Evening journal., 1917-03-06

be raised in other ways. referred to
in the National Underwriters report
Of 1914. The average Of the sixty
cities was S1.59 per capita, the low
est being Harrisburg, Pa. "a cents
per capita; and the highest, Allan
tic City, N. j., $3.50 per capita.
It would directly appear, therefore,
that Wilmington could well afford
TO spend, if necessary to maintain a
paid fire department, $4,000 more
than they are now spending for their
volunteer department.. and not ex
coed a per capita cost Of S12O, which
would still be much lower than the
average paid by the sixty cities
above mentioned.
With the view Of ascertaining the
practical results obtained from a
paid fire department, as compared
with a volunteer system, your com
mittee communicated with a number
Of cities with population OF from
$4,000 TO 100000. and we beg TO quote
extracts from some Of the letters
received in reply 10 our inquiries:
Trenton. ~ Ut has been the
experience Of this department that
trained and disciplined corps Of
firemen. the latest and most COM
plete fire equipment, motor fire ap-
paratus, constant education as to
fire prevention systematic fire in
spection of all buildings and prem
ises, by members of the fire depart
ment, etc, will reduce the percen-
tage Of fires and fire losses when
fires DO occur"
Albany. n. Y.-"By the employ
ment OF men, the efficiency Of the
department is thereby promoted and
increased, there being no compari-
son between a volunteer or a semi
paid force. and an entire full faid
force of firemen who are constantly
on duty. always at command"
Youngstown, Ohio.-"I might state
that there is no comparison between
paid and a volunteer department.
In fact, a city with only a few
thousand population, should have at
least one or more paid men,"
Schenectady. n. Y.-"Many de-
partments endeavor TO run a depart
ment in a volunteer way. especially
where there are many features OF
| apparatus, which has proven in
many instances, a total failure, as
il is quite necessary to have sufii-
cient permanent men. fully instruct
ed. thoroughly drilled for the hand
ling Of appliances, and constantly OH
hand, all I think that the first few
minutes at fire means a great
deal. as a rule"
Erie. Pa.-"It is self-evident that
the highest point of efficiency OF the
personnel Of any fire department is
reached when the men composing II
are fully paid. We are emphatically
OF the opinion that cities with full
paid fire departments should. be
granted lower rates by the fire in
surance companies than the NUM-
cipalities that have volunteer de-
paTtments. or call men partly paid
So far. however, the National Board
of Fire Underwriters have not seer
ut TO reduce the penalty in force in
this city when the fire department
was only partly paid. Aside from thu
fact Of lower insurance rates. which
we confidently expect in the neal
future. the people of Erie are salts
fed that the greatly increased fire
protection given them much morl
z than compensates the increased cos
: of the maintenance OF a full paiS
= department. / would advise tina
2 every fire department be made full
: paid lust as soon as II can he done
Wilkes-Barre, PAN my opin
ion the full paid department is ia
r superior to the old one, as the of
+ ficers and men are always on duty
and all men are ready to respond Il
: all alarms when required, and yol
( get the men when most needed, a
2 the outbreak OF the fire. You viii
. find that you get better discipline
$ and the new system here does ava.
/ with public alarms, which in itsel
r is a big benefit to any city
r In addition to the above extracts
. we received in most cases a repor
. OF the costs and expenditures OF de
. partments and a synopsis Of the sys
}. TEN and regulations in force.
= The cities making a report are a
. follows:
Trenton. y. j.; Reading. Pa
Youngstown, o.; Camden, ~ j.
[ Albany, n. Y; Lawrence, Mass.
{ Schenectady. n. Y; Harrisburg, Pa.
e Norfolk, Va; Elizabeth, N. J.; He
? boken n. j.; Wilkes-Barre, Pa, an
s Erie. Pa.
s You will understand that the Ma
e tional Board OF Underwriters hav
n nothing to do with the making q
" rates for this district. The recon
= mendations' in their reports are in
Q tended to be constructive, and,
Z adopted, will undoubtedly improv
q our fire protection. Any considers
I, ton OF rates is in the hands OF th
r Underwriters Association Of the Mid
IS die Division. We have made inqulr
Of them as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF
IS paid department, and the chairma
l. OF the board expressed himself @
o, follows:
d I'm response to a recent inquir.
have TO advise that the Nation;
IS Board of Fire Underwriters repor
n under date Of April, 1914, is the La
1t particular information we have 0
le the general condition at Wilmington
+ including the fire department.
rs Experience has demonstrated thi
D. full pa department, with
y. limited number Of mon under prop'
D. discipline and training. devotir
lr their whole tine. are more 7H-"es
"a ful In handling fires in the intere
II Continued on Page Twenty.