Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-13
CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Several changes and improvements are
being made in the buildings of the city flre
DEPARTMENT. in part made necessary by the
recent purchase of the Hayes truck WHICH
il about ten feet too long for the hook and
ladder truck-house on Fifth street. To meet
this emergency the Corporation on
Fonrth street. between K and L, known as
.s Kuickerbocker g." is being remodeled and
converted into hook and ladder-house, as
it has sufficient depth for the new truck, and
the present quarters on Fifth street will here.
after be used for Corporation-h house and for
storing the extra engine, hose trucks, etc.
To enable the use OF the Fourth street
building for this purpose, the front doors are
being changed from swinging to sliding action.
A stall for one horse is constructed upon each
side of the truck, in the rear part of the
building, in which the horses will stand,
facing the front Of the building, so as to be
able to go into position. at the alarm of fire,
without the necessity of turning around IN
the stalls. This will tend to avoid accidents
to the horses and also enable quicker response
to alarms. Sleeping rooms will be lifted up
in the second story for the truckmen, In the
room now occupied as the Office of the Fire
Commissioners, and if there should not re-
main sufficient room for the meetings and
future use of the Board, the second story OF
the building on Fifth street will be
arranged and made suitable for that
purpose. A new room for storage OF
feed has been built upon the rear end OF
Knickerbocksr 8, and the whole work OF re-
modelling and preparation will be completed,
and the change OF quarters made the present
week. The general slsrm-bel will remain
in the tower of the Fifth-street building, but
the alarm-gong will be transferred to the new
quarters of the Hook and Ladder Company.
Under this change the headquarters of
Chief Engineer Sullivan and Assistant
O'Mara will be at the new Corporation
house, on Fifth street. where suitable quar-
tiers will be fitted up, and which will be more
central than their present location.
EngiIe-house No. l, on Second street,
is also receiving attention to improve
its arrangements. As at present con-
structed, the engine horses stand sidewise
to the street and at the rear of the building.
The old stalls are being removed and new
ones built, SO that the horses will face to the
front, towards the street. In this position,
when the chain in front of them, which keeps
them in their stalls, is dropped by the first
stroke of the alarm bell, the horses will be
faced towards their respective places at the
engine pole, and will go directly to it with
out the loss of time or liability to accident
CUuSCjuCAG uROA LtofiA5 W obih oiO1IO III
the stall upon sudden start and excitement
whenever alarms are given. To accomplish
this change the present central arched parti-
ton will be removed and an iron girder
placed above, to support the ceiling and
weight above. Another improvement will
be changing the stairway to the sleeping
rooms of the iremen from the left hand side,
at the rear part of the building, where it is
now located, to the front end, Immediately
at the right hand of the entrance. By this
change the 6remen in going from their
above, in response TO an
alarm, will reach the lower floor in front of
the engine and horses. instead of at the rear
of the engine-room as heretofore, and thus
economic in time. which is always an impor
tant point in the arrangements of fire depart
ments These improvements. directed by
the Board of Fire Commissioners, are being
made under the supervision of Chief Sullivan,
and the entire cost upon the buildings re-
ferred to will be only about $500, in accord
ance with contracts upon which the work is
being done