The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-02-02

A short time ago a representative
of the Louisiana fire prevention bu-
reau visited Opelousas on tour OF
inspection. He looked carefully over
the local situation, noted the good
features and also the shortcomings
and visible weaknesses for fighting
fire, and within the last few days an
exhaustive report of his findings
have been made to the city board of
aldermen. His letter to the board fol-
lows:
New Orleans, Jan. 81. 1921.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen, City Of Ope-
lousas, Louisiana.
Gentlemen: Subsequent to inspec-
tion recently made by our municip-
al engineer, we are placing before
you our town report No. 6S covering
conditions found in your city.
In this report, you will find recon-
mendations for improvement neces-
sary for the improvement of condi-
tions and fire fighting facilities. Those
recommendations marked with star
are deemed of most Importance and
the full compliance Herewith will
place the city in a position to receive
second class advisory rates.
The reduction in the basis rates
from third 70 e2c3nl cl4 sificat.on Is
25o for brick 'nereantiles, Etc tor
frame mereantiles, 15e for farme
mercantiles, 15c for frame dwellings
with shingle roofs, and 4c, for frame
! dwellings with hard roots Exposure
charges for dwellings, in o second
class town are limited 10 one risk on
either side and rear, wEila for q third
class town, they incluie II risks on
sides and rear within clear space
! distance Of seventy feet; t1ffs coupled
with the usual 20 per cent reduction
in exposure charges for frame build
ings with hard roofs makes a further
reduction amounting in many cases
to as much as 25c to soc.
To further explain the value 0f the
improvements suggested in the re
commentators, the following itemiz
ed statement Of reductions possible IL
the basis rates may be of value in
your decision upon the advisability oi
compliance herewith:
Nero. Reductions
Brick Frame
One 100 gallon per minute
pump in addition to the
500 gal pump you now
have ......... 49,. 02 .Ol
100000 gal. reservoir with
above pump ...... ....05 1t
Reservoir with two pumps IA rs
! (Use one of above only
/ Approved fuel oil installation
as per recommendation No.
Eight -. .......... OF .Oz
Reliable suction and discharge
connections to reservoirs
and pumps with Sin main on
Railroad Ave and Block st. .03 .Of
Fire department improve
ments as per recommenda-
ttons Nos. II, Is and 10 ..04 .OS
Building Code as per recon-
mendation No. % ....... OF .02
Improve fire alarm as per re-
concentrations Nos. 21, "a
| ana 70 ............... .O1 .0z
Mote: The proper enforce
ment Of an approved build
ing code and the extension
Of the fire limits will cause
further reduction as i'm
proved construction re-
places the presently.
Revised ordinances as per re-
concentrations Nos. 26 and
S1.- -..-........ ...02 .04
We trust you will give the above
your serious consideration and It viii
be pleasure to be called upon to
make re-inspecti0n Of OpeIousas for
the purposes of ascertaining how well
you have profitted by the above sug
gestions.
Yours very truly,
| LOUISIANA FIRE PREVENTION
BUREAU.
By R. G. Malone, Chief Engineer,
The printed report Of the bureau
under date January IA, Is even more
exhaustive. Records from the state
fire marshars office for several years
show that there were A fires with an
average loss Of $685. each, a high
figures; 2.75 fires per thousand inha.
bitants per year, low figure. and an
annual fire loss Of $1.64 per capita. a
moderate figure.
In the matter Of Sire fighting faci.
lities," the report covers the water
supply, pumping station, equipment,
water storage, consumption, the fire
department and its station, apparatus,
fire alarm. etc.
Recommendations are made as fol.