Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-28
The oo,.mcs1 Committee Meetsna.


ment of the city council and the special COM
mittee of the chamber of commerce, was held
at city hall last evening at 1880 o'clock. There
were present Mayor Dawson, Aldermen Grace
Ringwald and Brennan, Messrs Lindeke. Lam
son and Starkey, Chief Strong and City
Attorney Murray. The meeting was opened
with an explanation by Capt. Starkey, the
author of the resolution passed at the meeting
of the chamber of commerce.. Capt. Starkey
explained that as there had been some ques.
ton as to the motive in offering the resolu-
ton he desired it understood that
the resolution had been offered in
a spirit of cooperation or assistance.
Capt. Starkey stated that he had heard it re-
marked that Chief Strong had said the depart
ment was inefficient to cope with an emergen-
cy like that of Monday.
Chief Strong explained his position by cor
recting the statement. While he had not
made any remark about the ineficiency of the
department he doubted if all the apparatus in
the State could cope with fire like that of
Monday, originating on the upper story of
such building.
Mr.. Lamson then called on Chief Strong for
an unreserved statement of what was necessa-
~ to make the department thoroughly eff
cient. Chief Strong was requested to not con-
slider the tax pressure or other drawbacks,
but to state what was wanted without regard
to cost.
In submitting his idea of what was necessary
to put the department on a first class footing,
Chief Strong called attention to the absolute
necessity OF having apparatus and men sufi-
Gent enought to cope with extensive fires. Such
an apparatus should be distributed at advanta-
geous points over the city.
Attention was called to the difficulty of pro-
curing additional apparatus. In order to cope
with large fire there should be another en-
CINE and hose cart on st. Anthony hill, one in
the Sixth ward, one on Dayton bluff, one extra
hose hoist and hook and ladder truck. The de-
partment also required more extension ladders.
The cost of q hook and ladder truck was g.
O0O, and the cost of hose hoist, equipped
from 81, 800 to So, 900.
There should be at least ten more alarm
boxes and twelve men to the hose hoist, max
ing twenty-seven for the new hose carts, or
thirty-nine additional men in all. To equip the
above would require 5000 feet more hose
At present the department had only five hose
men. when, to equip similar departments in the
country, no less than ten men were required. .
Consequently the department was working at a
disadvantage of five men short. Chief Strong
explained the necessity of a steam whistle,
which Is now in course of construction on the
GLOBE building.
Mr.. Lamson explained how the adjoining
buildings had been saved Monday morning by
MIR. Frank Kehne, who had got on the roof and
chopped away the blazing cornices.
Aid. Grace said that the city couldn't furnish
a $1O0, 900 apparatus to put out fires as long as
men insisted on building fire traps.
Chief Strong said that the hose cart should
have shut-of nozzle there were seven carts
and the nozzles cost $150 each. It was also ne
cessary to have the Siamese MOBILES /; it would
require two at $3.50 each. The outlets of the
hydrants were too small they should be en-
larged from three to four inches The four
inch mains should be discarded for six inch
mains.
The water system was then discussed and
Chief Strong thought that to make the depart
ment more efficient there should be four more
cisterns on st. Anthony's hill, three in the
Sixth ward and one on Dayton's bluff.
Aid. Grace stated that the cost of cistern
was about 81. 500 each.
Mayor Dawson explained the condition of the
city finances. The city had no power to bor-
row money, but whatever was raised must be
put in the tax levy. Adiscussion followed on
the reckless manner in which fire trap build
ings are put up, and on the necessity of having
an ordinance to regulate the construction Of
buildings.
Mr.. Lamson, from the chamber of commerce
committee, answered the alderman that the
committee were ia favor of increasing the eff
iciency of the department., and would recon-
mend what was considered necessary. Adj
journed.
All liable to Stomach and hillary diseases
should regulate their. diet, and never allow
their hOwala In hecoma oouotinofed. hr,f ,ca