The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-10-10
Chief Engineers Report.


To THE MAYOR AND CITY Council:
GENTLEMEN: herewith submit
to you my annual report as chief en-
gineer of Astoria Fire Dept. for the
year ending SEPT. 30, 1888:
Daring The year there has been 81
fire alarms to which the Dept. re-
sponded and numerous brush fires on
the hills back of the city. The |
total loss by FIRE has been as near as
can ascertain, including the box fac
tory at Upper town, S25G, 600, on !
which there was an insurance of S73,- |
600. In combating fires during the
past year, especially those in the resi-
dence part of the city, the depart
ment has laborcd under great disad-
vantage on account of the lack of els
terms ON the back streets, OF being un-
der the necessity OF laying l,5OO or
, 900 feet Of hose up the steep hill
side, making unnecessary work for
the men and straining the apparatus;
this could be obviated by the con-
struction of few large cisterns, cen
trally located ia the higher parts of
the city. Another cause Of delay IN
responding TO alarms IS the uncer-
tainty of the location of the fire, to
remedy which would suggest the
immediate arrangement of an electric
alarm with at least six ,larm boxes,
and one gong, the gong To be at the
engine house of Rescue Engine Co.,
No. ,, as that is the most central To-
cation.
The hose carts at present in use are
not of sufficient carrying capacity and
| would most earnestly recommend
the purchase of a large carriage, as
the necessity of it is apparent at near
ly every fire. The alarm bell has not
given satisfaction in its present loca-
ton, as it is not elevated sufficiently
to be heard distinctly.
The cistern covers in this city are
and have been very much neglected,
they are not located in the center of
the street crossings, and are allowed
to become filed with dirt SO that it is
almost impossible to raise them, others
are covered over by the planking of
the street, and there are not enough
of them TO insure dispatch in getting
water.
would also recommend for the
preservation of the fire engines the
immediate introduction of some
method of supplying them with fresh
water, as at present they are obliged
to stand with salt water in their boil
ers causing them great injury and de-
laying them in making steam.
would call your attention to the
fact that the ordinance regarding
driving over lines Of hose is frequent.
ly violated, and recommend that it be
strictly enforced.
The engine houses and fire appa-
ratus belonging to the city are III
good condition, there would be an i'm
provement made in the house of r. Z.
Co. No. ., Sy cutting door where
the window on the east side Of the
main door now is, it would give room
to take out the hose cart without
moving the engine which at present
has to be done.
The apparatus and membership "i
the department are rs follows:
ASTORIA ENGINE 90. No. ONE.
One 2d class Amoskeag engine;
hose cart and 1850 #. carbolized hose
: l tender to engine; one heater, 2 rub
Der play pipes, brass pipe, 10 span
ners, Z torches no good, one coupling
expander, o set new couplings and o
feet Z inch hose. Membership 80.
} RESCUE ENGINE 20. No. TWO.
One Sd class Silsby engine, ] hos
cart, I.75O fl. White Anchor hose.
tender to engine, five duty pipes,
connection, 3 spanners, ] set taps anC
dies, set hanging tubes, l set smoke
hues, one set CRATE bars, ! circulating
chamber for heater and 80 #. inc
rubber hose. Membership 80.
ALERT HOOK d LADDER co.
! One truck, four ladders none {
them long enough to reach the roof {
any of the medium high buildings
j the city, three roof ladders, tw
hooks, eight axes, thirty buckets, tw'
: crowbars, two Babcock FIRE extlnguisl
u ers, and a lot of chemicals for tn
Babcocks.
This company have proved them
selves to be vigilant. and active men
members of the department and d.
:! serve better treatment than they ha'
- received at the hands of the city;
any and every alarm they are amor
: the first at the scene of the FIRE doir
all in their power with the lImit'
means at their disposal to assist IN d