Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-02-13
FIRE commission
q
MAKES REPORT
Interesting Document Presented
to City Council Last Night
THREE BIG FIRES
REPORTED LAST YEAR

CITY should Demand Lower Insur-
snee Rates. Says commlssion-Ef-
cienry Of the Nsrtinsburs Fire
Department Commended for Pre-
vrrfing Further Spread Of Flames.
From The World Of Friday
The hre commission, composed Of
one member OF the city council e.
Ill Thompson), and tRo citizens, sub
nitted their annual report to the city
cpaneil At the meeting last night.
The report was adopted and is in full
IS follows;
To lne Honorable the Mayor and
Coalncilmen, Corporation OF Martins
surg.
Gentlemen-Your commission begs
% submit this. its third annual re-
uort for the year ending December
list. 1908.
During this period there were in
al - fire alarms responded to as fol-
laws.
January, 6; February, /; March, 8;
iAprif. 8: May, 4; June, 2; July. 2;
sasust 8; September, 8; OCTOBER. 4;
November, 4 December, 2.
ky these four were false alarms,
and in one instance the offenders
" unprecedented and fined by the
snayor; 2 out OF the city limits; 6
chimney blazes; A incipient fires, ex-
71ingnished before apparatus arrived; s
miscellaneous and with small damage
Tshn remaining Z including the
Ssesa art Vehicle Co, plan IN Jan 91st;
Crawford Wooden Co, plant on Mar.
Fsth; Martinsburg Steam Laundry,
plant On June 18th, constituted a
EaryeT aggregate loss than the entire
Aoscgps OF the three years since this
commission was created. Deducting
ehesNatthree losses ap~proximating s42,-
esr9D the total general fire loss for
Martnsburg during 1908 aggregates
but 800.
In 1907 this character of loss was
s-gkn "a fnne 49, .o,oo totalad about
$4,000 or in the three years mem
feinned the total general fire loss, ir-
respective Of factory fires has not ex-
a~,seo ~ 900. a most remarkable
show ing Tor any city.
Factory fires on account of their
origin and peculiar nature are difIcuit
10 control, and as a rule are classified
separately.
The fact, however, that these as
well as the general fires were all
prevented from spreading to adjoining
property. evidences the efficiency Of
your fire department and its facili-
%ies.
Since the Inauguration of the inn
proved Are service, and reorganization
OF the entire fire department, the city
rs IN a position to ask AMI demand
zlore reasonable insurance rates than
nov prevail.
commercial bodies of Martinsburg,
supported by the city council to adopt
proper measures to secure the needed
and promised reduction in insurance
premiums.
WY should Martinsburg with its
small fire loss pay for losses incurred
R other cities?
street paving, new water mains.
sufficient pressure, duplicate pumps,
ample water supply and a department
capable of using same to an advan-
tage are all arguments for a relief Of
4he insurance burdens of previous
years, borne out at least by the small
@ire loss Of the past three years.
All The fire companies comprising
Ftiie department are well ~oflcered, un-
f~ErtFRRsd AMI active. ~
Tne Rersonel and discipline are
uaxceIean and each OF them increasing
I'm membership and enthusiasm.
The steamer requires some attent
ION and we respectfully suggest that
your fire committee OF council inves