The union Democrat., 1869-01-16
Chief Ensincer's Report.

To, the Board Of Delegates, Sonora Fire De-
pdrtment.
GENTLEMEN | herewith submit 10 YOU the
following Report for the year lSGS. The con-
dtion the Department is in at present, is as
follows:
No Ones House and Carriage is in good
condition, the Company consist at present of
fourteen active members has bat a small
amount of hose, and ought therefore to he
furnished with at least, a hundred and fifty
feet of good hose.
No. Two's House and Carriage is in good
order: has about three hundred and fifty feet
of hose in fair condition. Number of active
members twenty. Is in need of an alarm
bell on their house.
No. Thres's House and Carriage is in good
order; has about two hundred and fifty feet
of hose, of which one hundred feet is in bad
condition, or worthless. Number Of active
members twenty.
The Reservoir on Cannon Hill. is now in
good and substantial condition, and has been
keep full of water at all times, new cast
iron pipe,has also been laid in place of the old
galvanized iron pipe, connecting said Reser-
voir with the main pipes. lying in the streets
of the city, during the past year; hnt find
after strict trial, that said pipes being too
small, make it necessary at the time OF a fire.
to have the water OF both Reservoirs turned
on, without which. sufficient wster to work
two Com panes' Hose to any advantage cannot
be obtained.
During the past year, there has been a
larger number of fires than there has been in
an, proceeding year, bnt owing to the prompt
ness O. the Department, the city has on sever
81 occas,Cns been saved from heavy losses.
The number of f.'es not being less than nine,
are as follows:
Jan. 18th. at 3 o'clock, P. NJ, fire in P.
Burke's building; cause defective stove pipe,
damage slight. =,
Jan. l4th, I P. NJ, fire in the Palace build
ing, owned by Mrs. Willowby, same cause;
damage, none.
Jan. 2Sth, ST in the morning, fire in r.
Burke's building, occupied by Valentin Pitt
orff. same cause damage by fire and water,
800 90.
March End, an alarm of fire. caused by the
burning out of chimney in j. Neuwhlier's
building; damage none.
March 3Oth, at . O'Clock in the morning,
the alarm was given by No. Ones bell. when
the whole of the U. S. Hotel. also the Sonora
Theater we're discovered to be enveioped IN
flames, the Department was promptly on the
spot, and succeeded in stopping the fire from
spreading, the losses by this fire were Mrs
Greenwood. U. S. Hotel and Sonora Theater
$4,000. insured Tor s.. 900. St. James Ep,sco-
pal Church. inshred for $1,000. Harry Ter
rvs building. $3.50; no insurance. House
belonging to the Gold Mount Water Company,
800, no insurance.
August 10th, O'Clock in the morning, the
barn belonging to John M. Faughnan, was
DESTROYED. also, the barn and contents helong-
ing to the Phoenix Water Company. Faugh-
nan insured for $50. Phoenix Water Com
panv's loss. S600 no insurance. Damage
to Gaudin's house, $50; covered by insur-
ance.
August 2lst, at IL o'clock, P. NJ, the build
inr and contents, known as the Sonora Soap
Factory, owned hv Messrs Fuller and Wey-
never. was totally destroyed loss about
s. 900, insurance S2.025.
Oct. lst. 8 O'Clock in the morning. fire
broke out in the House of Mrs. Ball, on Limo
berg Street. and communicated back to the
houses in the same block fronting on Hospi-
tai Street. Before it could be stopped. four
houses we're consumed the property destroy
ed was insured as follows: Mrs. Ball, $500; !;
den Estate
"ouio "f>o suSSe>e ioF youI couSiuei d'iou. !.
as also for the benefit of the Department in
general. the propriety of consolidating the
three companies into two; as two is all that
can work, to advantage at the time of fire.
The second reason is, that the number of ac-
tive members on the rolls of the different
companies. are not all living in this city, a
good many of them having left and will prob
ably never return. leaving nearly every COM
pany with small number of good active
members. In conclusion. you will permit
me to return my sincere thanks to You and
the Department generally. for the obedience
and kindness, with which I have been so uni
formly treated. while exercising the duties OF
yoar chief officer.
/ remain yours respectfully,
HENRY DOSE. Chief Engineer.