Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-08
CHEF ENGINEERS REP 3Rr.
Following is the main portion of the an
nual report OF the Chief Engineer OF the
Fire Department, c. Sullivan:

nual report OF the Chief Eusineer of the
Fire Department, c. Sullivan:
To the Honorable Board of Fire Commissioners of
the City OF Sacramento Gentlemen According TO
the rule adopted by your honorable body have the
honor to submit 10 you the eleventh annual report
of the Sacramento Paid Fire Department, with re
port Of all fires and alarms occurring during the
year. including the amount of insurance, insurance
paid and losses. In addition TO the annutl report
present to you tsbulated statements OF fires and
alarms, showing their causes since the organization
OF the department with losses and insurance on the
same, The table furnish in addition for the past
ten years take from the records kept by my pre-
deeeSsors, and some OF them are not complete as
| wou wish them to be. II is as complete a record
as can be furnished at the present time
The Berry swinging harness has been int oduced
with satisfactory results into the department. 1t
great retf TO the horses, owing to their not haV'
ing 20 wear their harness night and day.
The upper story of the hook ard ladder house has
been leased TO Weinst5ck Il Luhin for term OF six
years. at monthly rental Of SIS, the department
having no use tor il, excepting by two or three
members who slept there. Ii Is more convenient at
presen, they sleep down stairs, in the rear CT the
stable which does away with running down stars
and the men are less liable TO accidents occurring.
In my opinion, tbs lower floors or all the engine
houses should be constructed large enough 50 that
al permanent men ear sleep dowa stslIs nave
received the different amounts from NeinstoeS X
Lubin. paid the same To the City Auditor and hold
his receipt for the payments. There was new rout
built on the hook aud ladder house, with he under
standing that they (Neinstock X Luein) buiid and
repair, which they did IN the nealeSt nlan-r pos
sible. When the members Of the department re
ceiyed their uuitorns, Wtnstcck y Lubn presented
the members with medal " merit, 10 DC presented
to the member making the best record OF perform
Ing some heroic act during the year. IL seems 70
hsve good effect the members. lhere are
several who are laborng TO secure the metal, VINO
are prompt in responding to alarms and hres' re-
ceiying credits whenever successful, and l extend
70 MesSrS. Neinstock Luhin the thanks OF the
members Of .hs depaItm for their kindness
They also rendered the members Of The fire depart
ment banquet,
We have been free from accidents of any serious
nature during the year 70 members Of the Dsplrt-
ment, with the exception Of Henry Boekrsth who,
while driving Hose No. , IN rep )ndipg TO an alarm
from box 81, September sth, was thrown from the
cart at .hs corner OF Tenth and streets, but wss
not injured beyond few slight bruises and laid up
for about two weeks. L. Drew, FIR man Of No. Is
engine, while responding to an alarm u fire from
box -, 0ctObsr6th, 9ganst scantIug, bad Que
Of his legs iujueed and disabled f9T about Two
weeks.
The only fire of any serious nature that occurred
during the year was the one that started in the
rear Of the Canpi Resonant in the building known
as Grand Army Hall, on the morning Of April goth,
az 1905 About the time the fire under
control the west wall of Grand Amy Hall fell on
| the one-story building Of Mrs Hermoso, burying
some ten or twelve persons who happened 60 be in
| Zens. The members of the fire department, with
the aid OF the police force and Cizeus, labored IN
/ til the living and dead were eXtrcated from the
! ruins Of both buildings. Tie means Of the living
were terrible TO hear as they were fastened in be
| tween the timbeIs and we're unable TO eN.ricate
! themselves until assisted by others.
am glad the cltzeus took the matter IN hand OF
establishing an eugiue-house in the eastern portion
! II the city, | have been recommending 1t year
after year. until at last the City Trustees have lei
/ the contract u build q building one story high,
with tower complete for drying hose. am sati fed
that il will be q cd protection 10 the eastern pOr
ton OF the city, and the people ia the lower part OF
the town viii also feel more secure, No I engine
ia all probability, viii not be allowed to 90 beyouT
Tenth street, uHess on occasion Of large fires The
new house will be large enough TO place an engine
there at any time the Trustees deem it necessary.
At present the fourwheeed carriage will be located
in It, with two hors and two permanent men
which, in all probability, wi comprise the company
] located in that port Of the city.
l received gong and indie tor combined, which
was ordered by the Beard Of Trustees for the water
works. which, in my opinion, is one Of the best con
tgivauces that has ever been gotten up IN regard q
| recording and striking alarms II records the mum
Der in plain figures in front Of the COG, on top. II
Is gotten up plainly, simple and durable, and not
lilble TO get out OF repair. would recommend
them for all the engine houses whenever the m ans
OF the city permit purchasing them. Henry Book
rath fireman OF Engine No. > has got up q slate, OF
blackboard, which works very well He has also IN
vented catch for the hangers on the swinging har
attached to the harness when they were placed in
use in the department.
would recommend the passage OF an ordinance
| regulating buildings, and the appointment OF .
Building Inspector, il quire into the construction
| OF all buildings, and vi n power to condemn all
buildings and p1rches considered dangerous to the
| public. There ordinance framed at the time
| Of the eXetement when Grand Army Hall FELL but
l believe It was never passed. In my opinion, such
| an ordnance should have been passed aud enforced
/ also call your attention to the Electric Light
Company, organized and about to commence opera
! TONS Their wires should be laid aud placed in pc
stior with great safety. see by extracts from pa
| pers throughout the United States that accidents
occur daily where iremen are killed or ruined FOL
life by coming in contact with electric light wires
reman5 life is hazardous, without inc easing the
| danger when an alarm sounds in the dead hour OF
night, and the brave fireman rushes forth to duty,
not knowing whether he will ever return to the
! bosom Of his family, and Tor the sum of so per
/ month / believe all city authorities should be
careful in granting permission to erect such systems
as the electric wires and when erected they should
/ be placed position where they cannot interfere
| with life OF property.
! The basement Of No. . house has been set apart
! for the storing Of hay and the keeping OF one OF
two horses, aud has already more than doubDy paid
for the expense incurred il repairing it and fitting it
up. / think il there were about fifty loads Of sand
put on the front end Of the ment, snd q yenti-
! lator, il would be n splendid place 10 store hay.
! The ire-alsrm has worked satisfactorily during
the year, with the exception OF Two different
!
cord at the water works No. Is house and the hook
/ and ladder house; and box 81, December u b.,
failed t. record at water works. These are the only
| occurrences that know of at the present time
| would recommend the Purchasing OF 5000 feet
OF No hose for use in the department the coming
year. The hose purchased from the stem Betting
Company does not come up to the standsred that IS
claimed for 1t. ] am satisfied that Baker x Hamil-
ton were sincere ia recommending the hose and civ
ing the guarantee they gave on it. There were eight
eugths bgrsted Six have been replaced, and two
have not been replaced rs vet.
The horses are all in goOi condition, with the eX-
cepton Of two that are little too light, and
will in all probability have to be replaced during the
wear. One was taken sick and two lame They are
improving very idly and will be all right shortly
| would recommend the painting Of the iire.alarm
boxes with two good coats Of paint, with the face
painted white. They are more easily found when
painted in that manner.
desire to call the attention Of the Underwriters
OF the Pacific coast to the necessity of estab sbiag
branch patrol in Sacramento. In recommendU this
l feel confident that the can be operated for
small outlay, and w guarantee to run wagon
with two men, and say thirty covers. at an expense
not exceeding $3.50 per month. There are in the
city very many large business houses, besides nu-
merous handsome dwellings,, all of which carry large
lines OF insurance. and feel confident that had we
covers in our Department we could have saved
many thousands Of dollars in the past few years.
l would recommend the placing of heaters in the
engine houses 10 connection with the engine boilers,
so that few pounds Of steam may be kept up con-
stanty Iney, III tmei would soon compensate Tor
expense.
In conclusion, allow - return to you my stu
cere thanks for the confidence YOU nave placed IL
me in re-electng me to the position as chief officer
Of your department. Also, the thanks of your
humble servant and members of the department are
due TO the Sacramento RECORD UNION and Bee, also,
the Lender and Sunday Capital, fer kind notices
and friendly feeling shown the members OF the Fire
Department ali occasions during the year Also to
Assistant Engineer NJ. O1eara, Jr, return thanks
for attention TO duty to Chief Karcher and his
officers, and to the Chief E. giner Of the Water
Works. Mark Foster, and his assistants, for assis.
lance rendered; TO the City Taper and Board Of
Trustees for kind assistance rendered and favors
shown TO all members of the department for their
strict attention to duty, and citizens generally for
fayors shown. With much respect am respect
fully yours, SULLIVAN,
Chief Engineer Sacramento Paid Fire Department
A LETTER FROM NONRESIDENT. The
following letter was received Yesterday from