Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-31
FIRE LOSS IN 1917
RECORD BREAKING
Destruction in Twelve Months
Greater Than All Former
Years Combined.
DEPARTMENT is NEEDING MEN
Short Thirty Hands; Eighteen
Enter Army, Navy and
Aerial Service.

%.,riy threc-quarters OF million
dnlIlrs.-that Is what Tulsa sullrIr'
f,nm nro loss during 1914 Not "nlS
:. fhis amount greater than all ih'
r,rvious fire losses bon the cltY COM
I,red but the number of fires duiihN
tlo year just closlus was tar Rre'''I
th3u n amy previous year
The major portion of this cn"rW"u
l.s4 came i'm the destruction oi 'h,
ohio BUILDING and the olu'tinN "l
adjoining business blocks ON Sou'n
Mann street II was estimated ih'l
,1. damage in this firc alone was
$500 600 second lu size was ih'i "l
the glass fgDt"I. which rnt1lIrd Il
its, of 100000.
comparative Records starting
While the records have not been
completed hy the department. it DEB
Known that the tirc loss for the year
VIII total close 90 100000. Inc mum
Irl of fires increased from 8b4 IN WV
10 aga in 1917 not including the flre7
OF the past week. The per CAPITA loss
was around ~ cents. This year 1t Will
nm between So and $40. The large
fires which caused such heavy loss
were such as any city might expect at
any time. but which Tulsa had es-
-ttped in former years
The department suffered the loss or
Two lives of firemeu. They were
killed in the ohio fire. when Secretary
loss Shepherd and Ben Hanes were
caught in a crumbling stairway.
The department has suffered de
Iirtion of its ranks on account OF the
war. for during the past year is men
enlisted In some branch Of the coun-
trys service. Some Joined the army
others went to the navy. and still
others gave their services to the avi-
alton corps.
Increased by Fifteen Men.
The department. now has SO men,
IL more than at this time last year.
OF the men who were I'm the depart
ment on January |, only II are now IN
the service. This has meant that prac-
tiCally an entire new department had
to he trained. and training firemen TO
cope with dangerous fires such as
might break out in any of Tulsa's
lagre buildings or plants. Is a matter
OF more than few months time. Men
are I'm demand. and those who make
good firemen are hard to get. At
least 30 more could be placed in the
department al the present time.
The demands Of tho city have grown
and more complete fire equipment Is
needed. To keep pace with the growth
of the city and maintain a high
standard OF efficiency has been the
task Of the department. Chief II. q.
Alder has as efficient department as
can be found In any city the size OF
Tulsa which means that great prog
rrss has been made when II is re-
uembcred that the paid department is
only a little more than . years old.
Daring the year now closing the
south side station was built equipped
and manned Liberal provision was
made FOR further extensions. The
bond issue authorized lay the voters
carried provisions for additional sta
t,ous. one will he built in West Tulsa
ard another at Kendall \ new cent
raj station. 10 be located probably on
South Boston. will he built All Will
be- equipped with the most modern
devices.
The program Of improvement calls
for the extension of the telegraph
alarm system. and for the purchase OF
more modern apparatus.