South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-26
INSURANCE men TO
CONDUCT PROBE OF
FACILITIES HERE
National Fire Underwriters TO
Meet With City Officials
Thursday Evening.

10 uelne the classification of the
city with respect TO fire Insurance.
rates, representatives of the Ma
ional Board Of Fire Underwriters
VIII meet with city officials Thurs
day evening at z o'clock in the coun-
ell chamber at the city hall
An investigation, broad and ex-
tensive in its scope. viii lie conduct
ed. Building regulations and their
enforcement. Industrial and resi-
Dental planning. water facilities and
means for fire prevention are in
cluded in determining the outcome.
The result will be the establishment
of a grade or classification for South
Bend, upon which depends the rates
charged for insurance.
The announcement that the Ma
uCnal Underwriters board sought an
inquiry into local conditions, contem-
plative of possible reclassihcation,
and the acceptance OF a call for a
meeting with city officials was
forthcoming from, Mayor Eli +.
Seebirt. Tuesday. Except that ne
believed there was no cause for
alarm and the prediction that the
present. classification would stand.
the mayor made no statement quail
flying the announcement
Came as Surprise.
Among the city officials who will
be present at the meeting viii be
the council, boards of works ana
safety, Fire Chief Irving S. Sibrel,
Mayor Seebirt and City Atty. L. w.
Hammond. Meeting with them Will
be +. r. Townsend. of Chicago,
rate adjuster for the national board.
r. NJ. Sellers. indianapolis, manager
OF the Indiana inspection bureau.
The administration is wiling and
prepared 10 face the inquiry. con-
fident that the efforts made by the
board Of public works for improv-
ing the city's water supply have
shown a constructive policy fruitful
OF results. The threat of a reduc-
ton in classification and a CORES
pOnding increase in rates which
greeted city officials is months ago.
is not expected 20 be repeated.
Plan New Station.
Especially is this true when the
board is prepared to show that the
purchase Of tract of land In the
southwesterly part Of the city has
already been agreed upon and that
they are set upon the task Of build
ing a third pumping station. This
station, built and in operation, Will
supply these portions of the city
demanding a greater pressure from
the mains and Will greatly augment
the city's present supply. Plans
propose such a station and distri-
button system that will take care of
the citys entire needs should break
downs occur in both the North and
Central stations. and place those
stations completely out Of commits
sion.
Insurance clasificauons range
from Glass / TO Class V and include
subdivision of classes of one and
one-half, two and a half and etc.
, Eighteen months ago. when the rep
resentative of the Underwriters
board met with city officials to es-
tablish the local rating. their inquiry
cipally on account Of the lack OF
water. proven insufficient fer the
emergency. The fire &apartment
also at that time had several horse
drawn vehicles.
William Artingsttu, Chicago
previously connected with the gov
erEment and later with the Stude-
baker housing projects. had been
retained by the Carson board or
works 10 investigate and TO report
for the purpose of rehabilitating the
water plant proven inadequate dur
ing the Singer and WOODWORK Ten
Gent store fires. The Central sta
lion was Immediately declared OBJ
soIete so far aas the pumps were
concerned and the wells AT this point
OF insufficient capacity. Several Of
the wells had been plugged during
the typhoid epidemic several years
ago.
Lower Classification.
At the time the board Of fire
, underwriters representative met
with the Carson aides. Artlngstall
outlined the plans contemplated for
new Central station and showed
20 their satisfaction in the results
obtained that survey would be
made for the purpose Of building
third station. The board reduced
the city's classification two whole
points. changing il from Class II 10
Glass III but on the assurance
given agreed 10 hold up rate changes
Tor one year.
Faced with the emergency the
1 contract for the building Of the new
Central station was awarded in jig
time with completion OF the task
/ Of cleaning the wells, now being
successfully undertaken by Supt. J..
". Toyne. the capacity Of the STA
ton is expected TO reach the $780,
600 gallon mark.
The present status Of the situa-
ZION summarized amounts 10 this.
Fire department has been completely
motorized
Central station erected and in OPP
Grafton and wen cleaning 70 be fin
lshed about May 1.
Negotiations on foot for purchase
Of 2O-acre tract at S Olive and
sample SITS. for the purpose Of
building a third pumping station.
No Cause For Alarm.
City planning and coming COM
mission functioning for the purpose
Of districting the city for residential
factory and commercial purposes 20
the exclusion OF other claSsifcations
OF building.
A revised building code and its