Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-26
Chief Engineers Report
OTFIcs or lsT ASSISTANT EX0IKKER,
Acting Chisf nf p y n


To tie Honorable XdvOT GHd Common COWHcI 81 tAt
ctr Of PLdcerriAe:
SI1s In accordance with Section II. of Ordinance
No. Is, concerning Fire and the Fire Department,
herewith Transmit " your Honorable body, my re-
port fOm August 25th 1859. up to date. since which
time have been Acting Chief Engineer Of this de-
Total number Of active members attached to Con.
6dence Engine Company No. ], sixty.
Total number Of active members attached TO Nep-
time Engine Company No. 2. 6iiy-two.
Total number Of active members attached u Hope
Hn0k and Ladder Company No. ], forty.
The following fires and false alarms have occur
red, since have been Acting Chief Engineer:
On the night Of Aug,'st @Sh. 1859, fire was diSc"v.
cred issuing from the rePr,Mf store Of Messrs:
Wolf BrO'S.-occUped By them dry gO'da and
gents furnishing store, situated on Main street, be-
ing In the block known the Iron Fire Proof Front.
and belonging to Mr.. =. Randall. The iire Was
ed by candle which had been left burning on the
counter. communicating with s"Ine clothing near
bv The entire IOrce Of the Department were quick
u IN the ground aud speedily put out the hre-be
ing in service about one hour.
The stock Of MeRara. Wolf lSr0's. was full inSur-
cd, in ihv Hamburg Insurance Company. The dam
age. by tire aud water was estimated at seven thOus
and dollars.
False alarm On the evening If Auguat 18th, be.
tween the hours Of 10 aud II O'Clnck, F.M.
On the morning Of september 18th, II about two
O'Clock, smoke Was seen issuing from the hre.PrO'f
building owned and occupied BY d. New buWer, us .
Wholesale Liquor and Cigar Siurr. The alarm WAS
given by John Reyn"lds. Policeman. The entire
Department were promptly On the ground. and
quickly aubdued the hire inside. Hath Engine Com
panier, Confidence and Neptune, had streams di.
recicd the building before the duors could be
Orened. The keys were presented just in time Ia
prevent Hope H"'k ana Ladder e.. No from for.
cling the doOra, which they were GbsHt undertaking.
On this occasion, Confidence ik water at the Plaza
Cistern, and Neptune At the Cary CiStern. In ser
vice about one hour.
The fire Ia supposed to have been caused BY rats
craving Q box Of matches, Of which there was 9
large quantity on the aheves The l"ss, By FIRE and
water, was eXtinAted nj tive thousand and tine hun
dred dollars ;-inly covered BY insurance in The
Etna Insurance Company.
Confidence Engine ca. No. ], poasess god sec
ond class Engine, made By John Agnew 0f PhiIa
delphia-a two Gheel Hose Carriage, or Trnder-
liO feet Of GrenOble Kemp Hose, also some ndider
rnI leather lose. The Company have . PAsAable
Engine Mousr, all Of which Ii Company property
The Company !. an efficient one, always promptly
Obeying the call to duty.
! Neptune Engine Co. No. Q. have . gOod Secont
class Engine, made By Zimmerman 4 Co, of D0Aion
good two. heel Hose Carriage or Tender, $50 fee
OF good dOuble.riveted Boston made Hose, aud 9Ot
feet Of indifferent Hose. The Company have pas
sable house, ell of which is Company property -
They have always shaved activity aud alertnrss Al
all Ainea, when called upon 70 do duty.
Hope HOoL usd Ladder Company No. !. own
good Truck, with all necessary Hu0ka, Ladders
|
" demandSit.
The Com Any house their apparatus in . portion
NJ the muse m which yOur Honorable b"dy meets
This Company have been obliged to rent. and ut 81
Q meeting NUN at their own expense, in which "a
hold their monthly meetings. This is the oldest
Company in the Department. They COMPLAIN. snC
perhaps justly, that while the Engine COmpanie
own comfortable h0uAea, and are allowed elU pei
month each, from the CITY Treasury, for the care
the apparatus, house, etc, they are MT Furnished
with = suitable house. nor 10 the money paid EIr
refunded by the city. They complain that once they
owned q good lot in conjunction with Neptune Hua,
Company NJ" !, lat present Neptune Engine ca
No. ~ on Main street, which was sold By the City
aud that they have never received any benefit from
the proceeds Of the sale. would recommend tha
the City Government either assist the Company q
erect . suitable house, or that the sum II clio PEI
month be allowed fur payment Il rent, as the die
affection exSting in this Company, from the cana
stated, threatens TO impair the efficiency II the De
paVtn,ent. They are certainly entitled 10 equal fu
vor ith the Engine Companies.
In conclusion, gentlemen, would state that tn
CisteVnS are in very good e,ndi'on. the entire De
partnent ready at any moment, u perform g0't
service in the far which they were organizer
Hoping that your Hon. Body will ever respond, .
far your power - heretofore, In the immediate
wants OF the Department, very respectfully sub
nit the preSent to your Hon. Body fur confederation
| Very respectfully, Ac-,
| JOHN WILLIS, First Ast. Eng,
And Acting Chief Engineer.
Placerville, Nov. 81, 1889.