The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-25
FOR BETTER
FIRE PROTECTION
MATTER DESERVES SERIOUS
CONSIDERATION OUT
TIE PIKE
The GREATER wheeling Plan souId
sotxe tire Problem 10 Opinion
% the ResioentA

AncFr nave Dtcu a great many
tracts Of land In the out the pike sect
ion opened up with In the last eight
years for building purposes. A large
number OF people. who formerly lived
In the city have taken up lots and
built homes to get away from the hus-
tie and hustle OF the busy city life.
after their days work Is done. From
Leatherwood to Elm Grove Is now Writ
ually n continuous town. Some sect
ions are completely built up while
others have a C space here and
there. Most Of the houses are of
frame construction. as a rule of two
story type. Cited with every comfort
and are what the owners call model
homes.
But when the builders completed
these fine homes. and the residents
took possession and moved in there
was one thing that they did not do
see that their homes were protected
from fire. The fire fighting apparatus
in the out the pike district is very
poor. considering the size and the
number of homes located i'm that dis
trict. II is true that they have sew
eral small chemical stations, several
small hose carts, but that is all
There have been very few bad fires.
but what there have been as a rule
completed their course OF destruction.
and the entire efforts of all the volun.
teer companies were of no avail, once
the fire had a Roadway.
A Case In Point.
Inc destruction of the Home OF the
Good Shepherd. for instance. is an
example. II the wind had been blow.
ing in another direction, the town of
Ndrw0od would have been at the
mercy OF the flames. The st. Eliza
" chapel and residence OF Mt. de
Chantal was another example. III the
hre gets started TO any extent before
the arrival Of the volunteers IL can
not be reached on ccoun OF the in
tense heat, which was proven at the
hre at the home at Edgington Lane.
III II is too far from the water mains
or nre plugs IL cannot be reached on
account OF not having sufficient hose.
The houses in Woodlawn especially
are very close together. only six to
eight feet separating some Of them.
They are all built of frame. II a fire
should break out and a high wind was
blowing, there would be very little
chance OF saving many OF them. At
Edgdale conditions are about the
same. At Edgwood a little more space
is between them, but they would stand
small chance of being saved IL a bad
fire should break out. with the present
equipment. For the kind, the volun-
teer service is very good, but IL can
not compete with a large equipment
as Is used in the larger cities.
Serious Problem.
The present problem is a serious
one and should be considered very Sc
riously by all citizens living in the
o~ut-the-pike district, as their homes
are at stake and an efficient freight
ing service is very badly needed by
them. This is where many of the
residents" claim hat n Greater
Wheeling would be of benefit: hat is.
to incorporate all OF this district with
in the city limits OF Wheeling. The
fire-ighting force and the equipment
OF the City OF Wheeling for fighting
fires cannot be beaten in any city OF
the size. and is not equaled in many
cities much larger. Up TO the present
time there have cen no serious de-
structions aused by fire TO the resi-
dence section in che out-the-pike dis
trict: but do not wait until the horse
Is stolen TO lock the stable. Get busy
is the general opinion.
Another advantage of being IN the
city limits would be the police protec.
ton. Several robberies have occurred
within the past several months and
fights are OF frequent occurrence. In
many ways the suburbs would be
much better under the protection OF
the city. Fire stations could be
placed at intervals along the pike,
where the different sections could be
easily reached. and with the police on
duty. fires at night would be reported
promptly 10 the department. which in
turn could be on the scene before
much damage was done. The citi-
zens must act II they wish 20 protect
their property and should give the
matter Of coming into the city serious
consideration before doing so.
An auction % titles would no doubt