Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-13
BUSINESS MEN ASK
COUNCIL FOR PAID
FIRE PARTMENT
Chamber of Commerce Says There
is Need for Immediate
Action.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

A virtual demand FOR paid firo de-
partmcnt. couched in diplomatic terms
was presented To City Council last night
hv the Chamber OF Commerce. 1t was re-
fcrred, withoutdebate. TO committee of the
whole II is understood that 1t will be on
sidcred at kngth next Wednesday eve
ning.
After pointing out the menace 10 the
city by tholessenlng Of the protection afford
cd hv the volunteer companies, II any OF
the companies disband. or any OF the fire
fighting apparatus passes beyond control
of the fire department. rs is threatened
bv the disbanding of the Friendship
company, the Chamber of Commerce
communication cites the visit to VIII
minrton Of representatives of fire insllr-
ancc companies to investigate the advlsa-
hiItv Of canCcling local insurance contracts
II characterizcs the present situation
as Fan emergency requiring immediate
and drastic action. and urges Council to
take immediate steps to meet the stu
alton and also to 90 on record as favorlng
the establishment of the paid fire depart
ment ~ the earliest possible date.
The communication in full IS as follows:
The President and Members Of the Coun-
cil of Wilmington. Wilmington, Della
ware
Gcnilcmcn Under the direction of the
executive committee Of the General Com
mittee on Conservation and Fire Preven-
ton we desire to address YOU respecting
the present emergency which may deprive
cur city of existing fire protection.
We have gwen careful consideration to
the recent engineering report OF tho Ma
tiona Board of Firr Underwriters. lcoplcs
of which we understand have been receiv-
Ell hv vou) and feel that we cannot en-
phaslze too strongly the justification for
the recommendations contained therein.
In our opinion any CurtaIlment OF the
present ire-hghtlng apparatus, or any
lcsscning of the fire-hghting personnel will
constitute serious menace, and we urge
upon the Council that the probability of
this be regarded as an emergency requir-
irg immediate and drastic action on your
part
Anv curtailmcnt Of apparatus, any
isssculug ot morale, any failure on the
part of our municipal authorities to step
forward toward the Improvement of exIs-
tnC conditions not only III fire fighting,
tut also ~ conservation aud fire preven-
tlon Is liable 10 force upon our citizens
and tax PAYERS dangerously embarras-
sung financial and economic status
We are confronted IT thls time by not
alone the endargcrng Of property SO
necessary 10 tho mercantile aud industrial
activities of our city. but also the need for
better safeguarding Of human life.
For several wears the civic organiza-
ttons ~ Wilmington have sought TO Sc
cure the establishment OF a paid fire de-
partmcnt. there has been no change IN this
attitude We can state further that it Is
our impression public opinion has so
ervstalllzed IN favor of paid fire depart
mcut. because of the industrial growth OF
our CITY, that there will be little II any
nppnsitlon TO immediate and appropriate
legislation. Pending such legislation we
must urge YOU to preserve in full force and
effectiveness the existing apparatus Of the
volunteer companies and with it the fire.
fighting spirit which IN no uncertain way
he's prevailed in tho past
Coupled with such action by vou may
we ask that serious consideration be given
~ the matter Of effective legislation to
prevent fires Conservation work IS Just
a. important if not more SO than fire fight
ing. and legislation providing for IN
spection of property. with proper en-
forcement, should be enacted at once, to
the great advantage of our city.
We are impelled TO submit this COM
munication especially at this time by our
knowledge that representatives Of fire
insurance companies recently have visited
TINS civ WIFI 6tAt iHuAlhAN Ob!ttt w III
vestieating and considering the advisable
itv 81 cancelling local insurance contracts,
or adopting other measures equally
preiudicial, IN the protection of their
interests.
In conclusion, may we suggest that
vour Honorable Body take immediate
steps to meet the present situation, and /
also 70 60 on record as favoring the estab-
lishment Of the paid fire department at the /
earliest possible date, to the end that there /
bc no danger Of a recurrence of the exist /
ing menace Fl
Very respectfully yours,
Alfred ID. Warner, Jr,
Chairman +
n L. Miner,
Executive Secretary
On behalf of the executive committee of I
the General Committee on Conserva-
tion and Fire Prevention.
Il Is practically assured that eight Of .
the companies which comprise the city's /
volunteer fire department will renew their .
contracts with the city at the expiration /
of their present contracts on August 81 /
There is still some doubt as to the probable +
action Of three Of the companies, and the /
1rtot, ~, MIL disbaud