The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-09
BETTER FIRE
PROTECTION
NEEDED HERE
{. M. Sellers of Indiana Fire
Insurance Bureau Tells of
Steps That Should Be TAX
en- Immediately.
ADVOCATES ANOTHER
HOSE HOUSE IN CITY.
There Should Be Another
Water Main and Says Dan
ger in Business Houses
Should Be Remedied.

f. NJ. Sellers. chief of the Indiana
Fire Insurance Rating Bureau, who
spoke before the Commercial club last
evening, stated that if the business
men of this city would improve their
places of business and remedy the
danger of fire the present high fire in
surance rates would then be remedied.
Mr. Sellers also recommended that
the fire department be increased and
advised the municipal ownership of
the water works. Mr., Sellers made no
attempt to explain or defend the exist
ing fire insurance rates in this city
which greatly disappointed his audi
ence, which was composed of nearly
every insurance agent in the city as
we'll as a large number of merchants
and manufacturers.
He made a thorough review of fire
protection in this city. Summing up
everything he had to say in praise and
condemnation of local fire protection,
it is only fair. The ordinances cover
ing the inspection of buildings and
wires were unsatisfactory. Mr.. Sell
ers stated that the building inspection
ordinance did not provide how roofs
or floors should be constructed; the
thickness of walls, cleaning Of base
ments and other things necessary to
guarantee safety from fire. The ordi-
nance covering the inspection of cleo
trio wiring in buildings was useless.
MIR Sellers stated because it did not
give the wire inspector the authority
to condemn unsatisfactory electrical
equipment.
Better Protection Needed.
The fire department. Mr.. Sellers
thought, was fairly good. but not large
enough. A combination hose and
chemical wagon, manned by six men,
should be located in West Richmond
the speaker said. and the city should
secure an aerial truck, manned by sew
en- men. The latter wagon, he stated
was absolutely necessary in fighting a
fire in a building like the Colonial
block
The speaker held that the hydrants
and the reservoir at the water works
pumping station were entirely satisfac
tory, but that an additional main
should be placed and that a duplicate
engine should be installed at the
pumping station. He said that the
circulation Of water over the city was
good: that the personnel of the fire de
partment was good, but could be i'm
| proved by fire drills: that the stations
and fire equipment was good. ranking
! respectively 50 and 81 per cent: that
the fire alarms could be rated % pei
cents but that the streets could only
| be rated at 50 per cent because all Of
! them are not 70 feet wide from side
walk to sidewalk
Discussion Lively.
| Many business men took part in z
discussion which followed the conclu
sion Of the address.
Nearly all of them protested that tht
! fire insurance rates in this city arc
entirely too high and that prOmp
steps should be taken to lower them
/ Mr.. HARRINGTON was the only busines.
man who appeared 10 be satisfied with
! the rates. w. K. Bradbury acted a:
champion of the old line insurance
companies, and when S. F. Swayn,
] submitted figures showing that these
+ old line companies were raising rate:
! 70 increase the dividends Of thei1
stockholders Mr.. Bradbury refutcd tht
charges made BY MI Swayne, statins
that he was not thorOughIy acquainted
with all the phases Of the question
Mr Swayre denied the statement made
by Ntr. Sellers that the average divi
dcnds paid b" Old line fire INSURANCE
companies was only three per cent, H
submitted figures in which he at
tempted TO show that the average div
idends stockholders in old line fire in
surancc companies received was abou
ten per cent. Mr, Johnson grapple'
with the alleged iniquity of the insur
once companies in raising the rate
in this city. Mr.. Jones stated that tn
Dean fire Insurance rate schedule VA
an enigma rot only 10 the bushes
men. but TO the insurance agents
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