Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-15
THE FIRE UoMMLssIoNERs.

Routine After Which Something EX-
c1usively notwithstanding q Fire. eating
Criticism-A Good Department, But Not
Big Enough For Such City as ST, Paul.
The regular meeting of the board of fire
commissioners was held in their new cham
bers last night, all the members being present
A communication was handed in by the
chief engineer enclosing correspondence, the
purport of which was that the new hook and
ladder truck, recently purchased, will be ship
ped from Elmira, New York, on August 25
Permission was granted Engineer Hide.
brand to visit Red Wing.
A petition of the transient members of the
department asking for increase of salaries was
referred to the city attorney for his legal
opinion.
The chief engineer reported on the location
Of the new fire alarm telegraph boxes as fol-
lows: Corner Fourth and Western avenue,
Dale and Summit, University and Mackubin,
Rich and Winter, Maria and Fifth, Hugh and
Bertha, south end of Wabashaw street bridge,
Buffalo and Genesee, Eighth and jackson.
Box II will be moved from its present loca-
ton in the Sixth ward to the drug store
corner.
The usual current bills we're presented and
allowed.
tion of the system was. after reading numer-
Gus proposals, ordered from Patrick & Carter
of Philadelphia.
A resolution was unanimously passed, au-
thoriziDg the chief to take apparatus from the
city on call from the outside Tor assistance.
The chief was authorized to have an extra
tongue made for every engine in the depart
ment.
Mr.. Leveredge explained the cause of the
trouble with the alarm wires, by stating that
they were too low, having been put up long
ago. The trees have grown up SO as to come in
contact with the wires. The electric light and
the telegraph wires have occasionally inter.
fered. But all this trouble is TO be done away
with by the new poles used in the work of
reconstruction, which are sufficiently tall to
keep the fire departments wires above aud
clear of all distractions.
Professional business having been disposed
of. Commissioner Hughsoa dropped into po-
etry and read glowing animadversion upon
the fire department which appeared exclus-
lively in the Pioneer-Press" on the
Of the st. A1abin stables. The
assertion was made that the fire department
''worked ineffectively in front while the prin->
cipal danger was in the rear and that Ernest
Bros house and Menz's barn might have been
saved by good work in time ON the part of
even single engine
CulcI StIODR eXplalnSQ tndb Lner6 were en-
gines on hand and in position to have saved
every building except perhaps the stables them
selves, but for the simple fact that the water
had been shut off from the hydrants
1t takes water to extiuguish fire. No
number OF engines can put out fire wieh.
wind, whatsoever Windmill critics may do
The idea of a critic blowing fire out was
not advanced by the amiable chief; it is the
exclusive property Of the GLOBE newspaper,
which had representatives among the bucket
brigades at tnat fire. One of them being in
attendance on the board, aud the conversation
becoming general, he described graphically
the engines which had been posted in the
rear of the fire, and which did splendid
work in arresting the flames and saving
the small frame dwellings in the neighbor-
hood, as soon the supply of water was
turned on.
Commissioner Hnghson remarked that he
had no objection whatever to fair criticism.
The fire department does the best it can with
the means at its disposal. The city is now
assuming the dimensions and characteristics
of a metropolis, but, in respect of its
limited force of regular men for
fighting fires, the ST. Paul fire
department is about equal to the needs of
village. The department needs aid from the
council and legislature. The city has out
grown its fire department. No time like the
present to confront this fact.