TWELVE MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Sunday. February 2. 1958
Fire Insurance Rating May Not
Be Reconsidered For Many Years
Mcdfprd'g fire insurance
rating, which has not been
changed in 25 years, may not
be reconsidered for another'
several years, according to
City Manager Robert A. Duff.
He said the rating now
class 5 on a 10 class scale,
has stayed the same for three j
reasons: !
1. Between 1933 and the
war, Medford grew little, and
its fire protection facilities
remained much the same.
2. During World War II no
rerating surveys were con
ducted. 3. Since World War II Med
ford's growth has been so
rapid that it has been all the
various city departments
could do to keep up with it,
let alone improve service to
a point where a better rating
and result lower insurance
rates could be hoped for.
Rural District Rating
Rating of the Medford Rural
Fire Protection district, which
since 1952 has purchased pro
tection from tfieh city, is (class
9A, Medford Fire Chief Gor
don R. Barker said.
The last complete grading
of the city by the Oregon
Insurance Rating bureau was
in May, 1933, Duff said. He
explained that the rating
board engineers had visited
the area several times each
year since the last rating
and had made suggestions for
improving or maintaining the
rating.
The bureau has just com
pleted a grading of all the
buildings other than residen
tial within the city, he added,
but the results would not be
available until April of May.
Laps of Time
The reasons for the lapse
of time since the last grad-'
ing, is due mainly to the war
and the increase in the size
of the city, the city manager
continued. Gradings are usu
ally not made by the state
bureau. Duff explained, un
less requested by the city, as
long as the city is maintaining
or improving their rating.
In 1933, Medford had a
population of approximately
11,000 and included 2,080
acres. Today there are 23,571
persons living within the city
'units which now includes
J, 594 acres.
No gradings were conduct
ed during the war, Duff con
tinued, and when it came
time for regrading, the prob
lem of annexation and popu
lation growth had just started.
Grading requests were post
poned until the city's depart
ments, especially fire and wa
ter, could catch up with the
area they were protecting.
Study Fighting Force
In 1950, Fire Capt. Leo
Weidner of the Portland de
partment, now assistant fire
chief there, spent four months
in Medford studying the fire
fighting force of the city. His
suggestions resulted in a
5125,000 bond issue, approved
by the voters, for the expan
sion of the department.
With a portion of the
money the west side fire sta
tion was constructed, and an
aerial ladder purchased, Chief
Barker reported. Seven men
were added to the department
staff, he explained, but add
ed, that at that time Medford
covered 2,080 acres and had
a population of 17,170. Short
ly after the new equipment
was purchased 80 acres were
annexed to the city.
Futher expansion in the de
partment came in 1952 when
a division of fire prevention
was organized within the de
partment and a "fire marshal
added to the staff. It was dur
ing that same year that 37
street alarm boxes were
placed in service with the
telephone alarm system
switchboard at the police
station.
Pumper Purchased
A 1,000 gallon-per-minute
pumper was purchased and
later that year the Rural Fire
Protection district was organ
ized. A contract was signed
with the city for fire protec
tion of some 27,741 acres with
an estimated population of
more than 8,000 persons. But
Medford was still expanding
54 Vi acres were annexed to
the city in 1952.
The following year a tanker-pumper
was put into serv
ice and four firemen were
added to the department. But
Medford grew on 3.8 acres
were annexed to the city.
And Medford still grew
in 1954 an assistant fire chief
and seven firemen were add
ed to the staff and the east
side station was activated in
rented quarters on South
Keene Way dr. Then 45J2
more acres were annexed to
the city and the next year
saw the city leap ahead again
by another 99 acres. '
New Station
Iq 1956, another 1,192 acres
were annexed to Medford. It
was in this year that the east
side station was constructed
at 530 Highland dr. The com
pletion of the station com
pleted the expansion program
begun in the department with
the approval of the bond is
sue in 1950, except for an indi
cator switchboard for the
street alarm system which
was added in 1957.
At the close of 1956 the
Medford Fire department was
manned by 37 men in three
stations with two 1,000 gallon-per-minute
pumpers, m one
750 gallon-per-minute pump
er, one 500 gallon-per-minute
Army style pumper, one com
bination tanker-pumper car
rying 1,250 gallons of water
and equipped with a 500 gallon-per-minute
pump,, one 85
foot aerial ladder truck, a
utility pickup equipped with
a 200 gallon-per-minute port
able pump," a sedan and a
station wagon, all equipped
with three-way radio on the
city frequency.
In reserve was the 1924
model, 1,000 gallon-per-minute
Stutz pumper. With the
exception of the Rural district
and equipment and men add
ed for rural protection, the
Medford fire department was
at the recommended strength
for a city of 17,170 population
and an area of 2.080 acres,
Chief Barker explained.
Two Men Added
Two men were added to the
department last year and the
city annexed 1,950 acres. To
day the 39 men in the depart
ment include Qhief Barker,
an assistant chief, fire mar
shal, six captains, six. engine
men and 24 firemen.
In 1950 the greatest distance
from the fire station to the
city limits was two miles, to
day the distance has been in
creased to nearly four miles.
Travel distance to the Rural
district boundary at the most
remote point is slightly more
than 4'zi miles, the fire chief
YMCA Membership Drive Scheduled
Membership drive activities
will get underway at the
Young Men's Christian asso
ciation Tuesday, Paul Mit-i
chell, drive chairman, said to-'
Hair i
He said there will be seven
wings in this year's drive,
which has been themed
around "Space Adventure".
Wing Commanders include
Jake Toews, Charles Jones,
Bob Beyer, Fred Sears, Jay
Pierce, Mrs. Lanell Wilkes,
Sam Harbison, Ed Hass, Alex
McDonald, Dr. Frank Wilson,
Mrs. Owen Kunkel and Glenn
Jennings.
Tuesday, Feb. 4, has been
set as the "kick off" date. A
meeting of all workers and
commyders is scheduled and
insuctions given workers.
Report meetings have been
scheduled Feb. 7 and Feb. 11.
Drive activities are expected
to be complete by Feb. 18.
Crater Well Drilling
Submits Only Bid
Crater Well Drilling com
pany, 6061 Crater Lake ave.,
was the only bidder for drill
ing a well at the Ft. Klamath
ranger station, according to
the forest service.
The station is located about
32 miles north of Klamath
Falls. The firm's bid was
$2,820.
There are about 12,000
trailer parks in the U.S.
Responsibility Told
Profesional men in science
have a responsibility to en
courage more young people
to seek science careers, ac
cording to Dr. William J.
Thompson, Medford optome
trist, at a recent meeting of
the Lane County Optometric
society in Eugene.'
Dr. Tompson, director of
professional services, Oregon
Optometric association, said
that now, as never before,
the optometrist and others in
the science and health pro-
j fessions need to do every
' thing they can to foster a
i healthy interest by present
jday students to fill the future
needs of the professions.
Mobilheat ,
DISTRIBUTOR
Safe Thrifty Comfort
"OIL TO BURN"
S&H GREEN STAMPS ON MOBILHEAT OIL
MEDFORD FUEL CO.
Tel SP 2-2111 Court & McAndrewj
reported.
Why then, it is asked, has
not Medford been rerated by
the state rating bureau since
1933? The answer is not as
easy as it seems. Cities hope
to improve their fire insur
ance rating or at least remain
the same before requesting a
grading, City Manager Duff
explained.
Continues To Grow
"Medford has been grow
ing. Just as the city depart- (
ments build themselves up to
the strength needed for the
city, the city would grow
again," he said.
In light of the current
gr"Swth of the city, a letter
received by the city manager
last August from H. E. Mar
queling, chief engineer of the
Oregon Insurance Rafing bu
reau in Portland, stated that
any rating of the city would
be delayed fo a. year or more.
Duff added that cities in
the United States over 25,000
population are rated by ' the
National Fire Rating board
rather than state bureaus.
Class ratings, he explained,
are based on a scale wh the
lowest numbers, those cities
with the Sest fire protection.
BP
IPemey's
DOWNTOWN MEDFORD
SHOP MONDAY EVENING
UNTIL 9 P.M.
penney's spggm pummsm
DOOR littl&TJgRSl
On Sale 9:& A.M.
fAonmf
!!
Corduroy Tapered Slacks
2 - 5.00
Special low, low price. Sleek - and tapered
pinwale corduroys in a rainbow of colors.
Beautifully tailored mid-calf slacks you'll
wear everywhere. Baby-soft, washable fab
ric. Back zippers. Sizes 10-18.
SPORTSWEAR . . . Mezzanine
f 7:' 1 iTW1? m
tk n j Hum:
Roll-Up Sleeve Blooses
1.33
Special purchase combed cotton broadcloth
blouses. New push-up sleeve styling. Ma
chine washable colors of white, pink, blue
mint, beige, maize, red arj black, plains.
Also assorted stripes. Sizes 32-38.
LADIES FURNISHINGS . . . Street Floor
ef stagey 6fgpei$ iseflr)
cJp.V 5irjls. t$o btQoobarge
CRocdfe froa eoacial gurchctsa fobrias, enjoy
tsilorirj te your yindat? Biea&ur&m&nlB, lined
er unlinaS Without any laSor charge to you.
Over 300 yarGe? of batter faBrias, all new
patterns. Bring your Window meaesuraments
. . . leave. the rest to tea
DFJAPBFJY DEEP. . . . Snx3 &r
DOWNOWN . . . MEDFORD
Terrific Manufacturers
END OF
THE SEASON
)
)
7f X lys
i
in much higher priced
coats just unpacked
Choose from
100 Wool Suedes
o Polished Blacks
Botany Woolens
; Oar oyg,033 spot a value like a diamond
j oOtter krjoWs a jevel. Their search for an
I extra sdbofel coat buy was over when they
fouod tQqje, jO$r for you. As a smart eus-
I forger, foOQ agree they're the best buy ever!
Now al
JUST
Sizes
8-18
8pea&cu,lar Group 100 Wool
Ay SBASON COATS
100 wool nubby tweed, beautifully .
tailored buttoned and open front styles,
generous pockets. Milium linings keep
yoO warmer in cold weather without
added bulk, cooler in warm weather. Se
lect your all season tweed now! Sizes
10-18.
I'-i
Corduroy Play Togs
88
Smcrtails and crawlabouts specially selected
to save you more.Fine wale cotton, machine
washes, points of strain ore bar tacked,
seams safety stitched. Adjustable suspenders.
Smartalls sizes 2-3. Crawlabouts 6 mo. to 12
mo.
INFANT'S DEPT.
Mezzanine
Men's Better Slacks
Manufacturers Close Jt yj
Out Buy! ""F
Good looking fabrics, many blends now at a
close-out price. Spectacular savings on slacks
you'll wear for dress, casual and sport, now
into spring & summer. Some "wash 'n wear"
blends. Sizes to 28-44.
MEN'S DEPT Street Floor
o Men's Nylon Surcoat
End of mm Wmf Finger Tio
11.77
season buy e length
Two-for-one, that's what you get in a nylon
reversible. Fluffy soft nylon pile on one side,
silky smooth nylon on the other. Washes, of
course, dries in a jiffy. Sizes S-M-L.
Short Jacket Length 7.77
MEN'S DEPT Street Floor
i!j f
in 1
Outstanding Values in
100 WOOL CASUALS
Wool suedes in full cut styling with
milium linings for all-weather comfci-t
and economy. Choose from red, beige or
pink. You'll Save, Save, Save! Sizes
10-18.
SPECIAL
PUKCIHIASE!
NEW SHIPMENT OF MEN'S
100 WOOL LUXURY FLEECE
SUBURBANS
SAVE THE DIFFERENCE!
Luxury - touch fleeces with
warm rayon quilted linings
for complete protection from
wintery cold. All the style
extras add up to tremendous
savings on this one-time-buy
suburban. Select yours now.
SPECIAL PURCHASE!
QUILT-LINED
RAYON - NYLON!
SURCOAT
SPECIAL AT
Sizes 36-44
Penney's 'most popular
sheen surcoats! Quilt-lined
for warmth, water-repellent.
Adjustable cuffs, snug
waist tabs, zipper closure.
tj)'-
1
36-46