Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-08-02
CITY GIVEN FINAL
Continued from naxe l


allow the city to make the change. From
Mr.. Howlands conversations here, II ne
reflects the tenor of the opinions OF the
underwriters, then the failure OF Conned
TO net Immediately may result IN arDi-
trary action by the underwriters MI
Rowland suggested while here that the
underwriters could withdraw Their policies,
which would leave the city without any
insurance from fire. That he believed
the city had had ample time to make the
change from volunteer TO paid depart.
ment was indicated by Engineer iiowlahd
many times, but he also said that announcer
warning might be made by the under-
writers after he had submitted his report;
This warning is made public tcday hio
any delay whatever, even no matter now
extenuating the circumstances may pe'
NAV not be considered by the under
writer's. because of the warnings previously
given. ~.
The report. which is dated New ork,
July 2S. 1920 is headed Wilmington,
Del. " and proceeds as follows
ITO members of the National Board Oh
Fire Underwriters.
"At the direction Of our executive
committee, this city was VISITED oy Tn
gineer ] H. Rowland, July ~ to =.
| 1920, for the purpose of reporting upon tiie
| local fire department situation ana 81
| emnbasizinu the urgent need of establish
| ing a full paid fire department, as has
| been repeatedly recommended.
Meetings with the executive committee
| of the Fire Department the Cry .ouiicii
/ and the executive committee on coisefNa-
| ton and fire prevention OF the city CIV
| organizations were attended, ana pef9oi'ai
| interviews held with officers and mem
| beers of the fire department, city oihclais'
local press and Others.
"There is every indication that recent
! developments are seriously lmparing me
protection afforded by the present volun-
| ieer fire department, and that the situa-
| ton from conflagration STANDPOINT i
| Incoming more and more acute ne
| ONLY safe remedy in relieving the pfona.
| bility of fires getting beyond control ana
| involving a heavy toll IN human llVes
and nropertv values lies in the immediate
establishment of full paid hire depart
| ment
THE total assessed property valuation
Is IN excess of S1l0. 100000 The l9Zu
| United States census gives = popniatlo ION
| OF 10 1873. and many new and extensive
| industrial plants have recently been
established, with several new and lofty
| office buildings under construction. ell
indicating that the city : experiencing
a very rapid growth.
I'm the budget for tho iiscai year end
inQ June 30. l92i the City touneii mas
made an Appropriation Tor hie department
maintenance of si05.b4o, which proYIdes
for each az the volunteer companies an
increase OF $500 over that ct last yeaf
The several companies have asked ior
an increase OF 81 800 each. and the
| Phoenix Fire Company Tor iufthef
appropriation OF 81, 400
The accepted resignation OF the
| Friendship Company, No. ! one q the
hest located and best equipped com
panies in the department becomes
| effective August 81 next, this company u
| now negotiating for the sale OF = ap-
narata,s. The Phoenix Company has
| notified the City Counci that they VIII
| discontinue the service of their ladder
| truck on August 81 unless the additional
money requested for maintenance u
annropriated on or before said date.
| Statements made by members O. other
comnenies were 10 the effect that other
nieces of apparatus. including the larger
| numping engine in service 81 the Reliance
| Station Won d be taken out OF service
| unless the council provided the monies
asked for
while there still exists throughout
the department much of the loyal yoiur-
tecr spirit, more particularly on the pfsf'
OF the oder members. II IS apparent thai
among the rank and file there Is more
| general dissatisfaction and indifference
! with the result that less young materla
| Is being taken into the force.
1T Was stated that the City Counci
had appropriated in the present budget
~ and the EOn.
sensils OF opinions seems 10 be that the
/ disintegration OF the volunteer FIRE depart
ment. already under way, Is likely 70
become extensive. with the result that
/ the fire protection afforded would become
dangerously inadequate.
AT all OF the various meetings and
| interviews held, the sentiment was over
whelmingly in favor OF a full PAID hrt
department. indicating that the previous
efforts of the National Board OF Fire
Underwriters, supplemented by the con
structive educational campaign beml
conducted BY the committees OF the civit
| organizations and the local press, have
been effective.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
/. That the City Council and
each of the civic organizations pass
RESOLUTION " liAG NiitCt stt
emergency bill or ordinance be ut
once prepared, providing for the es-
adjustment of full paid fire depart
ment at the earliest possible date
80. That the necessary steps be
taken to maintain in full and regular
service. all OF the present appa-
ratus of the volunteer fire depart
ment, with the possible exception OF
tho horse-drawn steamer and hose
reel at the PhUniN station, pending
the establishment of the full paid
fire department.
3 That arrangements be made
whereby the tractor-drawn steamer
and automobile combination hose
wagon nj the Friendship station be
continued in service either at IT'S
present location or IN place OF the
above mentioned horse-drawn appd-
ratus at the PhuniX station.
a That an ordinance based on
that suggested by the National Board
of Fire Underwriters for the in
spection of premises by the IRE
Department to safeguard the public
and property against fire he imme-
diately passed and that such ordinance
be executed and enforced by an
emergency corps of inspectors oper-
ating continuously under the city
government, citizens committee,
or committees representing the civic
organizations
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE on Fire Proven