New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-04
Firemen's Charitable Association.
The annual meeting of this body was he

Inc annual meeting OF this BODY was held
| last night to receive regular reports. Sec
| rotary Elanagan's books showed that for
| the general relief fund the sum of $I2,3l6 65
was expended during the past year; for the
widows and orphans $500 65; exempt
papers Issued 122. The widows and orphans
roll shows that there are 227 Of the first
named and 5i4 Of the latter. The names of
twenty-four widows and forty-seven or
phans were added to the list. More than
$50 new me mbers were added to the active
bers, 1900 exempt OF cash on. hand the
treasurer puts down naught. The several
companies generally are in fourishing
condition, and have all sent in their reports.
Tomorrow evening the association will
hold its annual election for officers. No one
has appeared in opposition to Mre Marks
for the presidency, but there are several as
pirants for the other POSITIONS Two fire
commissioners, In addition to the other off,
GERS, are to be chosen.
The subject of introducing the Batcock
fire extinguisher was called up. and by a
sioners was requested to rescind it's action
in permitting No. ) to use one of the atore.
said machines. One of the principal ob;ec-
tions urged was that No. 5 used Babcock
and drew pay from the association for
running regular steamer.
The following is the detailed report made
by Chief Engineer O'Connor for tie year
1873:
To the Board OF Delegates Q: the !i9emes's Ihay;'
table Association:
GENTLEMEN-I have the honor 70 submit
to you, and through You to the = ,ard of Ad.
ministrators, this my annual report of the
fire department for the fiscal year Just
closed. In doing so it affords me extreme
qualification to state that since my last an
nual report to your honorable body there
has been no lack of energy in the various
branches of the department. The same
zeal, harmony and good feeling have been
manifested which have hitherto always
characterized this worthy body. It would
therefore, be presnmptuous. it, me TO offer
any additional praise to their Lneritso The
tremen of New Orleans are iostered by a
generous community, who sens bly, appre.
ciate their good work and acknoT edge
their progress and usefulness.
The department., as az present organized.
consists of nineteen steam engines, nine.
teen hose carriages, four hook and ladder
trucks and one hand engine: one chief en-.
gineer, four assistant engineers and $50 &C.
tive members. You will perceive that the
association is running four etea--. engines
>and four hose carriages 10 excess OF the
number required by the contract without
any remuneration for the same.
Nep 4pparGtus.-During the past year
there have been added to TIE department
eight new steam engines, six new hose ear.
ri ages, one new patent roller hook and lad.
der truck and 5000 feet two aud a half inch
rubber hose. The board Of commissioners
have also contracted for new steam en-.
CINE with the Amoskesg Manufacturing
Company for Mississippi No.. l have dis
posed of old apparatus. to the amount of
$752 for statement of which would re.
fer you to the treasurers annual report.
Spare .4pparGtus THE association,has on
hand seven steam engines, tonr hose car.
riages and one hook and ladder truck. all
of which could be placed into service
should an emergency REQUIRE it. There
are also six spare steam engines belonging
to different companies, which are kept IN
good order and ready for service. For a
detailed accoun: OF apparatus see state.
ment A.
Loss By Fre.--During the pas: year. ow.
Ing to various causes, the .ar!ber OF fires
in our city have numbered considerably
over those Of the previous year flo2 actual
fresj; hut owing to the efficiency and &C.
tiyity Of the department. in spite of the
almost multitudinous difficulties to be en-.
countered, the loss wa. proportionately
small. | take pride in cailin. your atten.
ton to the fact that Gur city, for the miles
of area. suffered a comparatively smaller
loss than any other city in the Union. The
most destructive fires that occurred were in
the Third and Fourth Municipal Districts.
where the supply OF water is inadequate and
great Inconvenience are experienced by
the department in obtaining necessary
most earnestly renew M. recommendation
to YOUR honorable body to continue water
mains of sufficient dimensions to the above
sections of the city. and construc! fire wells !
or plugs. which will accrue much benefit.
not only to the department, but to the cti.
zens in those sections of the city. For a de.
tailed account Of fires see statement Il.
Engine Houses In my last annual report
brought to your notice the very bad con.
dition of several of the engine houses. Ar.
haze since been made by !!
No ., which resulted in their
having d beautiful and substantial building |
erected, and are in possession of the same. |
| again bring the matter to your attention,
as many of the houses are still! in a eaky |
and otherwise bad condition. | would urge |
your honorable body to provide companies |
now occupied by them are entirely unf: AID |
in dangerous condition. J
Ordafanccs.-I would most earnestly re. |
new my suggestions to the Board of Adm.. |
nistrators made in my last annual report |
on the subject Of framing an ordinance pro.
hibiting the storage of gunpowders. oils |
and other intlammable materials in large |
quantities in the business portion of the |
city, which not only causes insecurity TO
the members of the department, but enGan. J
gers the surrounding property.
Also to au ordinance concerning building.
parties from erecting buildings
without first obtaining proper dimensions |
to footings of foundations and thickness Of !
walls from the surveyor oy some pthev All.
.horized person.
Fire alarm Teieguph.-!r tho innnf:i Of :
asst July new automatic :liica.or was u. |
reduced into the department by which the
striking Of alarms was changed to more
simple and reliable system. thus enabling
5he board of commits .ioners to locate the
various companies more advantageously in
performing thel: duties. This system.
which is doubtless well known to Won as
he most reliable slectr.c apparatus any.
where, consists OF an indicator by which
Zach distinct station Is told oothe oper-
ttor in charge and should enable him }
% promptly and without error send
,ut an alarm. Under tbs presen: sys-
EN-, however. there have been some
7ery grave errors committed, thus dee
aging the department materially In getting
% fires. which induces me to suggest the
separation of the fire alarm telegraph from
he police telegraph, and the placing Of the
ormer under the charge of the board of
ire commissioners. In any opinion, the fire
llarm teleg aph is as much part of tie
ire department as the apparatus used in ex-
fires, and should be brought an
Ter the same system of general superin- |