Evening journal., 1915-07-12
AGAIN URGE PAID
FIREMEN FOR CITY
National Board of Under
writer's CriticizeS the Will
mington Department
SENTIMENT NOW
AGAINST CHANGE

declaring that a paid hre department
with the up-to-date apparatus now in
use here would be greatly TO the advan-
tage OF the department here. the COM
mittee on fire prevention Of the National
Board of Underwriters, in a supple
ment Just issued makes several recon-
mcndations towards preventing fires
here. The report is under date of July
@ and followed the visit 70 this city of
Engineer }. II. Howland last June. The
report states:
In view Of conditions brought out in
our report OF April. 1914. this city was
revisited by Engineer J. H. Howland,
June a TO 26, 1918. for the purpose Of
noting recent or contemplated improve
ments and Of advocating still further
the carrying out Of such of the most mr.
gent recommendations as had not been
complied with.
Many of the important improvements
referred 10 in the bulletin of July 1914,
as contemplated by the Board Of Water
( Commissioners, have been considerably
delayed. The pressure recording gauges
arc purchased and upon receipt Of an
iron pedestal, which has been ordered
will be installed at Ninth and Market
streets. The necessary authority TO
issue. bonds for permanent extensions
was recently granted by the legislature
a survey of the proposed storage and
sedimentation basin adjoining Porter
reservoir is TO be started at once, to be
| followed with all possible dispatch with
the work Of construction.
While il is the ultimate aim of the
! department to combine the present
| high and low services Of distribution.
/ this change cannot be brought about
until extensive improvements have
been completed with reference to the
supply works. The valve on connec-
ton between the 80 and 12-inch
mains at Eleventh and Frehch streets
has been permanently opened, the 24-
inch main has been connected to the
1z-inch at Eleventh and Washington
streets. and a similar connection is
about to be made at Eleventh and
Adams streets. A 100000 gallon
motor driven centrifugal pump to be
installed at the Booster station has
been contracted for.
OF the reinforcing mains recon-
mended. the 12-inch along Gilpin
avenue. Clayton street and Lowering
avenue. and for a half block length
on King street from Eleventh street
south, have been completed. the s-inch
on Thirteenth streets is being laid pipe
is on the ground for the 12-inch ex-
tension along Clayton street from
Fourth to Lancaster avenue. and the
le and 12-inch extension on Second
street from Jackson street to BayarC
avenue will be laid before next win
ter. The laying OF an S-inch alon,
Gilpin avenue between Harrison an
Adams streets is authorized and tn
extension of the 12-inch along Kins
Ninth, Market and Fourth streets 4
being considered. Since February
1914, 20 additional hydrants hav,
heen installed and 81 Of the singl,
outlet type have been replaced.
Subsequently to the bulletin of July
1914, the following automobile fir
department apparatus has beef
added: Two engine tractors, two com
bination hose and chemical wagons
two straight chemical engines an,
cars for the chief and two assistan
chiefs; out OF a total of 26 pieces o
apparatus in regular service, all bu
four are motorized An automobile
65-foot quick-raising aerial truck il
ordered to replace one of these, ant
it is expected that the three remain
ing pieces will be motorized by tn
end of the year. Except for tn
preparation of a new running card
which is about to be put into effect
no other important improvement
have been made.
The placing of the fire departmen
on full paid basis, the most i'm
portant recommendation made. wa
strongly advocated by former Mayo
Howell. but the local sentiment is a
present opposed to bringing abou
this change, in spite of finding
brought out in the 1914 report. to tn
effect that the volunteer organization
results in poor supervision and gen
orally inefficient service. II is be
lieved that a full paid department
with the up-to-date apparatus now il
use. would prove particularly bene
fetal in Strengthening the fire-fghtin
facilities Of this city.
Except for a complete set of nev
battery plates, no important change
have been made in the fire alarm sys
tenn. About $4,000 feet of 10 to /
conductor underground cable has beei
purchased for early installation in tn
vicinity of Tenth and Market streets
II is expected that bids for a com
plete new headquarters equipment 70
fire alarm and police signalling sys
TENS will be advertised for at an earl,
date, to be installed in the new cit,
I'd county building in the summer G
1916.
No action has been taken with ref
erence to recommendations made un
der building department. explosive
and infiammables. electricity or con
nagration hazard; generally veal
structural conditions and a sever
confiagration hazard in and arouni
the congested value district. poor su
pervision and hazardous condition o
old electric wiring installations an
the lax control Of explosives and in
flammables are features justifyini
early and favorable consideration b.
the municipal authorities.
Many of the city officials, officer
and members Of the Chamber of Com
merce, editors Of the local newspaper
and several influential business me
we're interviewed, with a view to avoi
further delay in carrying out the fol
lowing particularly important recon
mendations: Improved water suppl
by extending the high service to in
clude the present low service area
full paid fire department. new head