Efficiency of Fire Service at Chattanooga

Efficiency of Fire Service at Chattanooga

A local paper says: The report of Chief Toomey for the twelve months ending Sept. 20 furnishes a gratifying testimonial to the efficiency and discipline of the department. The department responded to 383 alarms and out of that large total of fires there resulted a loss of only $75,793.03 in the city and $77,777.19 outside. Of course the losses outside are not properly chargeable to the city, for, because of the remoteness of the suburbs where the fires occurred, the department could not reach the scenes as expeditiously as was necessary to do good work. The increase of losses in the city for the year, amounting to $21,675.51, the chief reasonably accounts for on the ground that there has been an increase of population and a widening of the territory the department has to cover, which would indicate that Commissioner Betterton was right when he said that the time was approaching when additional companies would have to be organized and further equipment purchased. With this showing the Chattanooga public surely ought to have a favorable hearing for better rates before the fire insurance association. Chattanooga has always had an efficient fire department and it has been made more and more efficient since the commission government was inaugurated. If an effective fire-fighting machine entitles a city to consideration from the insurance people it would seem that Chattanooga ought to head the list of favored communities.

A local paper says: The report of Chief Toomey for the twelve months ending Sept. 20 furnishes a gratifying testimonial to the efficiency and discipline of the department. The department responded to 383 alarms and out of that large total of fires there resulted a loss of only $75,793.03 in the city and $77,777.19 outside. Of course the losses outside are not properly chargeable to the city, for, because of the remoteness of the suburbs where the fires occurred, the department could not reach the scenes as expeditiously as was necessary to do good work. The increase of losses in the city for the year, amounting to $21,675.51, the chief reasonably accounts for on the ground that there has been an increase of population and a widening of the territory the department has to cover, which would indicate that Commissioner Betterton was right when he said that the time was approaching when additional companies would have to be organized and further equipment purchased. With this showing the Chattanooga public surely ought to have a favorable hearing for better rates before the fire insurance association. Chattanooga has always had an efficient fire department and it has been made more and more efficient since the commission government was inaugurated. If an effective fire-fighting machine entitles a city to consideration from the insurance people it would seem that Chattanooga ought to head the list of favored communities.