Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-06
INCREASED DANGER OF
FIRES CAUSES COMMENT
Electric Wiring aud Lack OF Proper
Water supply In Center Of
Blocks Need Kennedy.

Manager Karl A. schoid Of the Pa
cinc board Of hre underwriters for
this district declares that the abb
normally large blocks in this city are
becoming more and more Congesteu
each year. as the ccnters are built up.
thus developing hazard OF block
connagrations largely onsettIne the
benefit derived from tho wide streets.
Mr.. scheid holds that each block 100
the business district o. becoming n fire
breeder particularly as there are no
means OF hghting hres except from
the streets. and much valuable time
is lost IN dragging hose around INTO
the interiors % blocks BOZ case Of fire,
TO say nothing Of tho loss of per
cent pressure in 300 n. of hose. Then.
besides inferior buildings are allowed
10 20 up that ought never Co bo per-
mittcd. Attention is also called CD
exposed rear and side window OPEN
inps In buildings which should be- pro-
tected by metal clad shutters on wire
mesh glass in metal frames; while
little provision is made for protection
la the matter Of fire proof elevator
shafts. or automatic traps FOR floor
openings and boxing Of stairWays.
Mr. schcld also believes electrical con-
nections are very bad, with no ordi-
nance providing for proper instaiia-
lions. while the stOvcpipc ordinance Is
ignored. The building ordinance Us
Imperfect and In The past has not been
enforced He further states The
ordinance for regulating the storage
and handling Of explosives, volatile oils
and other high iniammables Is very
crude. Overhead wires for power
light and telephone service still en-
danger the lives OF fremen and him
der them IN their work. Distributing
mains are badly corrodcd, reducing
their capacity by at least 20 per cent
The system is fun Of dead ends. and
the pipe in some instances, Of made
Quate size.
To correct these unfavorable condi-
tons Mr.. Scheid rencws the recon-
mendations made IN his November let
ter 20 the mayor. and summarized I'D
the Christmas News
81 That reservoirs, with an aggfe-
gate capacity Of FIVE days supply for
domestic and FIRE purposes be con
structed and connected with the grid
iron system by duplicate mains or
ample capacity.
20. That water mains be run through
block centers and connected at both
ends with distributing mains and hyd-
rants placed for handling fires from
rear Of buildings.
81. I nat All NNAN NNNAH NA NAR' IAfAAAtN
be connected with the gridirOn system
as far as practicable.
g. That present distributing mains
be enlarged by cleaning, or substituted
10 provide adequate capacity
"5 That S-mch be adopted as the
standard minimum size OF mains for
hydrant supply In the mercantile dis
trict. and 6-lnch in the dwelling dis
trict
&C. That a water tower be ADDED 10
the general equipment of the fire de-
partment.
q. That a new FIRE station. equipped
with steamer. combination hose and
chemical wagon. one village truck,
with hose supply and proper compile
ment Of men and horses, be established
In the southwestern part Of the city.
IS. That the building laws be revised
10 provide better IRE protection, es-
pecially IN the enforcement Of superior
construction for large buildings, limit
ing the floor areas. protection Of ex-
posed wall and roof.