The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-10-06
TOO MANY FIRES IN TOWN
SAYS THE RATING BUREAU
The Washington Bureau Writes the City
Qeik, Pointing Out Facts and
Conditions

The city having recently been ad'
vised that the insurance rates would be
raised in this town because the record
shows that there have been too many
fires the past two years, and that losses
are out OF proportion to the premiums
paid, City Clerk Brown recently re-
ceived the letter printed herewith.
calling attention TO the numerous fires
and what the insurance companies con-
slider an unsatisfactory condition OF the
means OF preventing fires. Also the
need Of cleaning up around stores and
business houses is called to the atten-
ton OF the city authorities. Following
is the letter:
Sept. 30th, 1919.
Mr.. A. R. Brown, City Clerk.
Leavenworth, Wash,
Dear Sir:-Answering your letter OF
the 9th inst, will state the conditions
which are insurance wise in Leaven-
worth are as follows, as found at the
time OF the last inspection. Additional
nozzels were needed in Fire Depart
ment, and a new hose cart for the sew
eral hundred feet OF hose found placed
upon the floor of the fire station; also
steps were needed whereby premises
in the mercantile district should be
kept cleaner as regards accumulated
rubbish found upon number OF prem
ises in that district.
These matters were taken up in de-
tail with Mayor N. B. Day, and as he
states, he sympathises with the need of
maintaining proper conditions in Leav-l
enworth. He has the right ideas and
with the proper cooperation we feel
confident that his ideas will be car
ried out.
On the 18th inst our representative
again saw Mayor Day and the latter
referred to his desire to obtain mu-
nicipally owned emergency pump in
order to meet and overcome the ad-
verse condition experienced last win
ter when the regular water supply was
interrupted. This pump would be in
lieu OF the present pumping facilities
at the Lamb Davis plant, which are at
present available on the town system.
If Mayor Day desires to bring about
such an arrangement this Office, OF
course, will not oppose same. On the
other hand we are very glad to CO.
operate with his honor, for we feel that
his interest in public fire protection in
Leavenworth is an intelligent one.
Upon the visit of our representative
10 Leavenworth on the 18th inst he in
formed the Mayor, the City Attorney.
Mr.. Magyar the newspaper editor, Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Field, that there
would shortly be an advance in insur-
rnce rates in Leavenworth because Of
the bad fire record sustained in that
community during the fire year period
which ended December 31st. 1915.
He stated to those people this advance,
applicable to the mercantile district OF
Leavenworth, is due to that record and
not due to present conditions in Leav-
enworth. OF course it present condi-
tions in Leavenworth are improved it
will tend to prevent a bad fire record
in the future. These conditions are
hereinbefore referred to in this letter.
In our review of the situation in Leav-
enworth we have noted certain i'm
provements which have occurred there.
among them the strengthening OF the
trestle upon which the supply pipe is
carried from the regular source OF sup
supply for considerable distance;
the establishment OF the connection
above the reservoir with the ditch; and
the extent OF hard paved streets, etc.
And we think il the views OF Mayor
Day are co-operated with that further
and desired improvement will occur in
Leavenworth.
Yours very truly,
Lee Mckenzie.