The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-06
RICHMOND IS NOT
GREAT FIRE RISK
Lecky Takes Issue With Maya
zine Writer on Local
Hazards.
CONDITIONS MUCH IMPROVED
Three Centres of Danger in This
City-Fire Department
Efficient.

Local insurance men, inspectors and
fire fighters do not agree with maya
Zinc writer who places Richmond elev- |
enth in the list of fire hazard cities
from the confiagration standpoint In
the January issue of the Worlds Work.
Walter s. Hiatt has an article entitled,
''Vhy Our Cities Win Burn Up" Mr..
Hiatt says that since the great fire
in Baltimore, insurance companies have
made careful study OF fire risks in
cities IN regard 10 exposure, infiam- !
inability and location OF buildings with
reference to each other. According 10
this writer, New Orleans is likely 10 !
be the next American city TO burn up. |
Other cities he classes as risky IN the !
following order: Seattle, Boston, Gin /
cinnati Philadelphia, New York, St !
Louis. Kansas City. Mobile. Richmond, {
Hartford. Conn, and Lawrence. Mass.
Richmond is given eleventh place in
the risk IN the United States on big
CONGREGATIONS. Mr.. Hiatt gives with
his article charts showing the rea-
sons for CHASING the risk highly IN
some cities. but gives nothing to sup
port his assertion ,n regard 10 Rich /
mond
Hiatt Mistaken, Says Leeky.
Robert Lecky, Jr., a member OF the
Board of Fire Commissioners OF Rich !
nond, and an insurance agent and
adjuster Of long experience. said yes
terday that Mr.. Hiatt was mistaken
in placing Richmond in the column OF /
fire risks 1t would probably come ,
about one hundredth. Mr.. IIecky !
thought
There have been two accurate sur |
veys by engineers for the National
Board Of Fire Underwriters" said Mr..
Lecky. "the last one being in 1905
T Yves associated with the work of
each. The engineers went from here
to San Francisco. and made a careful
survey, which had Just been printed !
whom the FIRE swept over that city. !
They were sent back there at once 70 /
check I'D their calculation. giving one
of the most interesting and inform ne
studies OF the causes Of confasra tons
/ know OF.
Three Dangerous Sections.
Fire underwriters recognize in
Richmond three dangerous points: o. /
the blocks on the north side Of Main
from Fourteenth TO Twelfth Streets J
The alleys are not straight and 90 not
run through: the houses are built on
a steep hillside one above another IN /
great congestion 90 The section
south of Main from Eleventh TO tn r
teenth. taking in both sides OF Cary
Street. because OF type OF construc-
ton. narrow streets. and congestion;
and CD on Broad Street. the block be-
tween Fourth and Fifth. occupied by
the five and ten cent stores. because
of structural character and infam-
rnable nature OF contents.
ut is fair to Say that In all Of
these locations there have been vast !
improvements since the survey. In the
last mentioned block new and sub
stantiai buildings have been erected
at both ends. greatly limiting the risk
of a fire getting away. even though II
started in this block Since the sur
vey. the water service in the sections
alluded TO has been increased 100 per
cent by connecting Up mains and lay
ing larger pipes
Causes of Great Fires.
81 have personally met all of the
insurance experts who have studied
this field in recent years. and never
heard OF Mr.. Hiatt. do not see in his
table of cities any reference to At
lanta- which has a very bad ire risk
in its congested portion There are
four or FIVE horrible blocks IN Atlanta
station section. The great fires IN
Chelsea Milwaukee and JacksonVile
began in dwelling house sections ana
fed on shingle roofs The Paterson
and Waterbury fires originated In bus
mess sections. San Francisco was not
burned. By the earthquake. but caught
A-rro n
the chimney had been wrecked. and
hurne,d its way downtown. The Bal
tiunore fire was the result OF storing
Nrge amounts Of inflammable material
in poorly constructed buildings
There is nothing about Richmond
70 indicate any Of the conditions mat I
have made big fires IL other cities
save the latter. and in that We are
very rapidly improving A careful IN
vestIgstion to-day would snow Each-
mond in nearer the one hunorvoth !
place than the eleventh place OF nre
risk in American cities Of course,
wherever there are brought close to-
gether a large number Of buildings
containing highly infammaoie ma
terial there Is some risk
The Richmond Fire Department mas
been very much increased In its Ell
hciencv since the survey OF 1902 ~
is now standard in every particular
save that some Of the men do not sleep
in the houses. II we could aooilsh
the cali system entirely. we would meet
every requirement Of the fire under
writer's for cities OF the size ana con-
,iitioDs Of Richmond"
Greatly Improved. Says Beck
Henry p Beck. a member OF the "a
,nfnistrafive Board. and for the past
Ave yearr Building Inspector Of Rich-
mond. said last night that ne though
Mr.. Hiatt mistaken In placing hlcn-
nond so near the top IN IRE IlsN-
The character Of building construction
he said. had been vastly improved ~
recent years. partly because OF inc
condemnation and removal OF or
structures which were little more tna"
Ere traps. and the enforcement OF NO
ern building laws requnins HUI
construction