The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-04-23
CITY INTELLIGENCE.


PIONEER Hook AND LADDER CoMPANY-Supper at
Eldon HaH.-On Thursday night the members of
the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company No l. gave
a supper at Eldon Hall, preparatory to their dis
abandonment of the Company. large number of
the members and several invited guests were pre-
sent. After the Company had gathered around the
table Mr.. John Lloyd, on behalf of the Company,
addressed the chief engineer, Charles T. Holloway
Esq, who formerly President of the Pioneer
Company, and with appropriate remarks presented
him with massive silver horn, which had been
presented to the Company by the firemen of Wash
ington city some years ago. Mr. Holloway replied
expressing his thanks for the gift. Mr.. LLOYD then
turned to Hugh B. Jones, the Vice-President of the
Company, and in an appropriate speech, presented
him also with silver horn, which had been present
to the Company from their friends in this CITY,
Mr.. Jones replied, reviewing the origin and history
OF the Company, and by assuring the members that
the kind favor was properly appreciated Mr..
Holloway and Mr.. Jones were both presented with
a series of resolutions which had been adopted by
the members, and which express the high regard
and affection which is entertained for them by their
former companions. In response to a toast COM
plimentary to the fire department. VIM H
Quincy, Esq, one of of the Board of Fire Commits
sloners was called on and replied by entering into
comparison between the old and new systems -
He adduced the following statistics, which he
gathered from the last annual reports of the Fire
Departments of st. Louis and Cincinnati which we
give as matters of general interest:
Ctnclnnd't Dspartment.-Seven steam enoine
companies at annual cost of SAG, ,53I. 80;
average cost per engine S6,647.41. Nine hand
companies at an annual cost of S2s. .IO3. TO-
being an average cost per company of S., ,l22. g.
There are 79 men employed with the steam engines
who receive an average salary per year OF S49l o.
226 men are employed with the hand companies at
an average cost of Sl145O. The total cost of the
Cincinnati fire department per annum is S74 635 g.
In 1884, the year previous to the institution of the
paid department, the loss from fire in that CITY was
$60S 909. The aggregate loss for the wears '55 SO
81, and '5s was S703, l29 The loss in '5S was
happy results have followed the introduction of
steam fire engines into the city of st. Louis The
loss in that city by fire for the year preceding was
Sl,3O2, $50, while for the year ending April l, 1859,
under the new SYSTEM the loss was only S2l1 1928.
The number of fires in both the above named cities
have decreased more than half and the torch of the
incendiary is not near so frequent.
baltimore Department.-There are to be
seven steam engine companies, with 13 men
attached to each, giving total of 81 men, and 2
Hook and Ladder Companies with Is men,
81 men--giving a total of 123 men. The
average salary of the men is S24S.l0. During the
quarter ending April 1858, there were l73 alarms,
and l45 buildings destroyed Or damaged
During the same period this year there were but
SO alarms, and 62 buildings were DESTROYED or da-
mayed. which shows difference in favor of the
new system of So actual fires.
Mr. Quincey's speech was replete with valuable
information ard was listened to with much interest
Col Boyd, the Fire Inspector, was toasted. and he
responded in a happy manner. Several other
speecnes were maze, ana tne night was spent
most agreeable manner. The supper was arranged
with admirable taste and skill.
The THUNDER SToRM.-During the storm yester-
day, the lightning played some strange freaks. 1t
struck the ground wire of the Morse Telegraph
line, at the office in the Sun Building, melting it
and passing down into the press-room of the Sun
office, where its effects were sensibly felt. mes
senger boy in the office was knocked down. but re-
ceived no especial injury. At the Camden street
station the effects were more serious 1t struck the
lIfrht htrIT1 nod. thne IL,
midway, and wrenching it from its fastenings
melted portion OF the iron Having slightly char
red the steeple itself, the bolt descended through
the roof of the building, tearing a hole some
twelve inches square and passed down to the third
story, ran along the gas pipe in the room of the
master of machinery, until it came to the end of
the tube, where it darted Off and made large hole
IN the main WALL and passed out of the building
Mr.. Henry Tyson, the master of machinery had but
moment before left his seat, in front of the place
where the electricity struck the wall Had he re-
mained in his seat, he would in all probability have
been killed. As it was, the shock sensibly felt
by all in the room, and one of the office BOYS was
knocked senseless, and had to be conveyed home in
hack. From Mr.. Tysons room the lightning passed
down to the first story into the telegraph operating
room, and destroyed of the batteries and melted
the lightning arrester. In this room one of the
messengers, lad about 13 years of age, was also
stunned. When the current of electricity had
passed outside, it ran along the main track of the
railroad, with noise like the successive firing of
Il When
it exploded with loud noise.
DEEPENING THE HARBoR.-Mr. BeaIe chairman
of the Committee on the Harbor Yesterday after
noon, presented in the First Branch an ordinance
relative to deepening the harbor at the following
points, and creating channel of 200 feet in width
"Beginnng at the mouth of Jones' Falls at a
point fifty feet south from Abbott's wharf and
thence along the north side of the basin fifty feet
from the wharves on the to a point fifty feet
from Light and P"att street wharves, and thence
alOnp llpht w ot tha iStop Of Eft,r
feet therefrom to point fifty feet north from
Hughes Quay; thence along the south side of the
basin at the distance of fifty feet from the wharves
thereon to the City Yard, and thence by a straight
line to the place of beginning, to be deepened the
entire length and breadth thereof so as to admit a
draft of not less than fifteen feet Of water at COM
mon tides. The ordinance was read second time
and passed.
First Branch of the City Council passed an ordi-
nance authorizing the City Collector to give an
abatement of five per cent all taxes paid be-
tween the lst and 18th of May inclusive. The or
drnance originated in the Second Branch as a sub
stitute for resolution passed by the First Branch
authorizing the collector to receive, before the 1st
OF May, approximate sums on tax bills and give the
discount Of per cent. The ordinance as amended
by the First Branch has to receive the concurrence
of the Second Branch.
CRY DREDGING MACHINE-Yesterday Mr.. Beale
presented an ordinance in the First Branch author
izing the City Comptroller to advertise in two city
papers for proposals to build two steam dredging
machines, one steam tug boat, and ten scows for
the use of the city. The ordinance approprates
$4,000 for the purposes, and authorizes the Comp
troller to give the contract to the lowest bidder.
LAUNCH.-To-day, at ~ o'clock, there will be
launched from the ship yard of Messrs. Cooper &
Slicer, Philpot street, brig of 200 TONS length
100 feet 25 feet breadth of beam, and feet depth
of hold. She was built to the order of Capt. Sam
uel Travers, who, within the past few days, has
disposed of her to Capt. Simpson, of New Orleans
She is thoroughly finished and ready for a cargo.
DEATH OF A DEPUTY SHERIFF.-Mr. John NJ C.
Roberts, Deputy Sheriff. died yesterday morning
at his residence No. 46 North Eden street. He
leaves wife and one child. Mr.. Roberts was ap-
pointed by Sheriff Creamer to fill the vacancy oc
casioned by the death of Mr.. Elias Bishop, which
occurred several months ago.
RoBBERY.-During Thursday night the shoe store
of Peter Bresler, No. 367 North Gay street. was
entered by thieves and robbed of boots shoes, and
CATERS to the amount of S75. The thieves entered
through the front door, and carried their opera
tons quietly not to wake any member of the
family who were sleeping in above the store.
THE CoURTs.-There was no business transacted
in any of the Courts yesterday.