South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-30
UNDER WRITERS SAY
FIRE CONDITIONS
HERE ARE FAIR
Insurance Investigators Con-
denim the Shingle Roof,
However, Which Pre-
walls Here.

The single roof. tho vehicle which
carried devastation across Atlanta
with a loss Of 1885 buildings valued
st s5.50O.G0O. that wiped out Salem
and Chelsea Mass. Paris and
Grandview. Texas. within few
hours could destroy South Bend over
night according 20 the statements Of
the party from the New y ork Office
81 the National Board OF Fire In
derwriters which is now making a
survey OF the city that Will deter
mine fire insurance rates here for at
least FIVE years To come.
The Lassage OF the ordinance pro-
nihiting shingle roofs which will
come before the city council at its
nex- meeting, they declare, would
be the greatest step the city could
take toward permanently lowering
lts insurance rates as well as elm
mating the greatest single fire haz-
ard. The ordinance would prohibit
the erection Of single roofs from
the time Of passage and the repair
OF such roofs 20 an extent Of more
than 20 percent Within from 10 90
Is years the single roof would
practically be eliminated in the city,
the figures state.
Great Proportion Of Shingles
Considering size South Bend has
the greatest number OF single roofs
of any city We have visited" said
y. a. Roberts. examiner with the
party. Although they have been
practically wiped out of the business
district by building code regulations
the number in the residential sec
tions. many of them near factories
and railroads. is the greatest we have
seen" There are but 10 single roofs
remaining in the business district
which Includes the territory between
Division ST. on the south and La
sale aV. On the north taking in all
property on Main and Michigan SITS
as well a much OF that which lies
along $ 81. Joseph ST. on the east
Tho line on the west runs through
the alley between Lafayette blvd.
and Main ST.
such ordinances have been passed
in cities of all sizes throughout the
country particularly in cities having
experienced the danger of shingle
roof fires as is the case in Massa-
chusetts where IA cities including
Boston passed the ordinance follow
ing the Salem and Chelsea GEes. In
sianapolis recently passed the ordi-
vance.
Conditions Here "Fmr."
The investigators state that they
have found other fire conditions here
fair considering the fact that the
first building code was put into eff
feet less than five years ago.
Buildings I'm the business district
are not protected as they should be
according 10 the code they say but
practically all Of these were erected
before the code became effective. III
the defects were rectified. however,
the insurance rates on the buildings
As well as adjoining property would
be materially decreased.
The code particularly calls for fire
resisting windows OF steel sash or
wire reinforced glass where the
building is within 40 feet of another
building IL also calls for freproof
elevator doors and fire doors on all
stairways in office buildings Only
] buildings OF 256 in the down town
district are SO equipped, they say.
With the completion OF the sur
vey the party Will make recOmmen-
datiOns in their report for better fire
protection here These will include
the shingle roof ordinance, the elm
nation or down town fire hazards
and IMPROVEMENT OF the fire and
water departments.
Propose Additions Here.
Although the South Bend IRE de-
partment Is beyond the average in
equipment and effectiveness accord
ing to the insurance party prOvi-
siOns must be made for at least two
additions 20 fully protect the entire
city. The recOmm endatiOns will in
clude the establishment of a station
nearer River Park which rapidly
growing section is poorly protected
and the installation OF an aerial lad
der truck near the factory district
I'm the southwest section OF the city
This district including several three
four and five story buildings lies
from one and one-haf 10 two and
oue-half miles from the Central fire
station which houses the only aerial
ladder.