Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-06-05
BUSINESS MEN WILL


finally 10 be taking such shape as may re-
suit IN a change. At a recent meeting o.
the Chamber Of Commerce, during which
there was discussion Of FIRE protection Tor
the city, a committee was appointed 10
make thorough investigation Of the
whole subject. This committee has bad
one meeting and organized by the seiec-
ton Of G. r. Bridgham Of the New castle
Ienfher Co as chairman. The other mem
bers OF the committee are , Is. smith oi
the Harlan plant ". j. Butz, lls West
street; Judge -. .. Hastings, Robert u.
Kemp. Artisans Savings Bank, and John
Richardson, Jr., National Bank OF Deia-
ware !,
II is expected that the committee wall
soon have some interesting comparative
figures 10 give out on the subject.
SOME SENTIMENT II DEPARTMENT.
In connection with the discussion Of the
matter ct the present time, IT may be said
that there ia some sentiment among me
members Of the volunteer fire companies
favorable to a change. As has been hereto
fore stated. one of the companies has
indicated its intention Of selling IFS real
estate and equipment at the expiration o.
the present contract with the city, which
il August 81. That announced Intention
has given rise to discussion OF the ques-
ton among other companies, and there y
said 70 be considerable sentiment IN favor
Of general liquidation, if o fair and rca-
sonable price can be obtained Tor the
property Of several Of the companies.
In discussing the matter Of Instituting q
| paid FIRE department by the city, Mr..
| BRIGHAM, the chairman Of the Chamber
| of Commerce committee said the prln-
| cipal factor in lts solution IL the one u
| financing IT, Will not the maintenance OF
a paid fire department increase taxes,
/ throwing an additional burden upon the
| people, and what will we receive IN return
/ over and above that now provided pr the
| volunteer companies2' ~ question often
heard in a discussion Of q conversion % 4
paid system.
In answer 10 this question It s pointed
| out that FIRE prevention and FIRE protection
arc like other things, n matter d applying
hard. common sense and lessons from past
experience, here and elsewhere. Success
fuf fire fighting, said Mr. Brigham, ~
ouires q knowledge az building coustrIc
ton. probable fire spread, scope and opera
ton Of various fire extingiiishing applianc
Is capacity Of water supplies, pressIlres
ability to analvze conditions quickly d
order 10 do the right thing ~ hr rlgh
time, knowledge Of strategic positl bns n
apparatus and hose streams as we'll q
the suresf and best means of saving life
1T must be seen that this cau only u
had IN a we'll organized and equipped par
fire department, with men who are III
WAYS On the Job Nearly All the cities z
the country that have attained the grow
az Wilmington, and especially sIlch n
dustriaI centers as this, are today main
tanning full paid FIRE departments and r
curing all members n be thoroughly q
str7Icted and drilled Only such tralnc
forces are able in any satisfactory Inanne
10 handle large fires, preventing the
: spread into q confiagratIoni and he pos
sihle loss 0f human lives
! ''To much stress is being placed upo
, the probable increase in taxes, the po'
; sible decrease in insurance rates. " hat
, a possible increase in taxes compared wit
a readiness to save human lives an
property? Il may be possible to make Il
change 70 paid department without 8
increase in taxes. through a centraliz;
ton Of houses and equipment, with W.
, trained men in the department. Bt
. even if there should have - De a small il
crease in taxes, the citizens and 81
business interests Of the city would hay
, the assurance Of protection that goes Wit
such q department.