The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-08
MAYOR DISCUSSES
CITY FIRE HAZARD
Would Send Local Delegation to
Philadelphia Fire Proven
ton Conference.
DISTRIBUTION is AT FAULT
Poor Water System Exposes
Richmond to Danger of Hot
Springs Catastrophe.

Mayor Ainslie has received an invi-
tation from the Philadelphia Fire Pre-
vention Commission, through its chair
man, Powell Evans. to attend the Ma
tional Fire Prevention Conference,
which will be held in that city Octo-
Der 13 to IS. inclusive. Tho subject is
one in which the Mayor is deeply in
tercsted. and which has received his
attention in his annual report.
"Richmond should be represented at
this conference by a delegation of such
character rs would insure benefits to
the city from their attendance" said
Mayor Ainslie. last night. discussing
the meeting and its object. 1T is far
better not to hear the fire bell at all
than to be able TO boast of fine work
in cXtinSuishng Il fire.
Every fire causes a net loss to
somebody, and too frequently to those
least able to bear it. 1t is our plain
duty to learn how fires may be pre-
vented and TO give Richmond the ben
eft of that knowledge"
RECON- ended Investigation.
Both in his annual message and in
n communication to the Council, the
cation of the city's water distribution
system and it's improvement with the
view of reducing the fire hazard The
communication to the Council recon-
mcnded the appointment of a commit
tee from that body TO act in conjunc-
ton with Il committee from the Board
Of Fire Commissioners in probing the
situation under the advice OF skilled
expert.
The message was sent by the Coun-
Gil To the Committee on Public Prop
critics ana Utilities. This committee
referred the matter to Il subcommittee.
which has so far failed to make a re-
port. The communication has been
pending without action for several
months.
Hot Springs nm Example.
THE catastrophe at Hot Springs"
said the Mayor, lis only an example
OF what may happen TO Richmond any
time. The fire started there in negro
cabin and soon burned its way through
an area n mile in length and six or
seven blocks wide. 1t was the price
of faulty water distribution and an
inadequate system OF mains. In sew
eral sections of this city conditions
am Informed, are no better
Sire waste is one of the great eco
nomic problems of the present day in
America Competent opinion is TO the
effect that onc-half OF the total Amer
lean fire waste of life and property
arises from carclcssness. ignorance
and shiftlessncss. According TO Frank
lin III. Wentworth, of Boston. n leading
American authority, we are far behind
European countries as far as prevent
ing and reducing fire wa5.e are con-
cerncd. We burn property in this
country at the rate of $500 an hour
from one years end to the other with
out seriously thinking about it.
Glasgow and Richmond.
The city OF Glasgow. Scotland" said
the Mayor "a town of Boston's size,
had a fire loss last year of $325.GoO,
while Richmond's loss was $3.50
Glasgow's per capita loss was about
40 cents. while ours was S2.6G The
average per capita loss in cities in
the United States last year was s255,
while the average in the cities of Eng
land of over 10000 population was 81
cents.
Berlin and Chicago are approx
mately OF the same size. The fire loss
OF the German city last year was Sl75.-
oo0-slightly more than half OF Rich
monds loss. Chicagos loss was 3d.
GOO 600"