Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-20
CITY FIRE HAZARDS
DEEMED SERIOUS
BY UNDERWRITERS
Community Ripe for Big Loss
Under Present Conditions,
Expert Declares.
NEED FOR PAID FIRE DEPT

FIN fighting conditions IN Whining
ton are more serious than most peopie
realize. Things are Just ripe, and under
the law AZ averages are bound TO happen
ii things are allowed To go on as they are
now, for n block tire, that may cost be-
tween two and three millions OF dollars
and the loss Of lives. Then YOU Will see
quick action and n paid department m
stalled immediately. That is the way >;
H. lfowland engineer for the Natlonai
Board Of Fire Underwriters, who rs IN
this city making survey OF conditions sized
the local situation up today.
sI'm here" said Mr.. Rowland, 'be-
cause one of the biggest FIRE insurance
companies has become so slarmed about
conditions that they want 10 know Just
what risk they are taking IN Wilmington.
| shall return 20 New York and make my
report the end Of this week. i am not
.ure what NV recommendations will be,
but ON those, the executive committee of
the Underwriters Association Will deter
m,n, upon y policy 20 be exercised IN IN
.urancc policies in Wilmington.
The Underwriters have warned the
citv nf the rsks they are undergoing in
permitting present conditions to con-
inue Its Just likely that the Under
writers Will come Co the conclusion that
they have reached the end of their rope
and its time for them To act for them
selves When the big companies begin to
cut poiicies-if they decide To do so, the
other companies viii speedily follow, and
you can imagine what will happen then.
NAY nv PART PAID DEPARTMENT.
n had hopcs of being able 20 work with
'he firemcn and city IN evolving some
plan % remedy the situation or help II
snmo. but | am hampcrcd in this by not
being able 60 get all the fixed information
that Is needed II might be that the
solution Of the problem now may be
part paid and part volunteer depart
mcnt. hut how the thing will work out is
a QUESTION | cannot forecast
Mr. llovland today was busy ondeavor-
lng 60 assemble reports that the fremen
have made % City Council, the appro-
priations that City Council has made TO
the firemon and any other data that passed
through the clerk Of councils office
From all sldes he has received the hearth
est co-apcration. so far, in the way of
srtting data and information. The hard
~ proposition he has confronting him
now i the fircmcn They are willing 10
peak individually but not as companies.
What he deslrs Is the view of the tiremen
unit or majority.
/ can readily get them 10 express
their Opinions when ] talk 10 them indi-
viduallv." said Mr.. Howland, "and as
( majority they favor paid department,
bat when u comes time 20 vote on the
question with the rest of the company
around them, they sometimes express a
different view
rwo THINGS BRING CRISIS.
There are two things that viii bring
the question of the city's fire protection
90 erisis. These are the withdrawal of
the Friendship Company and the truck
from the Phunix Company. which rs the
plan discussed by the company members
now The underwriters have made a
study of conditions here, and they have
determined that the city needs nine engine
companies and three ladder companies.
Unless such protection Is granted the
underwriters are very likely TO take steps
that will make such a schedule obligatory.
That a paid department could hardly
bc provided for without State aid, appears
90 express the situation. financially. II
would be necessary 70 get an act through
the Legislature providing for the financial
end Of the proposition. The cit is not
IN o very good condition % borrow money
ON bonds. even should they bring any
where near par When the appropriation
for the harbor improvements are negotiat-
ed. 10 would mean almost the limit of the
city's borrowing capacity. The added
assessment this year, however, would
help swell the limit some.
MIR. Howland admitted today that
they did not see much daylight ahead
Just now, although he was hoping that
some thing would come TO his attention
that might more speedily solve the prob
lem. lie hopes TO return to New York
after meeting with City Council to
morrow night.