Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-15
'OTTUMWA'S FIRE
Loss DOUBLED
DAMAGE IN PAST SIX MONTHS
GREATER THAN THAT OF EN-
TIRE YEAR OF 1910.
TOMLIN is WORRIED
Declares That Good Heavy Raih
Must Come Soon or He Fears
for Consequences-Ninety
Alarms Since Jan. l.

Ottumwa's fire loss for the first six
months of the present year IS greater
than the loss for the entire year .Ot
1910 The approximate loss since
January /, 1911, is $49,1S0. For the
year of 1910 1t amounted to about S42,-
900, showing an increase of over ST.,
0no and the present year is only halt
gone.
Within the past six months the fire
department has answered ninety
| alarms, a record that has never been
reached before to the knowledge OF
Chief Tomlin and the flremen. The
greatest number of alarms in any one
year was in 1909 when 161 runs were
. registered. Thirteen alarms have
been answered within the past twelve
days.
! From the above figures of the fire
loss this year, the average loss per
fire is $547.55. For the year of 1910
the average was only $3O6, little
over one-half of the present figure.
/ These figures have been compiled by
/ Secretary Jack Donaldson, of the fire
| department from the complete record
that is now being kept OF all fires. The
new system of record gives minute de-
tails of all alarms and is considered
authentic in every respect.
| Chief Tomlin's Views.
In reviewing the above statistics OF
the fire loss and number of alarms,
| Chief Tomlin was moved to declare
himself on what he considered the
| dire condition of Ottumwa today.
When think of the existing condi-
lions in Ottumwa today" declared the
chief, ut just gives me the blues. II
Ottumwa does not get rain soon there
is going to be some very bad fires that
may result in the loss of many thou
sands of dollars. Everything is so
dry that it will almost take fire OF
itself. Within the past twelve days
we have made thirteen runs and the
origin of the fires can be attributed in
very great measure to the inf1am-
inability which has been produced
through the dry and torrid conditions.
The fear of costly conf1agration in
the business district is continual
worry to me since l am expecting it
at any time. 1t Is marvel to me
that 1t has not happened before this.
But the dry condition is not the only
thing that endangers the business
buildings. | have talked and l have
argu,i, threatened and made many a
merchant and property owner in this
city half provoked at me, trying to get
them to take care of their buildings
and destroy the fire traps which they
are now maintaining. 1t seems that
they should do it and for the protec-
it means at this time of the year to
have their their buildings guarded
against fire at every possible turn. 1t
is for their own personal benefit that
they should do it and for the protec-
ton Of their brother merchants.
Alleys Are Bad.
you can go down through our al
legs in the business district and find
fire tra-s that would not be permitted
to stay for moment in other cities.
have delayed using compulsory meth
DDS because I have felt that request
might be all that is necessary. |
have made my last request. There
will be orders from now on. | cannot
imagine what some business men mean
by absolute disregard of their own in
terests when it comes to fire protec-
ton. Take walk through the alleys
and what do you see? Here Is large
bin nlled to the top with paper, paste
board boxes and trash, the best nest
fire could desire. And then they are
right out in the open where a burning
match, a cigar or cigarette stub might
be tossed carelessly into them by some
person passing by. And they have
these bins chucked right up against
the buildings where the flames could
take hold in moment. Just across
the alley perhaps, you will see num-
Der of pine boxes stacked up and as
dry as tiDder Here are two or three
sheds damned side by side and filled
with broken boxes, papers, hay. straw
and every other thing. And they are
not twenty feet from the rear doors Of
the stores.
Right over there is a big pile OF
burning papers, Immediately in front
of the back door. the door open and
not soul watching it. Here comes 81
little gust of wind and two or three or
perhaps dozen pieces Of the burning
paper are carried all over the neigh
borhood. What will be the result this
dry weather? The first thing you
XIV the building is ablaze and then
the proprietor wants to know how 1t
and the sooner people wake up the
at the fire loss already this year. And
you can trace the most of it to condi-
lions which have named. I sincere
ly hope that everyone will make it a
personal responsibility to look after
the protection of their own buildings
and possessions and prevent their own
loss. am ready at all times to make
any suggestions as to changes and
would gladly assist in the abating OF
fire traps
CHARLTON.