Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-12
OFFICE OF
CEiEF ENGINEER FIRE DEPARTMENT,
CTTy HAIL

CITY HALL.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, June LIST, 1881.
To the Honorable the Mayor and Com
mon Council of the City of ST. Paul:
GENTLEMEN: l herewith submit my
Fifth Annual Report, from May l, 1880,
to May l, 1881, which embraces all trans
actions in the department for the fiscal
year, with itemiZed statement OF property
in the department, list Of fires, etc, etc.
The total value of property, as ap
praised, personal and real estate" is
SIS, 305 95, as per Exhibit GA" herewith.
The purchases for the department have
been 1000 feet Of White Anchor Hose and
Four Suctions, zone for each engine"
KOsE.
There is now on hand 5 200 feet of rub
Der hose reliable and 1900 feet Gun
reliable" making total Of 5000 feet.
Also 1000 feet condemned, which is
offered for sale, or loaned to parties,
as required, for conducting purposes.
FIRES.
There has been during the past year 81
fires and alarms, of which Y were fires, q
chimneys and false alarms
Loss of property .............-..S SOY, 9S9.90
Insurance paid on above. ...-..... 32o,o14.so
Loss over insurance paid. w S173, 665. 90
Of the above losses 1892, 005 was made
by the fire of what is known as the Aver
i'll and Kelly fire on Aug. the 28th, 1880,
and the State Capitol, March LIST, 1881.
The loss over insurance paid on the
above two fires was S160,So0, leaving the
loss over insurance paid in the city after
deducting the same, $12,S65, a part OF
which was beyond the water supply,
The burning Of the furniture ware
house of DeCoster g. Clark, and the
Standard Oil Works, both Of which were
of an extraordinary inflammable nature
and situated in part of the city
where the water supply is extreme
" limited, made loss of $40 600,
on which the insurance paid was
$40, 500, leaving loss over insurance
$500. Deducting these from the above
losses we have $52,9S490, with a
loss over insurance paid of 81, 365 for 6S
fires. For details see Exhibit BIZ
The large fires Of the past two years
has demonstrated the necessity of increas-
ing the fire apparatus commensurate with
the growth Of our city. The recent ac-
ton of your honorable body towards pur-
chasing additional and much needed ap-
paratus meets the approval OF the c1tI-
Zens.
Our business blocks have largely out
grown the facilities supplied for the
extinguishment of fires occurring therein.
Notwithstanding the magnitude of the
buildings in which the large fires occur
red, the fact that in all instances it was
confined to the building in which it orig
mated, lot being allowed to spread to
adjoining property, is sufficient recon-
mendation as to the efficiency OF the De-
partment.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The apparatus has travelled on duty the
past year 751 miles 2S2 feet, not including
trip to St. Peter, and worked 1893 hours
Is minutes. Hose reels have laid 80, $50
feet hose. Water put through, 77,150,
delivering 212, 593 barrels a gallons of
water. Exhibit C.
CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE.
Calls for assistance from neighboring
cities have been made as follows:
July 2Sth, Hastings.
September 1st, Hastings.
November 18th, St. Peter
The calls from Hastings were counter
handed at depot before leaving the
city.
Engine No l and hose Nos. l, 2, 3 and
4were taken to St. Peter; but owing to
unreasonable delay in transportation be-
ing supplied did not arrive in time to be
Of service.
ACCIDENTS.
The following accidents have Occurred
to men on duty:
August %, 1880, T. Markley, driver
Hose No. 3, brick on foot from falling
wall.
August %, 1880, NJ. R. Murnane, Hose
No. 3, brick on foot from falling
wall.
April %, 1881, John Jackson, foreman
Hose No. 2, board on head.
FIRE MIGRANTS AND CISTERNS.
There is at this time Is miles and 935
feet of mains, with ISL Fire, Hydrants,
being an increase of Is since last report.
There are also II cisterns, all in
good condition. Exhibit D.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus of the department con-
sists of four Steam Engines, "Silsby,"
three being first class and one second
class, which were put in service as fol-
lows:
No. August, 1866.
No. October, 1869.
Nos. and November, 1872.
Four 1-Horse Hose Reels, ''Silsby."
One Hook and Ladder Truck, "Han-
nas.''
MANUAL FORCE.
The force has been increased six men,
one to each Hose company, and two to
Hook and Ladder, with the Foreman of
each company on full time, which is of
great benefit to the service.
1t now consists of As men, as follows:
l Chief Engineer.
Assistant Engineer.
Superintendent Telegraph.
4Engineers of Steamers.
Firemen of Steamers.
4Drivers of Steamers.
4 Drivers of Hose Reels.
l Driver of Hook and Ladder
/ Tillerman.
20 Hose men.
8 Hook and Ladder men.
For names of members of the depart
ment and location of apparatus refer to
exhibits E. and F.
There has been six designations and
49,.