The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-05-10
INSPECTION TOUR
OF FARGO ALLEYS
SECRETARY AND OTHER sem.
BERs or FIRE PREVENTION Or
oANIzATioN WITH MAYOR, FIRE
CHIEF AND PRESS REPRESENT
ATIvEs INVESTIGATED ALLEYS.

"A tour Of inspection to see the actual
conditions of the Fargo alleys in the
business district OF the city was made
this morning by Sec. Q. NJ. Thurber
and G. $. Whittlesey of the North Da~
kota State Fire Prevention association.
now in session in this city, together
with Mayor Sweet Fire Chief Suther-
land, OF the city administration, Robert
g. Patterson OF The Forum and Wick
w. Wood Of The courier-NeWs
The purpose OF the trip was to show
exactly the manner in which the alleys
Of the city are kept and what might
result in case of a confagration In the
business district. In many places right
In the heart Of the city numerous evil
dences of carelessness were found and
some Of the alleys were cluttered with
boxes, ashes and debris Of all kinds
that would contribute much to the de-
~struction OF the city / case it should
be swept by fire.
Astonishing as it may seem, the
alleys OF the district Of the eastern
business section of the city near the
river and back OF lower Front street
are kept in much better condition than
some of those of the central part of
town between Broadway and Roberts
street and N. p. avenue and the Great
Northern tracks. 1t was found that
in many business blocks facing Broad
way, where families reside in apart
ments IN second and third floors gar
bage and waste papers are dumped
carelessly into the alleys without res
eryation, which would prove hazardous
in time of fire and is also regarded as
a to the sanitary conditions Of
that section Of the city and public
health.
Waste Material in Basement.
Secretary Thurber and Mr.. WhittIe-
sey of the North Dakota Fire Proven
ton association stated to the mayor
and fire chief while on the trip this
morning that an inspection tour has
been made of a number Of the business
houses in the heart Of the business
district and it had been found that
much combustible waste matter was
accumulated in the basement of these
buildings.
Another evidence OF the general
carelessness In the business district is
the fact that there are very few gar
bage and refuse disposal burners prop
erly covered with screen caps to pre-
vent any of the burning material from
being carried by the wind.
Comparing Fargo with other cities
Of the state, 1t is stated by some of
the fire insurance underwriters as a
fact that the conditions of its alleys
are the worst in the state. The in
spectton tour this morning was made
for the purpose of calling the atten-
ton of Mayor Sweet and Fire Chief
Sutherland to everything that proves
a menace to the general safety of the
city, and for the purpose of suggest
ing the enactment of such municipal
legislation that will make the city
safer in case of fire.
Chief Sutherland showed a number
Of places where he had prohibited the
burning og waste paper in certain
business blocks of the city and his
help in this direction has been of
great benefit to the city in the pre-
vention Of fire. The alleys behind
both fire stations were shown and the
chief was highly complimented on the
excellent manner in which everything
is kept.
H.. - n~l.-