The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-19
A DEFECTIVE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Some Pertinent Suggestions by the Calves
ton News Correspondent.

Some Pertinent Suggestions by the Calves
ton News Correspondent.
The San Antonio correspondent Of the Gal
weston News says the fire department Of this
city is very defective. The Chief, he con-
tinues, is a competent official, and recon-
mends important and indispensable improve
ments, but, thus far, he has failed to secure
the cooperation of the council The area Of
the city is SO square miles, and this is sub
divided into four wards. When fire alarm is
sounded the bells only indicate the number of
the ward. containing an area of nine square
miles. The alarm is very frequently sounded
for every other ward in the city before the
right one is given, Notwithstanding the utmost
care taken at Telephone Exchange as to loca-
ton, and the manner of ringing the fire bells,
which is executed by hand instead of cleo
tricity, is miserably done. They are first rung
with rapid changing ring of about 10 strokes
after which the number of a ward is rapidly
rung. The engine-houses, it is true, have
telephones within, but the fremen
away from the engine-houses can only be
guided by the bells ringing the alarm and they
only indicate ward in which they have ter
rtory of nine miles to chose from for the To-
cality of the fire. The horses belonging to
the engines are used during the day to haul
scavenger wagons, and may be four miles
away from the engine house when the fire
alarm sounds. The report of the fire chief
shows that the engines never get to
fire under half an hour after the alarm has
been given, and it more frequently happens
that an hour has elapsed before they arrive at
the scene of conhagration. The department
is not regularly drilled as it should be, and is
only called out on especial occasions, and
notice is always given the fremen in advance.
The last two fires which occurred, while they
emanated in very combustible structures, which
of course enhanced the rapidity of their de-
struction, were almost entirely consumed be-
fore the department reached the scene. The
hook and ladder company have no horse, and
their truck has to be pulled by hand, unless
an express or delivery wagon can be procured
to hitch it to. The Underwriters board
here have no salvage corps, and I'M
less neighbors and spectators at the fire rescue
and protect the contents of burning houses
they are lost. San Antonio has been won
derfully fortunate in escaping destructive con-
1agrations thus far, but this fact cannot be
attributed to any efficiency of its fire depart
ment 1t has been frequently predicted, and
no doubt the prediction will be realized, that
a fire will originate in some densely built
quarter that will sweep away property costing
ten times as much as an efficient fire system
can be secured and maintained for the next
decade. The waterworks is a very valuable
adjunct in extinguishing fires in the quarters
of the city where the fire hydrants are located,
and the force of q stream thrown from them
through hose, and without the Intervention
of an engine, is sufficient to reach the highest
building, but unfortunately the hose are either
on the hOSe-carriages of the engines or with
the hook and ladder company, so that ire
parably valuable time is consumed in waiting
for the arrival of the hose.
The principal and most radical remedies for
these defects, which should command imme-
dlate attention, are:
I. The city should be divided into a con-
venient number of fire districts, list of
which should be printed and given to every
fireman.
2. The alarm should be rung, striking the
number of the district where the fire is located.
The alarm should be rung by eleciri
city.
The engine horses should be used exclu-
svely for the engines, and the truck and hose
carriages should also have horses for their
exclusive use. When the horses need exer-
else they should be ridden around the block
on which the engine.hou is located.
3 The corps should be drilled frequently,
and not be given any notification of the
drill.
The city is in condition to afford such a
system, and il is singular, in place of the
size Of San Antonio and one which has pro-
crossed so rapidly in all other respects and
has made so many Improvements, that mat
ter of such vital Importance has been so
thoroughly disregarded. If the council fail
longer to neglect it, they will be recreant to
their trust.