South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-26
DISCUSS FIRE
PROTECTION AT
REALTORS MEET
Member of National Board of
Fire Underwriters Says
Single Roofs Must Go.

South Bend must have better
water supply facilities. better FIRE
equipment and a city law prohibit
Ing the building OF shingle roofs In
the thickly settled districts IL the
city keeps pace with municipalities
OF Ike size IN tho matter OF fire pro-
lection and low insurance rates.
This IS the statement OF Clarence
Goldsmith OF the Chicago office Of
the National Board OF Fire Under
writer's made at the dinner meeting
OF the South Bend real estate board
held At the Y. n Q. A Tuesday
noon.
Mr.. Goldsmith Is IN the city in
connection with a survey now being
made by Robert +. Andrews and
Iarty, New York. representing the
FIRE underwriters. The survey VIII
determine changes I'm insurance rates
in the city for several years.
Mayor Carson Talks.
Mayor Carson, W. u. Teeple,
building commissioner; William +.
Artingstail, city consulting engineer,
and Mr. Andrews also made talks
concerning fire protection and build
ing conditions here
Mr.. Goldsmith pointed out the
facts that the water supply had not
been increased in the past few years
20 meet the rapid growth Of the city
mentioning particularly inadequate
equipment at the central pumping
station. he recommended that the
number OF fire hydrants In the down
town district be increased by at least
one-third and that the number IN
the residential sections be increased
where needed.
He also recommended the IN
stallation Of fire equipment includ-
ing an aerial ladder truck near the
Studebaker, Oliver. Singer and other
plants in the factory district He
Iointed out that this section lies
from one and two-thirds TO two and
one-ha1f miles from the central sta
ton which houses the only aerial
ladder OF the department.
Discussing the shngle roof or
dinance which Is now proposed for
passage BY the city council he de-
rlared that It was the greatest meas
ure for safety from fire that any
city could take. He pointed 70 the
Salem. Mass, and Paris, Tex, fires
as CONGREGATIONS which starting from
Single roofs destroyed pracucally
the entire cities.
MANY oDlnEit IADOlh
His statements were enlarged up
on by r. A Roberts, engineer with
the party who declared in an inter-
view that South Bend at present had
b greater percent Of shingle roofs IN
congested districts than any city Wis
tied by the party Mr.. Roberts men
toned the Atlanta, Ca, fire as one
Of the many disastrous couFagra-
tons which starting from a shingle
roof was spread by brands carried
to all parts OF the city by flames
The single roof ordinance, he
said, has been adopted by all OF the
cities which have been destroyed by
flames and by many others through
put the country. Following the SAL
EN- and Chelsea, Mass, fires the or
dinance was adopted in IA Massa-
chusetts cities including Boston.
indianapolis and Springfield. o.,
have recently adopted the ordin-
ance.
Mayor Sees Needs.
Mayor Carson in his talk said that
while the city was making provisions.
Tor better water supply with the
passage OF the $4OO. GOO water works
bonds he was impressed by the need
Tor better fire protection including
The installation Of an aerial ladder
Tor the factory district. Mr.. Arting-
stall who has been making tests I'm
the Indiana av., district with the
purpose OF establishing wells at a
heighth above the present pumping
station stated that progress on the
wells has been made and that with
the establishment OF water supply I'm
this section the decrease in supply
cost brought about through greater
elevation would amount to from 10
10 20 percent Of tho present cost.
W. d. Teeple brought out several
facts concerning negligence in the
erection Of houses and the installa-
ton Of heating equipment stating
that I'm a great percentage Of fires
owners had themselves only 10
blame. He pointed especially 10 care
iessness in housing automobiles in
where inflammables were
stored. This he said was a common
condition throughout the city.
William Happ. president OF the |
board. presided at the meeting.