Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-22
Replace Pilots
Within, n Hours

Continued from PAGE One
reason am opposed to them returning
to duty"
The director did not say where he pro-
posed to obtain the pilots and engineers
for the city boats. II IL believed that he
will get the pilots through ore of their
organizations and possibly through the
assistance OF the Federal Government.
Electricians First to Councils
The employees of the Electrical Bureau
who returned to work called first on
Director Wilson and assured him Of their
confidence OF obtaining better pay when
Councils meet In the fall
The fire underwriters will meet on
Tuesday. and there IL a possibility. ac-
cordng to one of their representa- tives,
that they will1decide upon an increase
in insurance rates of property along
the river front.
This representative said that the es-
tablishments in this zone now have a
very reasonable rate and the increase
Of hazard will have to be considered
Should there be an increase In rate. such
an advance would only remain while the
city fire and police boats were tied up.
Present rates would prevail again when
the city boats return to action. 1t WAS
explained.
River Fire shows Menace
The fre Of last night, which swept the
fertilizer warehouse of Baugh Sons
CO., Delaware avenue and Morris streets.
and the w. j. McCahan sugar refinery In
Tasker street. being checked only after
many railroad iretugs were called upon
for aid. was pointed to by the under
writer's as conclusive evidence of the
gravity Of the situation.
Police boats were moored at the
Homesburg wharf while the fire ragged.
Three possible ways of ending the
waterfront strike were suggested today
They are:
Federal intervention that would COM
pei the engineers and pilots to return to
work In view of the fact that Govern
ment stores on the wharves awaiting
oyerseas shipment are endangered.
Voluntary return Of the men under
patriotic inspiration or pressure OF
promises made by politicians.
Granting Of the wage increase through
special meeting Of Councils.
Mayor warned Of Peril
J. s. W.. Holton, president of the
| Maritime Exchange. yesterday sent a
letter to Mayor Smith. urging some
means of protection because of the
police and freboat tie-up in view Of the
cargoes Of dangerous substances on the
wharf. He called attention to the
danger OF confasration.
| Firemen combating last nights blaze
were almost helpless. They were forced
ito lay lines of hose several blocks In
many cases, in order to play streams
upon the blaze.
Great crowds congregated In the alien
barred zone during the fire and 10C
members Of the Home Defense Guards
were called out to aid the regular
waterfront guards In driving the spec.
tators back beyond the forbidden area
All Fire Boats Idle
! Forty minutes are said to have
! elapsed after the fire was discovered be
I fore three streams of water were beins
played upon the blazing warehouses
I The absolute necessity Of the river
patrol was shown as the blaze ate its
way to eastern ends Of the buildings
and ragged with virtually no way oi
checking them because Of the river. With
fireboat the flames could have beer
| fought from the water, but the firemer
were forced to call upon railroads fol
help. 1t was only after the arrival o
the railroad FIRE tugs that the danger o
I greater fire diminished.
With several Of the tugs pouring larg'
volumes of water into the burning
buildings from the river side and man!
chemical and engine companies workini
from the shore. the fire was brough
under control early today.
| Firemen Praise n. r., Tugs
Firemen were unit today'in praisni
| the fire tugs, without which, they say
the fire might have swept almost un
molested along the entire waterfront
The cause of the fire and where 1
originated have not yet been ascertained
1t was dangerously near to the grea
warehouses heavily stocked with sup
plies for the American expeditionar,
forces