The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-08-13
THE COUNCILS REsPoNsIRILITY

TIE NO0-NAil4 - NEST OsNoiDlill I.
We do not know that James Wood
chief of the fire department. will
make any recommendation TO the gen.
eral council as to the proper conduct
of the telephone litigation. but III ne
should. il would be entitled to the
same consideration. in view of City
Solicitor Campbelrs line of policy.
that Mr.. Campbell's IS in view Of
Chief Woods condemnation of the
presence OF the Standard OIL COM
Ipany's tanks along the railroad in the
heart of the city. Chief Wood is a
fireman of long experience; Mr.
Campbell Is a lawyer. Mr.. Campbell
after corresponding with all the cities
In the universe wouldn't know about
the danger TO the city from the Stand
ard Oil tanks, any more than We do.
or any member of the general council
does, and not as much as those west
lend ,people. whose lives and property
were jeopardized when a spark from
a locomotive set fire TO the Standard
Oil plant.
II Chief Wood doesn't know enough
about his own business - be able TO
tell when an oil tank Is a menace and
ought to be removed. the commission
ers should grant him leave of alb
sence and send him to some good law
school, where they teach how to fight
| fires.
Mr. Campbelrs recommendation
that the Standard OIL company should
be compelled to erect a fire proof
building along the railroad track on
that oil-soaked ground. would not
work an extraordinary hardship on
the company; for 1t is just what the
company suggested doing in the face
of Chief Woods and the citizens pro-
test. and as soon as the general coun-
ell requested Mr.. Campbell to CORES
pond with other cities, differently sit
uated. about their regulations. the
Standard Oil company secured a per
init and began the erection of the very
building Mr.. Campbell suggested
There Is no such thing as a fire
proof building There is ''slow burn
ing construction, and there is what
Is popularity known as fire proof
construction; but they all burn. and
no oil filled structure that an act of
God might not ignite, could be de
vised by man for the protection Of the
west end against this terrible menace.
SHOULD such a catastrophe occur, II
would avail the ruined property own
ers and bereft families nothing. to be
able to say that the Standard OIL
company and Mr.. Campbell could not
be expected to foresee the calamity
The fire chief has advised the re-
moval OF the menace; so the general
council Is not without warning Citi-
zens have protested; and the general
council dare not give more considera-
ton to the selfish demands of the
Standard Oil company than to prop
erty owners and residents In the west
end. One fire already has occurred;
and the company now, by agreeing to
erect a better structure, admits its
own culpable negligence: and there
fore, we know the company IS not
suggesting a better building out OF
regard for the interests of citizens.
but because It wishes TO stay where
lit is.
People, whose property Is In con-
slant danger from oil tanks along a
railroad are hooking only to the gen
eral council for protection; not to
City Solicitor Campbell or TO the
Standard oil company. and in the end
the members of the general council
must assume all responsibility for the
Insurance rates. for the danger and
anxiety of residents and for the pos
sible damage