National Republican., 1876-11-16
rHr r1ss pEpAarxzsr.

Parade end Insrection-Ananal Rsports
The regular semi-morthly meeting Of tie
Board of Fire Commissioners waS held at the
Columbian building last evening; present,
Commissioner Morgan, president; Reed, sec
retary; TAFT and Stewart, Chief Engineer
Cronin and Assistant Engineer Drew. A
small amount of routine business was trans
acted. Monday, the 9th instant, was fixed
for the day of the annual parade and inspe;-
ton, which will take place at the Scott
statue. Next Wednesday the members Of
the board, with other District officials will in
spect the engine houses.
THE ANNUAL REPORTS.
The annual report of the board, prepared to
be submitted to the District Commissioners to-
day, was read. The report reviews the work
OF the fire department for the year, and makes
recommendation that additional apparatus be
furnished and other needs be attended to.
The annual reports of the chief engineer and
of the superint endent of the flre-alarm tele-
graph were submitted to the board, and will
ACCOMPANY tue report of the board to the Dis
trict Commissioners. The chiefs report
shows that the total number of alarms turned
in during tie year was $50, OF which was a
test alarm, 16 were for chimneys, IL were
false and 121 were for fires, which involved an
aggregate alleged loss of $40, $50, on which
there was insurance to the amount of S29, ,775.
The numter of fires of this year as COM
pared with that of last year shows decrease
of IL in the former, and compared with the
average of the past ten years an increase OF
81. The aggregate alleged loss of this year
compared with that of last year shows de-
crease of s1S,0 600, and compared with the av-
ersge losses per year for the past ten years
decrease of Sl03, ,T60.
The report urges the necessity of the addi-
ton of two engines to the force and OF one
truck, with improved apparatus. Twenty-Five
horses are in use in the department, and three
are retained as substitutes.
The report gives an inventory of the appa-
ratus in the department, and speaks OF the
thorough repairing to which the old engines
have been subjected, which makes them now
in perfect working condition.
Annexed TO the report is a statement show
ing the number of fires and the losses by fires
for the last twelve years, which bears splendid
testimony TO the efficiency of the present de-
partm.n mt. In 1862 there were 55 fires, with
loss of S12l 500; in 1866 there were 95 fires,
with loss of S259, 900. The number of fires
yearly have gradually increased, as the city
has grown in size and population, but the
losses by fires have greatly decreased until the
prcsent year, during which there have been III
fres, with a loss of $40, $50. The total number
of fires durinz the twelve years was ,l65, and
the total loss 81 ,160,GS0.
FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The report of Superintendent Miles shows
that the total expenses of the ire-alarm tele-
graph office for the year were SO, 1893 90; re-
duction of about 5000 below the estimates of
last year. The report gives the number of
alarms transmitted and the number from
each box. No alarms have been sounded
from 10 of the Sc stations. Six alarms were
sounded from box 1G4, seven from box 521
and twelve from box 125. The fre-alarm
telegraph is in as good condition as when first
completed, thirteen months ago. The esti-
mates for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1873,
amount to 1880. A recommendation is
made that one operator and one repairman be
appointed in addition to the present force.