Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-09-04
WELT ARE BODY
TOURGE BETTER
FIRE PROTECTION
Secretary Declares Further In
crease in Loss May Boost
Insurance Rates.
PUBLIC Is REVIVING ITS
SUPPORT OF COMMITTEE
Former Contributors Respond.
Appeal Is Sent Out to Busi-
ness Men.

The Public Welfare Committee of
Essex County. organized some years
ago to cooperate with the admnistra-
tion of the county and the city, and
which has recently been principally
active in municipal affairs. shows in
dications of a revival of the public
support which ii had at the begin
ming. Contributors TO its expenses
who had not been active for some
time have renewed their contributions
and interest this year, Secretary II.
A. lStoWell announced today.
A letter has been sent out to busi-
ness men appealing to them TO put
themselves behind the movement and
giving specific examples of what the
committee regards as indications of
inefficient spending of the public
funds, particularly i'm the police and
fire departments.
The committee is to hold series of
public meetings. the first on Septem-
ber Is, in its quarters in the Wiss
building. The fire department situa-
tion will be one of the topics dis
cussed and information will be pre-
sented to show that improvements
can be effected in the fire department
and others.
Increase In Fire Loss.
Statistics on the fire department
show that the fire loss, according to
the letter the committee sent out. in
creased seNenty-nine per cent. in
Newark In the year 1914 over the
year 1913, whereas New York fell off
fifty per cent in thai period and
Philadelphia fell off fifty per cent. in
the 1912-1914 period.
In commenting upon this, Mr.
Stowell did not want it taken as an
Indictment of the fire department
and said the statement was made to
| emphasize the fact that since 1910,
inclusive, the city fire loss has three
times gone above $I,000,0 600.
The fire loss statistics are:
19I0--sI, ,1s5,44e.41 4s.5 per cent. increase
over 1900.
101I-sss3, ,s17.s1 sa.s per cnet. decrease
under 1910.
1912-$1 ,097, ,55546 24.2 per cent. increase
fs1s--sese. .oos.eo s7.a per cent. decrease
1oi4-$i .es4 ,s9s.4s 10 per cent increase
! over 1913.
| Statistics compiled by the Office of
the Minneapolis comptroller put
! Newarks per capita fire cost per an
mum at $780, New Yorl1's at $1.74,
and Philadelphia at seventy eight
cents.
Fears Insurance Rate Boost.
'I believe Newark cannot afford to
have an appreciable increase in its
fire loss another year" said Mr.
Stowell. "It is practically certain
that If it did the insurance rates
would jump"
Mr. stowell was reading "Fire
Facts" the organ of the Washing
ton Surveying and Rating Bureau
during his conversation with the
Evening Star reporter, and took
these excerpts from list of what
the publication termed "the working
facts in the lowering of the cost Of
insurance:
"That the cost of Insurance.
determined by the enormous fire
waste of the nation at large and
of your own State and city in
particular.
%s'That this cost can only be
lowered by the adoption of the
highest approved methods of fire
protection and prevention and
the reduction of the fire loss
The Public Welfare secretary con-
tinued: These insurance men look
at things in a cold, hard, business
way. They adopt the maxim that
by their fruits they shdl know
them and fix a city's insurance rate
accordingly. And in considering
whether or not there is a chance for
an improvement in the fire depart
ment, in any fire department. it is
well to keep in mind the insurance
mems statement that so per cent. of
the fire loss in the nation is prevent
able
Cirticise Bi-Partisan Rule.
What the last report Of the Ma
tional Fire Underwriters, issued In
November, 1918, had to say Is inter-
esting, in view of the big increase Of
fire loss in the year 1914. The report
was:
Fire departments full paid.
Method of supervision by bipartisan
commission unsatisfactory. Compa-
nies we'll manned, but strength poorly
maintained Department under sat
isfactory civil service rules. Condi-
tion OF engines unknown; other appa-
ratus in fair to good condition. New
stations poorly located and poorly
designed. Hose supply ample and
well cared for, but no threa-inch hose
in service and tests irregular. Fuel
supply ample, but not of best quail
ity. Minor equipment fair. Well ar
ranged drill school, and drills for all
members. Response to alarms am
pie. but slow, and could be improved
by use of automobiles. Fire methods
fairly good. Records incomplete