Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-13
Engineers Say Salt Lake Is in
Poor Shape to Fight a
Big ConfIagration.
GL0RE SUGGESTS REMEDIES.
Says Additions Must be Made to De-
partmcnt and Water Tower Must
BE Built for Business District.

The corps OF engineers which made 4
thorough inspection of Salt Lake City's
e-nghting apparatus for the National
Board Of Fire Underwriters last sum-
mer has made its report. In New York,
and portions of 1t severely criticize the
local fire department. besides stating
that there is great danger OF con-
Migration in the business district owing
to poor construction of buildings, lack of
elevator shafts, and numerous large
areas OF open space. --
The report says In part;
THE fine department is weak and in
efficient, and is handicapped OCCASION
ally by nigh winds, and always by the
fire alarm system, which. In its present
condition, is a menace to the Saftoy OF
the city,
while freproofs are mainly of good
construction. few are so protected
against external fires as to form fire
barriers. considerable proportion OF
the congested value district Is in build
ingS of excessive areas, and there are q
number of high buildings of non-fire-
proof construction.
Modern methods of fire prevention in
construction and equipment are seldom
observed. Floor openings and those In
external or internal walls are mainly
unprotected, and serious building-to-
building exposures are common
throughout, while interior electric wir-
ing is I'm generally hazardous condition.
Blocks are of large size. but separat-
ed by unusually wide streets. and much
OF the block areas Is unocupied. The
water supply in the district Is good and
of Of Of infQrI0r
standpipcs are unreliable"
GLoRE ANTICIPATED 1T.
Il predicted that the National Board
OF Fire Underwriters would make just
such criticisms in their report on Salt
Lake City. In an Interview In The News
several weeks ago." said Fire Chief
Glore.
"At that time stated the necessity
for a high water tower with which we
could handle a big fire in one of the
skyscrapers. I also outlined our posi-
tive needs for three new fire stations.
$4,000 feet of hose, a combination four
automobile truck, hose cart, chemical
and hookand-ladder, another engine.
and generally improved apparatus
throughout
IT stated in The News then, that un-
less the city, of Its own accord, got
busy right away and provided for these
necessities in the f1re-1ghting line. the
business men would soon force the
community TO do so. because the Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters
would demand better blaze-extinbuish-
ing facilities OF else would raise the in
surance rates.
1T behooves Salt Lake City to do
some quick work in improving Its fire
department We are greatly handi
capped under present conditions. OF
course, there is one point for which we
are not to blame. and that Is, that when
the experts were inspecting the city last
summer, the fire alarm system had
gone all to pieces through the neglect
of an incompetent employe. However.
he was discharged, and good cleo
trician was put in his place, The Sys-
tenn Is In good working order now.
IT have recommended that the fire
alarms be taken out, and telephones be
placed in the boxes. on the ground that
out of S4S alarms in three years, only
81 came in from the alarm boxes. The
fire underwriters claimed that their
risks depend upon the fire alarm boxes,
and for this reason the boxes were not
abolished.
NOT IN PROPORTION.
''The fire department has not in
creased in size or efficiency in proper
llOn 10 the euOIIlOub RIOWlu III lllo dVel
and population of Salt Lake City.
Practically nothing has been added to
the fire department in 10 years, except
the building of new fire house. But
wo really need three more fire houses,
right now, and will soon need more If
the city grows apace as 1t has in the
last three years. The building permits
In 1907 and 1908, amounted to nearly
$4,000. 900. This year they amount to
about s11. 100000 for business blocks,
hotels and apartment houses alone
This new property must have adequate
fire protection, or fire insurance rates
will certainly soar.
1T Is far cheaper in the long run for
the people to spend money on building
up q fine fire department. than it Is to
allow the city to outgrow small. in
efficient fire department and pay the re-
sulting high insurance rates.
IT shall make similar recommenda-
tions in my annual report this year,
and hope that the people will respond.
This matter really is quite serious
am sure that IL the people are awak-
ened to the danger of a great confagra-
tion, they will lose no time in adding
to and improving the fire department
We need more apparatus. more hose.
more horses. more men. We want at
leaaf "a combination foiir q hf0h u,otar