Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-25
REPORT SHOWS
IMPROVEMENTS
in FIRE DEPT.
Some of Underwriters Recon-.
mendations Have Been
Followed Here.

Changes made in the fire fighting
facilities Of Great Falls since Deem
Der /, 1921, are enumerated in an of
fetal report to the National Board of
Underwriters by Engineer R. E. An
drews, who made an inspection here
one year ago. When the engineer was
in Great Falls it was announced that
the inspection was being made with
an idea to determining whether it would
be possible to authorize a reduction in
insurance rates if certain improvements
were installed. and in the report it is
stated that recommendations made by
the board have been complied with in
some particulars. The report fol-
lows:
'The water supply section of the re
port has been carefully studied by City
Engineer Morris, who is in immediate
charge of the water department, and its
findings approved by him. Records
have been improved by preparing a new
drawing of the supply works, which
shows all essential information. Intake
pipes from the Missouri river to the
pumping station. which were thought to
of a previous inspection, have been
cleaned.
"a gated connection has been Install
ed between the discharge of one of the
1000, 600 gallo low-lift pumps, to the
suction of the other, permitting the
pumps to work in series. This change
has increased the total actual capacity
Of the low-lift pumps to nearly 9,Oo0,-
zoe gallons a day against the maximum
head at which they operate. A new
+elemeter has been installed at the
pumping station to record the height
of water in the standpipe. The above
improvements comply with recommend
ations 2 and 5 and in part with recon-
mendation ga.
Additions to the distribution sys-
tenn have been of minor Importance, al
though city officials apparently appre-
ciate the necessity for laying large
mains in certain portions of the city.
1t is the plan to install the mains rec
commended in our report in the order OF
their Importance, paying for them out
IF the revenues of the water depart
ment.
Consumption for the year ending
April 80, 1922. amounted to 4,512.000
gallons q day and. based on a popula-
ton supplied Of $4,000. is at the rate
of 174 gallons per capita, a marked
decrease from the preceding three
years.
'There have been no changes of i'm
portance in the fire department. Chief
A.. j. Irodlck has incorporated the
more urgent of our recommendations in
his annual report to the city council
The movement for d fire station in the
vicinity of Second avenue north and
Twenty-fourth street, to house a new
engine company, is being vigorously
pushed by residents of the eastern part
of the city.
"As the city has already accumulated
a large deficit and a recent general re-
duction in the assessed valuation Of
taxable property will increase this def
cit, the mayor is opposed to the i'm
provement until the city is in a better
financial condition.
During 1921 the fire department in
spectcd 457 buildings in their entirety
and the Easements of SIG others. caus-
ing the correction of q large number of
fire hazards.
mo changes have been made in the
fire alarm system or in laws and ordi-
nances affecting buildings or reguIat-
ing various hazards"