Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1917 — STATE FIRE WARDEN VISITS RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

STATE FIRE WARDEN VISITS RENSSELAER

Assistant State Fire Warden McCall Was in City Tuesday For Inspec- '- tion —Was, Well Pleased. / til < »'* ■ T ■ , "*• • ' •• ' - 'V w . Assistant State Fire Warden McCall, of Indianapolis, paid Rensselaer I a visit Tuesday on this tour of inspection. In pompany“ with J. J. Montgomery; local fire chief, he inspected the city and the report that he had to make certainly pleased the chief and his company. Mr. MeCgflzißza: man of few words, but the few words he used were good ones. He praised the city for its cleanliness and for the wonderfully competent fire company. When asked if he wias coining back to Renssealer he w replied, ‘‘l certainly* would love to do so, but I cannot see any occasion for it. Your city is 65 clean and things are in such good shape in the way of fire protection that there really is no occasion for my coming back.” Such praise as this bestowed upon our city by a state qfficiai should make us all feel mighty good and make ys appreciate the work of the local fire company more than ever. Mr. McCall and Chief Montgomery visited St. Joseph’s College, the Monnett Home, the public schools, hotels, library, theatres, several business houses and many other public buildings. In practically all of the places visited, thinge were found to be in good condition. The public school buildings and moving picture theatres were ordered to replace their doors with swinging doors, which automatically open outward, to comply with the state laws./15ome other suggestions were made at different places visited by the warden. ' For the past three of four years Rensselaer mas* had the lo,west fire loss in the state, which indicates the efficiency of the Rensselaer company. Chief- Montgomery has just sent in his report for the year of 1916 and finds that his report is about the esame as previous years and he is confident that our city will again have the lowest fire loss in the state. Fire loss is determined upon the value of the property at stake, and in this way a complete and just record' is obtained.

During the visit of the warden, fire broke out at the cement tile factory, which the-local fighters soon routed. “Some fire company,” said as he climbed into an“automobile preparatory to coming hack to the city. ' * . . ' The fire prevention movement is -gaining throughout the United States each year. In New York City last year the fire loss was reduced 17 per cent owing to the unusual precautions exercised by the New Yorkers. The German American Insurance Company of New York is refusing to insure any building in which their recommendations for the prevention of loss by fire are not carried out.