Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-04

Terry MeMalon's Communication
to the Boar of County Commits

~ ~ ~
sioners.
The following is Janitor McMahon's
contribution to tie proc edings Of the
Board Of County Commissioners yester-
day. 1t will be SC n that Terry is not only
a gallant fireman, but also sings a gay old
pen:
EcREKA, New, June 2, 1878.
To the Honorable the Board of County
Commissioners of Eureka county:
GESTLEMES: I herewith respectfully sub
nit the following for your wise delibera-
lions, sincerely hoping your honorable
body will perceive the importance attached
to the subject embodied in this commune
cation, inasmuch as it il in relation to the
fire supplies at present in this department,
a portion Of which is inadequate for ordi-
nary purposes, without mentioning emer-
gencies or accidents. l refer particularly
to the insufficient amount of hose on
hand in this department. Being janitor
of this Fire Department, / consider that it
is my duty to inform your Honorable
Body of what ] know to be All actual want,
and what we most need for the preserva-
ton of property belonging to the citizens
Of this town. 1t is unnecessary for me to
refer to the members Of the department,
for I presume your Honorable Body are
| conversant with the ir record and the or
ganization Of the department. but ! will
say it is second to none under the circum-
| stances; because, where duty calls them,
there you will find them, their motto be-
ing IRE sh.ire to sdre. / will state thai the
supply of hose ON hand falls short Of the
| reqnisite amount needed. Rescue Hose
| Company, No. l being centrally To-
Gated, should have at least 500 feet more
hose on hand. 1t has $50 feet of hose
on its reel, all Of which is in good sondi-
ton; but there ought to be 500 feet OF
hose in its house for emergencies, for
the reason that there is no telling when
the dreld hour may come, with o stiff
wind blowing-those Washoe zephyrs be-
ing so prevalent in this section. As re-
CARDS the Rescue hose carriage, it is in
good condition, also we'll Differed and
well manned. On the 18th of last month
/ ovcrhauled and tested the hose that
suspected would not stand the requisite
pressure Assistant Forman Of the Knick-
er5ockers, Sam. Raphael, and myself,
turned water into what we considered not
trustworthy, and after testing we laid
aside what we condemded as useless, there
being no use or good reason for carrying
worthless hose on a reel. In my last COM
munication to yOur Honorable Body. l
mentioned that knickerbock6r carried
nearly 600 feet Of hose; / also stated that
400 feet Of that was in good condition, the
other 200 feet being unreliable. We have
taken off what is not reliable. which leaves
this company with only 400 feet Of good
hose. Two hundred and fifty feet Of it is
double riveted leather hose, which the
company themselves bought and paid for
at the time they purchased their hose cart.
Tho only hose fhi. 4, q " a.-ar ont frara
the city was three lengths, $50 feet, which
makes at present 400 feet of good hose.
The cart carries $50 feet, 600 feet being the
usual amount it used TO carry in the old
volunteer days in California. The Knick-
erbockers should have $50 feet on their
rel, and at least 800 or 400 feet in their
house. they being a consolidated company.
The Hooks ard Knickerbockers being one,
they could easily get the hose in their
house to a fire, i'll case Of necessity al.
short notice. The Richmond No. 3 is a
good solid company, well officcred and
well manned, with q good stannch hose
cart capable Of CARRYING $50 feet OF hose.
This company, after its organization, pur-
chased their own carriage in Virginia City:
also 400 feet Of hose. They suffer like the
other companies. They should be sup
piled with 400 or 500 feet more Of bose, as
they are in the south end of town, and
hay, grain, lumber yards, livery stables,
and also many nice residences being in the
neighborhood. They certainly onght to be
well supplied. 1t also appears to my OBJ
s.rsatiou that there has been always more
danger around stables and lumber yards
than most of other buildings, consequent
IL your Honorable Body will perceive the
necessity of supplying this company with
a requisite amount Of hose Immediately,
one ounce of prevention being better than,
etc. / would most respectfully suggest
that your Honorable Body devise some way
or means to supply this vigilant and ever
ready volunteer department with q requi-
site supply Of good reliable hose, and | am
more than convinced that you can not fail
to perceive the actual want of this material.
The apparatus of the department is all in
good condition, and the department is a
credit to itself. and is under many obi
cations to the citizens and property own
ers Of the town for their hberality to the
dcpartm mt ON various occasions. In con-
clusion | will state that l endeavored in
this communication to point ont to your
Honorable Body all the most prevail
ing defects in the department, and that is
scarcity of hose.
All of which is most respectfully sub
mitted for kind consideration. Hoping
you will take immediate action in the pre-
misses about twelve or fifteen hundred feet
more Of good rubber hose is what this
town needs, to be distributed among the
c~ompanies), l remain,
Respectfully Yours,
TERRENCE MCMAHON,
Janitor Fire Dept.
E,,.Ata NJ I.-. q TOTO