Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-19
ROTTEN FIRE HOSE
MAKES TEST RISKY,
PORTER DECLARES
Forty Per Cent. Would
Burst Under Trial and
City May Need All Its
Apparatus for Emergency.

that which devastated Baltimore some
years ago has decided Director OF Pub
lie Safety George d. Porter not to or
der test of all fire hose, as suggested
by the National Board of Fire Under
writers, according to a statement he
gave to the EVENING LEDGER this after
noon.
The 40 per cent. of our hose referred
to by the board would burst IL we
tested IT," said Director Porter. I'VE
would rather have IL burst at a fire
and have some use of It than destroy
1t in tests and then wait until City
Councils makes UP its mind to give us
money for new hose"
The director read the story in the
EVENING LEDGER based on the report of
the underwriters and then declared.
This story backs me UP in my con-
troversy with Chairman Connolly of the
Councllmanic Finance Committee. I my
self asked the National Board of Fire
Underwriters to come here or send a man
to examine the hose, every bit of ap-
paratus and every fire department build
ing in the city.
we don't dare test the hose. The 40
per cent, would burst under test and
we couldn't get any more right away.
We might need 1t all at once. The reason
we don't dare test it is because we might
have another Baltimore fire here with
out 1t. Even the rotten hose is needed"
The Board of Fire Underwriters recent
ly completed it's examination in this city,
M n 1ln int ttDt
1t declared that the frequent bursting Of
hose at fires was due to lack of proper
test by the fire department, and pointed
out that 40 per cent. of the hose in
use is more than five years old and
should be replaced.
II will be necessary for the department
in this city to purchase at least $1,000
or 10000 feet of hose annually to replace
discarded sections, in the opinion of the
underwriters.
y revival OF the proposed separate
water main for fire and commercial pur-
poses in the industrial district of Cam
den is expected as the result of the cr!ti-
cism by the board of the department
there, where 1t has Just finished an nves-
tigation
Denial was made today by Councilman
Harry r. Read. chairman of the Fire
Committee, that politics has anything to
do with conditions in the Camden depart
ment
For several years" he said. I'VE
have been expendlhs large sums in
meeting the demandE of the under
writer's and it Is generally accepted that
our department is up to the standard in
every respect. AS to politics having
anything to do with the department, 1t
IS positively not So"
Mr.. Read was rather indignant at the
criticism Of the underwriters, because,
he said, when they were in Camden
they congratulated him on the condition
of the department and made objections
to but two or three companies.
In discussing the confagration hazard
in Camden, the underwriters report says:
The weak structural conditions COM
bined with the narrow streets, numerous
overhead wire obstructons and made
quate fre-fghting facilities, would nor
mally create severe confederation
hazard however, as congestion is lack
ing, private protection is provided where
most needed and powerful outside aid is
available within a short time, the re-
sulting confagration hazard as a whole
is low. Owing to weak construction and
somewhat inadequate fre-fghting facil-
tiles severe individual and group fires are
probable. The hazard in the residential
districts is slight"
The board calls attention TO the practice
of Camden politicians dominating ap-
pointments and promotions in the depart
ment. This system II condemns It
points out also that there is lack of
proper training among the fire crews
and that the engines are not we'll cared
for, The fire alarm system is in poor
shape, according TO the boards report
and the building inspections being made
in Camden are of little value.
Report of the board on Camdens
water supply, fire department and fire
alarm system follows:
wssn ssRpyP9mp9E sTsb 'gHDmen!
station Force mains adequate, standpire
6f siish5 rsle value; ,Consnmntion moderately
secondary feeders of good size and well nr.
snEea IN most .0n sectiGPs Minor distrPq,
snS tnch pipe % sut Being renaced S9sraf'"H od
pipes apparently In poor condition inter;
and nd in good good condition HI Hydrants ant SPafy1i }airIy
well spaced, mainly Of satisfactory size
"'' FIR " Der" bspartment@Fun rP"P paid; under su,
Tsryiiso9 Of Gon99cii ssommiittee soni chief eX-
pointmenis and promotions suhiect 10 na-
'itical influences, Companies slightly IN
tsrmlnedr and strength not wei main
good. Total engine capacty slightly mad
ccSs poory sTfGI raned afS f"T sxden @Tt
two older Trucks in RoId condition. Minor
rEe and aecn o1 .hany nann9f @
suitable engine fuel ANNIE hose suPPly,
alarms good. except in East Camden: too
fsw engines on telephone and second
alarms. DFciIline fair, drills and train
ing lacking Fire methods fair Building
tnspsctiors of little value
Fire Alarm System.--TndcT supervision
of the electrical bureau. Automatic sys-
tenn insecursly housed. Apparatus a. head
quarters fairly romTlete, with allowance
for growth. Wiring - headquarters and
houses good to very poor Batteries and
charging circuits mainly satisfactory
Roxes mainly ~ good rype hut not pror-
erlv conspicuous AT niSh'. distribution
mainly good, Extensive additions ~ un-
derErounA system In recent Years. over
rra1 wlrcs rar' hare and art insuate1;
some on poles With high and low p0ten-
,ial light ana power wires. Dqplicsre
alarm circuits 10 fre stations. Telephone
system adequate. Tests frequent In
complete records NJ tests AMI troubles
Complete maps and records If circuits pro-
ytded.
The National Board of Fire Under
writer's has heen making similar inves-
LEGATIONS in all parts Of the country In
an effort 10 cut down fire losses,