The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-05
Full Text Of tho Report Of Mr.. Thomas
O'C0nnOr. chief Engineer Of the
Dem ri use0t

tract. was called up. but the Information being
given that the city had not yet answered the
note OF the association the matter was ordered
to lie over until future meeting.
The following interesting report OF
cHrkF ENGINEER o'coNsoR
was also received:
OrricE CHIEF ENGINEER FrBE DEPARTMENT.
New Orleans. January 4. 1879. J
To the President and Members Of the Board. OF
Delegates Firemens charitable Assooia-
Gentlemen -Conformably TO law and custom I
respectfully herewith submit to you. and
Win y2a 70 and
AS now. Organised the department is COM
Nineteen steam engines aud nineteen hose
-Four hook and ladder trucks.
One hand-engine at Milneburg.
One chief engineer and four assistants.
Twenty-four forsmen. forty.eixht assistant
foremen and s3b active members.
1t II needless to des ,rlbe the trying ordeal
through which ths association has passed.
during the past year. snd propose to record
been Dom pelled to appeal to departments abroad
Tor aid to enable 1t to discharge its obligations
towards it, widows and orphans. -,
The generous responses OF our brethren
abroad nro registered and will BIO preserved la
our archives while tho depgrtment andnres.
Tho INABILITY 81 The city to meet it, Obligations
under tho firs contract, no foreign aid would
have been needed. The department has on
countered all trials with irmness. and has dfa-
charged It's duties as one man. ordi nary or ex-
uaordlnary. whether. among its sick. or al tho
moro stirring coll to the scene oil IRE.
NUMBER or FIRES.
The great dlminution In the number OF fires
during tho past year; the actual fires reaching
but tto, involving loss to about $780, 35. l
ascribe this falling. of In fres chiefly 10 the
Underwriters and their pruden.ee In accepting:
while coupled with these considerations is the
ulacrity with which their chemical engines and
salvage corps. which IL valuable adjunct.
respond 10 duty. and their instananeons no
ton and wonderful efficiency when at tho
While Wills hal monious co-operation between them
ana the department renders the whole as COM
plete and effective as could bo desired present
aIi who feel an interest Ia the good name and
reputation OF the fire department OF New Or
leans.
patent roller truck, built by Joseph SCHWARTZ OF
this city, for Hspe Hook aud Ladder Fire Com
No. No. se r.s ieb Ths hss
now snoiions purchased for Volunteer No. /.
Hississippl. No .. .vigilsnt No .. Eagle No. I.
Nc. is. Orleans No. ii and Louisiana Hose Com.
pany; also .00e feet az inch rubber hose for
steam engine use. and 500 feet 2h-inoh Boyd
LOSS M FIRE
The statement herewith submitted. marked
A. shows tho number Of fires and losses In
CURED.
APPARATUS.
The statement marked , exhibits in detail
the apparatus used In the department
WATER sUPrLY.
II continues to be my duty from year to year
70 direct your attention to dehciencies in wafer
or none to be had. and In others We are COM
PEELED 70 rely entirely On the supply furnished
waterworks were transferred BY the city to a
stock company. and am led to believe that |
changes will be made in the laying OF water |
mains that will materially improve the facilities
for FIRE purposes.
FIRE PROOF BUILDINGS
There are gross violations OF the building law |
taking place within the FIRE limits daily against |
nance with penal provisions or otherwise. Fire
proof buildings are the most reliable means to |
trust to Tor the permanent abrtdgement Of fires.
summarily by the authorities.
ordinances against storing oils and esombusi.
stored with oils Of he most inf tmmable chnrac-
ter. 1t Is quite needless to do more than make
brief mention OF this fact. The importance OF
necessity for a remedy. on my part. II being
sufficient. as deem. to submit the subject for
IRON SHUTTERS.
In my last annual report I referred to the
en- Embarrassment imposed on the department by
The use OF iron shutters on the fronts Of build
ngs. so secured on the inside rs to prevent the
lngress OF flremen. which constantly results in
heavy Losses: the annoyance has not bsen
adopt on OF some one of the various devices
used In other cities for opening these shutters
nstantaneously, or, patent iron shutter
simple and cheap. and BY Its use will secure
complete control. from the ground floor. OF all
windows Of the building.
ENGINE HOUSE.
Perhaps the most important matter to which
L becomes my duty In this Communication to
all your attention Is the continued Ill condition
II our engtne-houses, some Of which have be-
,ome wholly untenabe.
Such are the houses occupied BY Milnaburg
The house az No. S has been condemned BY
he three preceding Councils and the necessary
ordinances repeatedly passed for the erection
II new building. which. owing to financial
have not been carried out. The
house and Is quartered with Mississippi No. ..
where both are inadequately supplied with
patton. l beg leave to urge that measures be
AIKEN for their relief, IL possible by the prompt
erection OF the building contemplated by exist
ng ordinances.
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
Under Its recent management this depart
nent has worked as we'll as its known lack OF
,eedful improvements will admit Of Ali ir-
70 much exertion and such watchfuI attention
" the force in charge. that all mishaps and
grounds Of complaint have been prevented. l
call your attention to the need of
its lines to such sections of the city
Is are unprotected. and for that purpose to in
'rease the number OF alarm boxes: There are
low 81 boxes in use, which think should be
increased to 125. There is. too, the most urgent
iced of discarding the old crank box, and In lis
place adopting the improved automatic box
July the long experience Of the operators and
heir thorough familiarity with the office instru-
nents. saves the Fire Department from often
icing the victims OF mischance, through the
'arions shapes into which a signal turned In
rom these boxes may be made to take. sound
ng wrong alarm and denoting q wrong To-
ality: which. notwithstanding all the care
All experience here and In other cities ad-
nonishes US that the crank box is wholly unre-
liable.
In all cities where perfect fire alarm system
prevails the automatic box has been adopted
{ Is the most perfect instrument yet invented
or the use required. It seems to me that delay
an no longer be justified by any cause in dis
ardiDg the old system. In the great usaful-