Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-24
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and Improvements
Suggested-The Names of the Twenty |
New Men-The Uniform Adopted, etc.
The fire commissioners held a long meet |
ing last evening and transacted good |
following abstract of their proceedings:
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
Chief Engineer Jenkins, of the fire |
alarm telegraph, made lengthy reportSas |
to the condition of the fire alarm telegraph |
as he found it, and the present require
ments for its improvement.
He says the lines are constructed on the
loop plan on sone line of poles and on
short arms, thereby being liable to cut
out part if not all of the city from re-
ceiviug an alarm of fire in case of a heavy
wind storm or any interruption of the
wires. The greater portion of the lines
are poorly insulated and IN many places
wires are in trees, causing an
escape or leakage of the current
in wet weather, thus being liable to cut out
a part of the city from any means OF Civ
ing an alarm in case of fire. He says he
has insulated about five miles of wire and
trimmed number of trees, so as to get
portions of the lines cut out in circuit.
There are now two signal circuits or
loops and one talking line. Loop No. l
takes in part of the Third and Fourth
wards. Loop No. 2 takes in part of the
First, Second, Fifth and Sixth wards, max
ing very long loops thereby, running a
great risk in case of any interruption of
lines. For instance, if the wire should
from any cause get broken at the ST.
Paul pillow works, the First,
Second, Fifth and Sixth wards would
have no means of sounding any alarm in
case of fire until the break is repaired.
He recommends the putting in of two
more circuits by dividing up the two loops
and building lines on separate streets,
thereby making circuit instead OF the
long loop as at present. In order to per-
feet the system, he says he will want a
number of things and specifies them.
! Among them are 275 new poles, 1926; five
miles of wire, $l25; 400 insulators, $24;
400 pins, SO; one six-circuit non-interfer-
ing repeater, giving the two circuits now
in use in exchanges 81, 200 difference; labor,
$500, besides some other things, making
the total cost of a complete fire alarm sys-
tenn, S2,983. He says he will have to take
out all the old boxes and clean, oil, solder
connections and insulate them, all of
which he can do in the Office. He finds
many of the streets that he would like to
| put wire on taken up on
both sides by the telegraph
companies, thereby compelling him to go
two or three blocks ont of the way in or
der to find a street to set poles on. He
recommends that all companies having
poles in the city be required to leave the
tops of the poles for the use of the city for
fire alarm purposes.
THE TWENTY NEW MEN.
The following are the names submitted
by Chief Engineer Black for the twenty
new men to be added to the department:
NJ Bishoff, Z. 8urneh,
| E. Irvine, p. SheareI,
M Fsber, James Brown,
| John Hanley, James Shearen,
| f. Burnand, VIM. Schnelle,
Owen Mulgrew, Thomas Riley,
II. Fehan, VIM. Reiland,
A. Myler, NJ. H. Maloney,
John Morris, J. C. LIE AIier,
John johnson, L. l.. CrOssley.
Mr.. Parker made motion that the re-
communication be adopted. Mr.. Schliek
said one man had been left off that he
was'very anxious to have placed on the
/, list, but he said he would second the mo-
tion for the adoption OF the report, pro
, vided that as soon as there was vacancy
: this man, William Dewyer. should b.
placed On the list. Mr.. Prendergast re
GREETED that Dewyer was left of. He had
2 been injured while in the service of thu
department and needed the place. Wit
this understanding the motion was adopt
I ed.
2 WHAT KIND OF CLOTH To WEAR.
E The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the full fire hat for chic
; and assistant chief engineer shall be
: white leather hat with the insignia of Ofhc
on the frontpiece.
For officers of engine companies a blac
leather hat, a white leather front, the nun
Der of the company in plain black figure:
u the insignia of the officer over the top, an
/ the initials of the name at the bottom.
II For pipemen of engine companies sam
Il as for officers of engine companies exceI
that the front Will be of black pater
leather with white figure.
For officers of hook and ladder con
/ panies same as for officers {
. engine companies, except that the nun
Der of the company will be in red.
70 For hook and ladder men, same as fC
l. officers of hook and ladder companies e:
to cept that the front piece will be of re
It. patent leather, with white figure and
hook and ladder crossed.
The fire coat for the chief and assIstal
TT chief engineer shall be of white rubbe
is All other members of the fire departmel
32 shall wear black rubber coats.
I'd MISCELLANEOUS.
% Further time was given the commits
to report on the recommendations of Chi
Engineer Black.
The pay roll for the fire department f
ic the month of April amounted to $3,S21.s
10 and the same was adopted.
Mr.. Prendergast reported that numb
Ia of repairs needed on No. and engi
d houses, each of which nesds new foors,a al
- that the chief engineer proceed to put
el the floors and do such other things as a
necessary TO put these TWO engine hsus
in condition to.the extent of $500 for tl
T materials. 1.-The report was adopted.
- The chief engineer was directed to iss
-u' such orders for the government OF {
all fire department from time to time as
IS may deem proper.
III The president was authorized to pl
ST chase for the Office of the commission