The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-02-04

To tse Hoaora6le tie Beard Of TASTES cf' tie
City of Sonora. Board ef Delsgutes
Of .Soaora Fire Depa rtaesst


GENTLEMEN The undersigned would heg
leaTe to submit the following report, showing
the present condition of SAe Fire Department
Of the City al. Sonora. The Department at
present is composed Of two lIesa Companies.
with Farty-one active members. Hose Conn
rany Nc. |. having Twenty-Five. and Hose
Company No. ., Nineteen members and
each company having about $50 fest nF Hose,
all Of which is in eooF and daaeidatel con-
dition. being mostly Ell rotten, and viii not
stand the pressure OF wafer.
The Hose Carriages OF both companies are
in good order. bat the Hose Houses need re-
pairing. Alsa the wooden boxes leading
from Streets Ditch 10 tie Reservoir on Can
non Hill. which has been used for conveying
water for the Departments are all rotten, and
need repairing. Il Will thus be seen. that
the Department is in a poor condition; there
is no money ON hand in the Fire Fund. and
no Taxes were levied last year. for the sup
port of the same. The subscription list GOT
Up BY the Trustees and Firemen. net with q
poor success. The list is now in the hands
OF the City Trustees. FOR them TO determine
what is best TO do. The efficiency of the De-
partment is almost entirely DESTROYED for
want of proper supply of Hose, and the
IL.
1t is therefore necessary that the Trustees
and Citizens. hestir themselves in the matter,
with view of procuring for each Company,
sufficient supply of good Hose. otherwise,
the city will be ut the mercy of the element,
at any time the inccndary may apply his
torch, or carelesness may start q fire.
FIRE AND ALARMS.
During the past year.we had hut three fires
and seven alarms. to-wit "A fire broke out
on Sunday, May 9th. at 5 O'Clock, A. NJ, at
the residence of P. Roeher. in the rear of his
Drug Store on Washington street. the fire is
supposed to have caught from the stove-pipe.
The house with contents were entirely des-
,troyed. also two buildings belonging to John
Mundorf, one being total, ard the other par
TALLY burnt. P. Rccher was fully insured.
John Mundorf partially. At o'clock. p.
NJ, June Both. a fire broke ont at the resi-
dence of Mr. Z. CROUCH, East of the school
house, before any assistance could be render
ed, the building with contents were totally
DESTROYED. Mr. CROUCH was partially insur-
ed. November 9th. about 8 o'clock, P NJ,
fire broke out at the dwelling of S. G. Love
Joy. on Stockton street, when discovered. the
inside of the building was entirely enveloped
in flames. and nothing could be saved there
from. being total loss. 1t was supposed to
have been the work Of an incendiary. Mr..
L., was partially insured.
ALARMS.
On February 18th, an alarm of fire was
given by the burning Of chimney in the
Union building. On March Goth, an alarm
of fire was caused by the burning of chin
ney at Josiah Halls store On May Goth, an
alarm of fire was given by the burning of the
roof around the stove-pipe at the residence of
Mr.. Baer. damages triaing. June 10Th. an
alarm of fire was caused bv the burning of
brush fence, West of Woods Creek. On the
evening of July 4th. an alarm of fire was
started by sky-rocket, setting o wood-shed
of Mr.. G.. s. Reuter- also the grass on Cannon
Hill on fire, dcmages light On July 10th.
about . O'Clock in the morning the residence
of p. Superville was discovered to be on fire.
but was extinguished before much DANA &c
was done, the fire caught from an ash bar
rel. August 18th. an alarm of fire was Civ
en- by the burning of the house of Fabiana
Soto, but was extinguisbed before much dam
age was done, the fire was caused by chill
dren plnying with matches and setting a
lot of straw on fire. which ignited the house.
In taking leave of you as Chief officer Of
the Department., permit me to retarn you my
sincere thanks. for assisting ne in dscbarg-
ing the duties of Fireman, and also. for the
confidence you have bestowed upon me, by re-
electing me again as your Chief officer. Under
the present circumstances. and dilapidated
condition of the Department. | will not take
the responsibility upon me of acting as Chief
Engineer, as | know full we'll, that | cannot
90 Justice TO the community at large.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JoHN MUNDoRF, Chief Engineer.
Sonora, Jan. Goth, 1871.