Evening star., 1925-12-08
fire SURVEY HERE
WILL BEGIN SOON
Need of High Pressure Urged
by Board Of Trade-Fears
Rates Will Rise.

Oficials OF the National Board OF
Fire Underwriters, an organization
which represents all the fire insur.
anoe companies in the country, have
made advance preparations for a sur
vey Of the FIRE hazard and flre-nghting
facilities Of the District and Will BE-
gin their inspection In few days, &C.
cording to David NJ. Lea, chairman
OF the Washington Board Of Trades
committee on insurance and fire pro-
lection.
This survey. which was to have
taken place last Spring, was delayed.
The Washington Board OF Trade yes
terday discovered that the $4,000
which was to be appropriated for use
by the special committee appointed In
the Spring to delve into the need Of a
high-pressure system here had been
d!sallowed by the Bureau OF the
Budget. The board OF directors i'm
mediately authorized Mr.. Lea TO do all
he can to bring to the attention Of
Congress the need for such q system
here.
Campaign Withheld.
The Board OF Trade withheld its
campaign for IL high pressure system
this Spring when a special commit.
tee WAS appointed, consisting OF two
ernment, representative Of the Bu-
reAU or the Budget and a representa-
tive OF the Department OF Commerce,
and authorized to make q proper sur.
vey on the need Of the system. The
commissioners also promised TO in.
clude an item OF $1,000 for the use Of
the committee in this work. AS this
item ID not forthcoming. further delay
VIII De encountered in getting a high
water pressure system, which has
been urged upon Congress for 20 con.
secutive years. according to Mr.. Lea
AZ there has been no change In the
basic fire rate for the District for the
past IA YEAR,. It Ia feared tha. the
National Board Of Underwriters will
raise insurance rates. largely because
OF lack OF high. pressure system.
Tho District basic fire rate was set
IA years ago at 10 cents. and even at
that time one-half cent was added TO
this because OF inadequate water sup
ply. Since that time, 1t is pointed
out that the city has almost doubled
and Mr.. Lea. who Is All expert on the
question. feels that 1t Will be .nev.
liable that the examiners for the In
surance companies will increase In.
surance rate. which will result In an
outlay by the citizens many times
larger than the cost of a high water
pressure system. estimated at $500.
600.
The officials OF the National Board
OF Fire Underwriters Will inspect the
hre.fghting apparatus. the water fiow,
the type and construction OF buildings,
the hydrants. the FIRE alarm system
and every factor entering into the pro.
lection OF the city from fire MIR. Lea,
who Is In close touch with the officials.
feels that the National Board Will un.
doubtedly call attention OF the made
quate water pressure.
Irked ut Delay.
That the Board Of Trade is irked at
the long delay IN any material prog
rcss toward a high. pressure system
and the apparent lack OF interest In
certain quarters" is evidenced In the
concluding paragraphs in the organi.
zation's official publication, issued to.
day. They read:
The Fire Department Of the Dis
trict tells US that IL Is necessary to
bring certain parts of their apparatus
up-to-date. That Is all true, but no
matter II we had million more pieces
OF fire apparatus il would never help
the situation should We have a large
flagration here.
1T is not the lack OF fire apparatus.
1t is the lack OF water pressure which
makes the situation so critical. We
are for keeping our Fire Department
up TO the standard at all times, but
We should not lose eight OF the fact
that each year certain pieces of ap-
paratus will have 10 he replaced. Are
we going to let this fact prevent US
from asking for a high pressure serv-
ice? II we do, then Washington will
never have a water system to guard
against Its fire losses
I'VE again present our plea 70 Con-
gress In the hope that this session Il
will see the fulfllment OF a recon-
mendation which has been made an
nually for % years"
The proposed system would include
the area bounded by North Capitol
and Nineteenth streets and X street
and the Mall. In this area are about
$3.50 .00o.0 worth OF buildings, wares
in the stores amounting to further
millions, and priceless Government
documents that cannot be replaced.
Thus untold millions Of dollars worth
of property are subject to destruction
by fire.