Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-12
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
hauling is Observation-Disclosures to the
Hayes Truck and to Fill Vacancies.


Hayes Truck and to Fill Vacancies.
The board of fire commissioners, all the
members present, held a regular meeting
last evening, the session lasting until
nearly II o'clock Midnight.
In connection with the other business
the board examined the foreman and driver
of No. engine with reference to the alarm
box at the house No! 81, being out of Or
der at the time of the Nicols & Dean fire.
Martin, the foreman, said he had the i'm
preston several weeks before the fire the
box weld not work. Saw Superintendent
Leveridge pull it and it would not
answer. He then took it out to fix it. Did
not pull it when he put it back. 1.-The driver
told me he asked Leveridge 10
pull it, but he said it was no use. It was
the general impression about the house
that the box would not work, but as I did
not know for certain made no complaint.
have like impression now, and I would
like to have it tested SO that we can know
what to depend on. Mr.. Retelle, the driver,
confirmed Martin as to the general impress
sion the box was out of order. He said
he asked Leveridge of the box was all
right, and he answered no. I then asked
him what was the trouble and he said he
did not knows tAfter this he took the box
ont to fix it. When he put it back he did
not test it.
In answer to Mr.. Leveridge, Retelle re-
iterated his principal statements, declar-
ing emphatically that he, Leveridge, said
he did nst know what allied the
box, and that he refused
to pull it to satisfy the men of the house it
was all right.
In answer to Mr.. Hughson, Leveridge
said the conversation with Retelle was on
Saturday, and that he took the box out and
fixed it the next day, Sunday. and that the
reason he did not pull it when he put it
back was because he knew it to be all
right.
Mr.. Hughson expressed the opinion that
the greater portion Of the trouble at the
late fire would have been avoided had the
box been tested when it was put back, and
that Mr.. Leveridge was derelict in duty in
not doing so. Later Leveridge was in
structed to test the box early to-day to see
if it was all right.
The board then took up the regular bust
ness. and Chief Strong reported he had re-
ceived the three new alarm boxes ordered
from Birge & Williams, and Superin-
tendent Leveridge was Instructed to put
them in and test them in the circuit.
and if found all right, payment
for the same to be made.
Chief String reported vacancy in the
engineer force, by the death of F. Guion,
and the resignation of II. Cormick, a min
ute man of No. 2 hose.
The different foremen reported failures
in the working of alarm boxes, as follows
Boxes "a and 25 on the 9th, 3S on the
7th, three false taps on the same day,
from some cause unknown and the failure
of box 81 to respond when pulled on the
9Th, all touched upon in the investigation
of Saturday and as above. After some
further explanation by Superintendent Lev
eridge, the reports were sent back to be
corrected in certain particulars.
The heater ordered for No. engine was
rejected on account of imperfections.
The usual batch of bills were audited
and ordered paid.
1t was voted to buy a pair of horses and
two sets of harness for No. engine house
and such horse blankets for out door use
as are needed. Also, to remodel the int.
rior Of No. 5.
CH'esal Notification of the action Of
co1lc!l ordering the manning Ct tie
Hayes truck with eleven paid men beihg
received. the board took I. no
and considered the Applications
for appointment, nearly a hundred IN
number, resulting in the following selec.
lions, preference beirg given mer. ,bers Of
the force, to be Offered by a captain and
lieutenant: NJ. F. Kelchs capta;n. r
Buckley, lieutenant; J. Z. MnlIisan. driver
). E. Newell, tillerr AN. + Leveroood. p
Murphy, Frar' Farr Charlss Goltz T
I1non q. Carney, J. Strapp.
motion Pat Churchill
vas appointed engineer of
and VIM. Mattocks, fireman of the same
engine; John holden, as driver of engine
No. 1. The following were also appointed
nand, in No. 2; J. R. Shook, hook and lad
Mulgrew in No. 9.
Lilo CuIcl cuSluc WdS luStIOCtcQ W See
that the new company was put into active
training at once, and that nothing be left
undone to secure the efficiency of the or
ganization. In this connection attention
was called to the complaints of a lack of
discipline in the department. especially at
the late Nicols & Dean fire.
Chief Strong explained that this was
due to the fact that the regular force of
minute men were not at that fire when it
commenced the work being done by vol
unteers who, while willing to work wanted
to do in their way.
Superintendent Leveridge of the fire
alarm telegraph was also informed that I'M
der no circumstances must a box be removed
from the circuit until after Chief Strong
had been informed and made proper pro-
visions to supply the break.
It was voted to ask the council for two
new alarm boxes, to replace thirty seven
and thirty weight, unfit for further services.
The New Iron Spans for the Vsa.!;as;law
Street Bridge.
At meeting of Aldermen johnson and
Robert, of the council committee on