Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1917-11-04

the report OF the fire survey conduct
cd In this city recently by Messrs.
Allen aud pomoroy, deputy fire mar
shals. This report which contains
IN ppewritten pages, will he pub
lished in full, a portion only OF the
report being published today, other
sections win follow, The conditions
revealed and the recommend dations
made come from n source which is
unquestloned and must command the
attention OF the city authorities and
all those Interested In the welfare of
the city.
A portion of the report follows!
introductory
Grants Pass is the county seat OF
Josephine county with u population
OF 1000 inhabitants. II is located
ON the line VI the Southern Pacific
railroad about 500 miles south OF
Portland. and its principal resources
are derived from mining. lumber and
fruit orchards, together with manu-
featuring plants located in and
around the city. The city Is To-
Gated ON level ground. Sixty foot
streets with alleys prevail, with the
exception OF Sixth street. which Is
the main street, having width OF
so feet.
Existing Conditions
First. The Southern Pacific rail-
road passes through the center OF
the town and the city's entirc fire
apparatus is housed on the south
side OF track. In case Of accident
to train service over the street
crossings the entire north side OF
city would he cut on from fire pro-
lection. The ordinance prohibiting
the railroad from blocking street
crossings for q longer period than
FIVE minutes Is sometimes abused.
Second. Ordinance No. $50 states
that whenever a fire alarm Is given
that the citizens who are sprlnkling
their lawns or using water for irri-
CATION purposes he required to i'm
mediately cease their sprinkling. We
find that very little attention Is paid
10 this ordinance.
Third. We find that the reason
for grass fires Is that any one may
at any time burn rubbish or trash
in the rear OF their buildings or va
cant lots. This Is u serious condi-
tion in regard to being fire men
ace and in carefully examining the
city ordinance we find no one has
the power TO prevent the burning OF
rubbish or trash In the rear OF build
ings or on vacant lots.
Fourth. In the northwestern part
OF the city the water pressure is so
low that we consider that the major
ity Of the dwellings are practically
without water protection in case OF
fire. There seems to be no regula-
ton as to the distribution OF fire
hydrants and this no doubt Is the
cause OF so many sections being In
some degree unprotected.
Fifth. The building laws are very
lax which no doubt is the cause OF
some buildings being poorly con-
structed.
Sixth. We find there is no regu-
lation for the inspection Of electrical
wiring where said wiring consists OF
repair or old work.
Seventh. The careless manner in
which gasoline is handled We con-
slider an additional fire hazard and
the same should be regulated.
Eighth. We believe those who
keep dynamite for sale or on stor-
age, do not realize the danger to
the lives of firemen and others fight
ing fire and their attention shoJ'd
he brought to this serious hazard and
that they discontinue keeping same
In their stores.
Ninth. We find that the city has
no system Of removing, rubbish or
trash except that some Of the mer-
chants burn same in the rear of@their
buildings, which in our opinion, is
a fire hazard. " II. ~
Water System and Source Of supply
The water suDplSis obtained from
the Rogue river one-half mile east
OF town and enters the sunken well
at the water works by gravity. The
water works are located. about a
mile east of center Of town and con-
sists of one story corrugated iron
building with frame studdlng and
concrete floor.
The above building houses two
Byron Jackson two stage centrifugal
pumps operated by electric motor
with capacity of 10000 gallons
per hour. In case Of accident to cleo