Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-17
PROPOSES SALVAGE CORPS
FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Administrative Board Asks Commits
,sioner Lecly to Souyd Local
Insurance Companies.
WOULD REDUCE ANNUAL LOSS
Salvage Service Is Maintained In
Many Cities by Underwriters, and
Corps Have Been Added to Pro-
greSsive Municipal Departments.

The question OF organizing In Rich
mond salvage corps which shall de-
vote itself at fires exclusively to tho
task OF saving property. was renewed
yesterday by the adoption of a motion
by the Administrative Board request
ing Vice President Robert Lecky. Jr..
of the Fire Board, to confer with the
representatives Of insurance companies
in this city looking to the establish
ment of this service.
The salvage corps operated by the
insurance companies is Il recognized In
stitution In fifteen or twenty of the
larger American cities In these cities
the insurance companies contribute
jointly to the maintenance of the
corps which report promptly at all
fres-particularly those in the con-
Gested value districts-occupying them
selves with the saving OF property.
Mr.. Lecky. who Is Identified with the
insurance business in this city. said
yesterday that while municipal fire de-
partmcnts all over the country in large
number have added salvage corps to
their regular equipment. insurance
companies have discontinued the prac-
tice of establishing these corps. for
about twenty years.
COMPANIES HAVE DECLINED
TO ORGANIZE NEW CORPS
dertakinE too burdensome." said Mr..
Lecky. Besides paying for the main
tcnancc of the salvage corps they have
also had to reduce rates because OF
their existence. thus paying the freight
going and coming. The corps that have
been established by the companies are
still in operation. but | know OF no new
corps established by them in nftccn or
twenty years
The salvage corps would he a desir
able addition to the Fire Department.
! am sure that the department would
be glad to provide accommodations Mt
headquarters. should tho city make pro-
vision for the establishment of this ser
vice. The wagon and equipment. be-
lieve. could be obtained for about
$4,000
with the Introduction Of proof
or nearly fire-proof buildings. tho dan
ger Of destruction by fame is far small
er than the danger OF damage by water.
This Is especially true Of fires In modern
retail districts where the store build
ings arc nearly flre-proof and the stocks
of relatively high value.
SAVES MUCH PROPERTY
FROM DAMAGE ny WATER
The salvage corps arrives at n fire
almost simultaneously with the APP
parntus and enters the burning build
ing spreading heavy tarpaulns over
me goods or furniture. The crew &C
quircs n special dcXtcrity In throwing
the rollcd-up blankets with tho result
that the operation consumes little time.
The saving in damage from water Is
often enormous
L believe that the addition OF sal
wage corps to the Richmond Fire be-
Dartmcnt would contribute greatly to
the reduction of our annual fire loss.
AS time goes on and old buildings are
replaced by modern structures tho
water damage at fires will rise in pro-
portion to the actual flame damage
and II Is then that tn salvage corps
Will be of most service The whole
aim OF fire fighting is to reduce dam
age by every possible means and in this
work the salvage corps would render
valuable assistance"
Not having received the Boards com
muntcation yesterday, Mr. Lecky pre-
ferred not to discuss the probable ac-
ton of the local fire underwriters with
reference to the Administrative Board 8
suggestion. He recalled the fact. how
ever. that when, ten years ago, he OBJ
taincd charter for n salvage CORPS
proposed to be maintained by the in
surance compa MES. the companies rep
resented In this city declined to con-
tribute to Its maintenance and the pro-
jcct fell through