
which Chiefs Henry X. Yates of Schenec-
tady( y. ", Harry LEMON OF Grand
Rapids CMich.). ex-Chief d. E. Benedict of
Newark IN. j., Miles s. HUMPHREYS OF
Pittsburg tPa.), John o. Granville super
intendent of the insurance patrol of St
Louis, and others participated. The dis
cussion was finally terminated by Chief
Raney of Jacksonville rising to a point of