The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-25
Were Responded to by the
Barre Fire De-
partment
Outside of Two Big Fires,
Average Damage per
Fire Was $141.14

Fire losses in Barre in 1915 reached an
aggregate rather above the average of
the past few years, according to the lltb
annual report of Chief c. B. Gladding,
which is to be submitted to the board OF
aldermen tonight for approval prepara-
tory to its appearance in the city's yeaJ
book next month. The increase noted
above was due to two fires where the
losses in each instance was more than
$4,000. The figures do not indicate any
retrogression in the standard of efiieien.
cy set by the fire department, as the
losses, apart from the two larger fires
mentioned, were smaller than usual
There was total Of 65 alarms in tha
year, which is below the average OF one
and one-half fires per week of several
preceding years.
Bell alarms aggregated 20 for the
year, IL coming in the first six months
and the remaining six in the period he
tween June so and Dec. 81. Property
tai amount of insurance paid on these
losses totalled S55,3s2.49. Property en-
dangered when the total losses were in
yolyed is valued at s492 500.
Two fire losses in the year aggregated
SAT ,24S.33. On the night Of Feb. 10 the
George Straiton granite plant in the
south end was partially destroyed and
while the firemen showed marked eff
cheney in saving large section of the
plant, the monetary loss ON the building
and equipment amounted to $23, ,5s6.S3
Not again until Nov. was Barre visit.
ed last year by very disastrous fire
On the morning of that day the business
building of Reynolds & Son was gutted
the exterior walls of the strue
tare remained intact and the immediate
ianger OF the fire communicating TO 9TH
ar wooden buildings in that vicinity was
discounted by the prompt work of the
department.,
The loss in the Reynolds block fire was
s23, ,66l 80. so that the two fires. one at
he south end in the winter. and the
Sov. outbreak in the business section,
iccount for s47 ,24s.33 of the total loss
or the year. Therefore, dividing the
It}tttNHtf btlN6tfi Tue LpLdl 10T Tue wear
nd the total for the two most disas.
rolts fires, which is $S,SS2 by 65, the
otal number of alarms, less the two
larms accounting for the Straiton and
reynolds fires, it develops that the aver
ge loss was approximately Sl4l.l4
here were few fires where the losses
to more than $500 and most OF
be more significant losses We're around
200, although 4 majority. as is always
he case, are listed around $40, $25 and
50.
None of the buildings was burned To
te ground, although there were costly
yelling house and barn fires on Rail.
,ad street in April on Elmwood avenue
May and on Newton street in Decem
II. In one instance, dental office fire
e loss approached $500.
According to the chiefs report the cost
the department in 1915 was Ss.735lS
be total credits for the department
mounted TO 81 l,305.S9, the largest in Ii
'ars, leaving net cost to the city OF
1920. Exclusive of the fire alarm
stem and the station building. the
timated valuation OF the property be.
nging to the department is $l4,007,
liking total of S4s007.
The chief recommends that hydrants
installed near the new City hospital
d the Spaulding school annex; at the
rner OF Liberty and Hill streets, where
new alarm box was recently located;
lr Depot square for the benefit Of new
mite plants established there; and one
ar Wiley street for the additional
,teetion of stoneshed property there
arm boxes are recommended for the
ner of South Main and Min streets
] the corner of Granite and Foster
eets. Old wire on the alarm system
IN Wiley street to Jones Bros plant
5 renewed and the chief recommends
It the work be continued from year
year, as some of the wire now in use
been a part Of the system for &c
irs. The purchase of l,0O0 feet OF
e is also advocated. In closing. the
a of the department takes occasion
thank the police department and city
cials for their assistance and COOP
tion during the wear