Mountain Democrat., 1858-01-09
nief Engineers Report.
!. a Chief Engineer Of Fire Department,
. planeFyille. December 18th. 1851.

A Chief Engineer Of Fire Department,
PlAcerville, December Uth, 1851
a. a. Honorable the Mayor and Common Council
- sss,ss City Of Placerville.
..-..-,xxEN: It again becomes my duty, BY the
vNL,r.nents Of the City Ordinance, to make to
a.norablc body the semi annual report Of the
-, a,.i~r ard necessities Of the department, with
soas,stisticr Of its operations for the last six
Vss., Vs,s. sS may be Of general interest. The wants
50. variOus companies Tor repairs OF houses, ap-
sftheL hvdrants, aRd building eisterns 90 much
Var.iC. ~ compelled me repeatedly to call on you
lsso..,,' snd I am happy to say that upon proper
~ 4Na..tatiOn your assistance has always been
Npfs.,s snI chcerfully rendered, as far as II was
pgmpEc-er and your duties would permit.
b yoW K~tion Of these facts because consider
uAke Es,vSer time TO make an expose Of the rela-
this eEgsskinR between the city authorities and
tOas M ofeeF Of the fire department, and take
pssasuEe ~. the courtesy with which have been
Sekno,. ,reatsd BY your body In everything per-
vhieiely nv duties as an officer. l do this from
tani@ @sIsdxc Of the fact that It 10 the last time
% IN required 20 SUn%HIe1'1 co. nS,aS with you dS
iHs w,,hout some Unforeseen emergency again
ectsd, - IA trespass upon your attention. With
eoAPs .msrks present the following statistics Of
ths'A A,partment, with suen recommendations a.
fhs would be beneficial to the same, for your
! lshcve ,;cr.
e"u'' coxv,pENcR ESoISE Co., NO. !.
I.cv Foreman; Al members engine,
william - and built by John Agnew Of Phila-
seeonnu N inch cylinder, inch stroke, two
vlPIn'Ls.Ss-tender and four tOrchesi house, two
ss trsne IOcated on Main ST. al IN good ORDER
tive nun..d.T hoae, torches aud house and lot are
sng'ne, ,.,1v of the company. To this company
the Ssrrsdit is due for the enterprise and zeal
n'uc;ns by them, and TO them the department
Haniies""Id i,e thankful for its present advanced
p'ens 'nTS Th;. company, at an expenditure Of up
|AT ~ NJ. .OOO W, have purchased all OF the above
NsO.d nroperty, and are stlI Ia deOt v4oO W Tor
naI .roine. for which amount the trustees Of the
ihsM sns s.-s 'hoIdcn aud which sum IL also due in
r@P,g AMER all Of the expenditure Of the
MALcu n,Iut their house 10 but partially hnished,
auo,ss a.s. want Of means. The house as 1t now 10,
iM iM.G, a. E,r the purpose tntended-for the comfort
y; y ,he company and protection oI inc aPparatN;
oI ". M inclcmencies Of the ensuing winter.
iron irom.n.rd ~. that sufficient amount bc apPrOpria-
~ enable them at once to finish their house
~, ISG, scmpany, from motives Of dcllcacy which
.Lo",d be appreciated by the entire department.
.houu ns tkus far all the expense attending it,
y. Vs. hsrn paid by the voluntary subscriptions Of
" " n.. ...bers. which 10 serious extra tax upon
,S.n, y. and should no longer be continued nave
;s,.iv allied your attention to the above facts,
.s.,lJ not now Tciterate them, except - ah set
an ,v ana even -handSd justice. Too much prOmp-
~ %. u cannot be exhibited in supplying the wants
nv. comuany that their mcTitOriOus efforts may
Urove benefit ~ Our CITY.
NRPruNE HOSE Co., M. l.,
= Barss, Foreman: 81 members, two-wnecl
..sTf built BY Frank Al, rton * Co., Of this
rity. 800 feet Of hose IN ordinary repair; one .y
ss.'n. house heated on COloma st., north of Main,
~ n which 10 company property. Much can De
;J In lchAlf Of this company, II being the oldest
srI 6r.t organised In this city The hose cart mas
Sesn in service for upwards ot four years ana
Sssds re pair, particularly re-pAinting. This com
nsny contemplate purchasing All engine. aP-
80. The idea. In the event Of such purchase
much would he added to the department. The ne
s.s,ity of having another engine - evident tr"l"
ths f.et that buildings a.d our population are in
,s.Sin0 daily. The prOpricty Of rendt ring them
Iii the assistance In your power 10 apparent 70 20"
al The ncccs s-iiics Of the city require that this
ronpany should he placed In position worthy OF
their service.
Horn HOOK q LADDER Co., No. l.,
n. u. Johns, Foreman - - members, truck,
h,.k. ladders built by Kinds h Co OF this city,
romunny pFoprTty and in ordinary repair. Truck
rrrdS F.nairing very much. not having bcrn paint
ed slncc IL Was built, which L. nearly four years
ago. The hooks 4 ladders are also much ont 0f re-
Dsir. a. also are other cQuipmcnta. The house 10
Esrsted on Centre st., between COlona and Main;
itis ciSV property and 10 but partially hnishcd.-
Much fault may be found with the officers and
members Of this company, particularly of the late
ofEcers, A. have often called their attention TO
shs prupriety Of having their apparatus in gOod
working order, which has been much neglected
I would recommend that YOU make such apPF"pri-
uiion a. would enable them tO have their apparatus
in RODd order. as the ntutHLS anu rVbNbNVN w W
rendered by this company Is Of great Importance.
Az the company now are they would liz of little
service in nm effort To perform the duties required
OF them. Nothing but u false systcnVof economy
Mil prevent this Sugyrstion being attended TO-
CI>TERNs.
The number Of cistCrns in the city is Ave, with
capacity Of cont tanning from seven To eight thoua
and gallons each, aud im the aggregate thITty-right
thousand gallons, all IL which are IN gOOd order
and renair. -Four Of the alovr number have been
built since my last report. The! are all convent
emily situated, frOm the upper part "f the cat! I"
che corner II COlOMa and Main st> bct~ this there
are nnnc. would recommend the prOpricty OF
constructing two more in the first Ward; "ne on
Sacramento street, and the other at the corner Ot
Main and Charles streets. In bOth ot the above
localities they are much needed, as that portion OF
the city is thickly settled and built entirely ct
wOod In tho event Of fire there would bc murh
property destroyed. From the want Of water IN
this lurality the department would nse much OF ITS
SERVICE az the nearest water being at the hydraht
and cistcrn, corner Uf Main aud C'loma streets
The prOpricty II adopting the a"vc suggestions
will Gc made manifest upon moments Tcnrctlon'
HYDMANTs.
The hydrants, since they have been altcred Au'!
Iepairrd, have hren much more useful, and WIUid
urge the prOpriCty OF the hrc and water commit
Gee having two more inserted ON Main street,
one opposite the theatre, and the other near the
kou N aud nlsO thf having