The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-19
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Report of Chief Henry B. Wells, Rec
ommending Employment of Paid
Men for Department.

Herald and News has been calling at
tention to the urgent need Of a few
paid men in the fire department who
would stay on duty at headquarters
continuously. At a meeting OF the
board of fire masters on Tuesday
Chief Henry B. Wells, in his annual
report, called attention to this need,
and strongly urged that four paid
men be added to the department.
In the insurance rates for Newber-
ry approved by the SOUTHEASTERN
! Underwriters association on January
23. 1909. the following increase in
insurance rates for Newberry is
made:
! "Fifteen cents and eighteen cents
added TO brick mercantiles for defec-
tive fire department and water sup
ply"
In his report to the board Of fire
masters Chief Wells called attention
to this increase in insurance rates, IN
connection with his recommendation
| that paid men be added to the depart
ment. increasing its efficiency. Chief
Wells report to the board is, in ef-
feet. a report to city council, mas
! much as it has been endorsed by tire
! board. and will be submitted to coup-
ell as expressing the sentiments Of
the board. The secretary of the
! board, however, has written to the
Southeastern Underwriters associa-
ton for detailed information as to
the cause of the increase in insurance
rates in Newberry on account of de-
fective fire department and water
supply" in order that an intelligent
report. with full detailed infoma-
tion, may be made to council.
As Chief Wells states in his report,
the increase in insurance rates in
Newberry would more than pay for
employing paid men in the depart
ment. and it is alard to see why pro-
eressive council should hesitate. As
was stated in the last issue Of The
Herald and News, a fire department
is needed before a fire-not after
wards.
Chief Wells report to the board of
fire masters, which is really, with the
endorsement Of the board, report to
city council, is as follows:
"Our attention has been called to
the fact that the Southeastern IN
derwriters association has raised the
rate of insurance in the town Of New
berry fifteen cents and eighteen cents
per hundred dollars insured, claim
ine defective fire department.
"This makes it our duty to. call
Your attention to Your fire depart
ment, asking you to take some steps
to strengthen same.
"Our hose is entirely too light for
tie service, as the wagon and 1000
feet of hose will weigh 1900 pounds,
not counting the men we must carry.
If We add six men, at AL average OF
$50 pounds each, it will make the to-
tal weight 5000 pounds, and as we
often carry eight Or len men this will
increase the load in proportion. That
the horses are too light has hereto
fore been called to your attention,
and we have made personal appeals
for their exchange.
"'Tlpe record of your fire depart
nent has been up TO the standard.
During the past twelve months, end
ing january /. 1909, the department
has answered ten alarms. All fires
were confined to the buildings in
which they originated, and were ex-
tinouished with little damage to the
property, the greatest damage being
to tine stock Of J. J. Dean, March l6,
1908. when the entire stock was dam
aged by water, caused by thought
less outsiders manning the hose be-
,, fore your regular firemen arrived on
..he scene. This matter Was reported
10 your honorable body, with a re-
guest to add four regular paid men to
tie department. which We believed
was necessary to keep the department
up to the Standard This would have
cost between $500 and $4,000. Hav-
ing made partial canvas Of the dis
trict affected by the fifteen cents and
eighteen cents raise in insurance. we
find that the increase will amount to
between $4,000 and $4,000, which Is
more than enough to put your fire de-
partment within the requirement OF
the insurance companies. and instead
of the rates going up it would lower