Evening journal., 1914-08-04
SEE No chance IN
FIRE Department
Underwriters Issue Report
About Failure TO Make I'M
portant Improvements
CHIEF MAGILL MUM
ABOUT PAID SYSTEM

In a supplementary report today by I
the National Board Of Fire Under /
writer's the assertion is made that /
very little has been done in Whining /
ton except by the Water Commission
toward carrying out recommends
tons OF the National Board OF Fire
Underwriters regarding improvement
Of the FIRE department and minimiz-
ing the possibility Of fire spread.
Under the heading Of Wilmington,
Del, supplement to Report No. 20
addressed TO members Of the Nation
al Board OF Fire Underwriters, thel
following has just been issued;
This city was visited by Engineer
J. II Rowland June % TO "a, 1914,
for the purpose Of discussing with city
officials and interested citizens the
findings in our report Of April, 1919,
and of advocating the adoption OF the
recommendations, especially tnose
considered most urgent
Favorable action on the more I'M
portant water supply recommends
lions is contemplated by the Board oil
Water Commissioners The pressure
recording cages are soon to be m
stalled. II is probable that the con
struction OF a second basin, doubling
the capacity OF Porter reservoir, VIII
be recommended within year, AFTER
which the present High and Low SER
vices of distribution may be COM
bincd. II is the intention TO put In
frequent connections to the old force
mains upon completion OF the new
municipal building and the contem-
plated regarding of the surrounding
streets. The laying Of the first three
and most important of the recon-
mended mains tabulated in the report
is contemplated for 1914 and 1915. II
was stated that, except for the ADJ
tional pump. which, compared win
other necessary Improvements, they
do not consider urgent at this time,
The remaining recommendations VIII
receive their support and be general
~ complied with.
In the fire department, except Tor
adding most of the automobile appara'
ins authorized at the time OF issuing
he March report and the motorization
)i the apparatus In two more OF tine
company houses. no important changes
have been effected. The newly appointed
,hicf was non-committal on the ques-
ion Of full paid fire department, did
not favor introducing the use of three
inch hose, providing the same response
10 telephone alarms as to box alarms
nor making amy material changes IN the
department as nt present maintained
Il was stated that two OF the fire com
panics wore in favor OF paid depart
afnt and that the question OF having
~ paid chief had recently been CON
bred
Except for providing space for fin
,lnm headquarters in the new llreprooi
municipal building about TO be contract
,d for nothing has yet been accomplish
Ell towards the carrying out of amy oil
ih, fire alarm recommendations. Tho
tupcrintcndcnt considers the additional
hrndouarters equipment. and the i'm
nrovements in the condition Of the cir
mits as recommended, most urgent, but
no provisions for same have been made
Illus far.
Nothing has been accomplished TO
wards improvements recommended I'M
lcr .hc building and electrical depart
hcnis. nor as regards ordinances ON eA
blosivcs and inhamabes.
The Mayor, leading members OF
Council newspapers. civic bodies ant
several interested citizens were in
terviewed and their support and co
operation I'm the carrying out OF tn
following recommendations were es
recially solicited; A full paid iir'
department, a fireproof building TO
IRE alarm headquarters. providini
needed apparatus at fire alarm head
.uarters and at fire stations, improv
ing the condition Of fire alarm cir
uiis. installing a department tele
fhone switchboard and the adoption
81 the National Electrical Code b
ordinance
Il was very generally suggeste
that the middle of May each yea
about when the budget of departmen
appropriations is prepared, would b
the best time to urge further III
carrying out of these recommend
tons
Respectfully submitted. COMMITTEE
On Fire Prevention. George w. Hoy
chairman; Edw. Milligan. J. A. Ike
icy. C A. Ludlum. r. ID. Harvey,
A. Smith. r. w. Sergeant, ]. B. Mo
ten. r. r. Campbell, L. w. Yves
Lyman Candce