The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-03-21
Why RICHMOND
ESCAPES LOSS
FROM BLAzES

Richmond's lack OF cOnflagratfons or
fires OF extraordinary damage is due
TO variety of causes in the opinion
Of Fire Chief Miller of the Richmond
fire department In cities not so am
ply protected against fire or having no
adequate facilities of stopping a posi-
BILE conflagratiOn, damages to proper
ties and injury of lives as the result
of fires, amounts annually to thou
sands of dollars and many deaths.
This city. fortunately. has escaped
the possible consequences OF a fire OF
great character and even the number
Of small fires, which occur every year
through carelessness, has been re-
duced to minimum until the officials
Of the fire department are prepared to
congratulate themselves upon the rec
ord that has been attained.
But credit is placed by Fire Chief
Miller not only upon the efficiency
of his department with its many intri-
cate details which serve fundamentally
to reach and stop fire but upon the
character of the merchants. owners of
factories and the people who use pre-
caution and give strict obedience to
the rules governing the prevention of
fires.
The merchants, he declares, have al
ways shown a willingness to cooper
ate IN removing combustible material
and complying Immediately with all
the suggestions laid down as result
Of inspection visits to the stores and
businesshouses The factory-owners,
too he says and men in every line of
commercial enterprise give more than
the usual heed to advice of this kind.
Another reason assigned by the
chief as a direct cause Of the failure
of fires in Richmond business houses
10 gain great Roadway, is the installa-
ton, generally, of the automatic
sprinklers. Quite number OF posi-
BILE big fires have been stopped
through the workings of the sprinklers.
Many business houses and shops now
have them constructed beneath their
ceilings and along their walls and
Chief Miller is hopeful that in time all
places Of business will be supplied.
He does not advocate the installation
of the service Of this kipd known as
the dry pipe sprinkler system and de-
clares that 1t has no advantage In as
sisting the department.
The good condition Of the electric !
light wiring and the large number OF
fire-proof roofs which have been plac-
ed on buildings In Richmond, both
serve as big factor In cutting down
the annual fire loss of the city.
Chief Miller calls attention to the
difference between the peoples of for
eign countries and the inhabitants of
the United States in their relation to-
ward fire protection. The average
American has about 8 times as much
to lose through fire as a European
but the latter assumes greater precau-
ton proportionately to prevent fires.
In Richmond insurance would fully
protect the majority Of the residents
or places of business. The average
householder carries between 5000 and
$500 insurance on his goods.
In cases of fire, even fractions of
seconds count and it is at that point
that the Gamewell Fire Alarm & Tel
egraph System used by the Richmond
Fire department proves it's value and
assists in minimizing loss by fire.
So little time elapses from the pull.
ing Of the fire alarm box and its re-
ceipt in the different fire houses, that
1t is almost instantaneous This sys.
TEN has been in the forefront since its
invention and but one other system
has been recognized as its equal by the
fire chiefs in their recent Cincinnati
There are 65 street boxes IN Rich
mond with combination gongs and in
dicators. There is also a gong at the
pump house which registers every
box which is pulled when fire occurs.
The pulling Of a street box releases
The horses and stall doors at the same
me and notifies the. firemen the ex-
location of the box. 1t is then but
natter of easily and quickly harness
the horses and getting to the fire
bout the loss of the slightest time.
richmond, so the fire department
IDS believe, can well afford to ap-
ciate it's facilities for stopping fire
most of all congratulate itself I'D.
the progressivism and caution of
residents who are convinced, as 1
'nifested by their precautionary
worth pound Of cure {
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