St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-11
THE FIRE BOARD.
Comptroller Roche Refuses to
Audit Bills for the Pu1-
chase of Horses,
And Defines the Powers of the Board
as to Condemding Property.
Examination of Engineers for the New Steam.
er-Final Selection Left to Chief
Black.

The fire commissions held regular meet
ing last evening, President Delano in the
chair, with Commissioners Parker, Prende-
CAST and Schliek present.
BILLS RETURNED.
The following communication from John
W. Roche, the city comptroller was read and
referred to the president, with the under
standing that ne would confer with the
comptroller and city council:
OFFICE OF THE CRY COMPTROLLER,
March 10, 1884.
To the Board of Fire Commissioners Of the
City of st. Paul:
GENTLEMEN: accompanying bills ag-
gregating 50, $50 for the purchase of eight
horses for the fire department service as fol-
lows:
Bohn Manufacturing Co., 2 horses. .......S 80
Charles Brown, horses. II 90
John Wagner 81 Co., 2 horses. ............ 90
are returned not audited, as the purchases
have not been authorized by the common
council.
The council instructed your board to equip
the new steam and chemical engines, which,
of course, includes the necessary horses, but
as your board condemned eight horses in the
service and purchased eight in place, the bills
at present cannot be audited. New horses
cannot be purchased and substituted for con-
demned ones without the consent OF the COM
mon council, except in cases of emergency
when horse is suddenly disabled by death
or otherwise, and calling it repairing the
animal" which Of itself is questionable, but
protection seems to warrant such a course.
The law does not give your board the
power to condemn or sell any horses, en-
gines, hose, engine houses or any other fire
department property; the absolute power is
in the common council. Your board could
dispose Of all the steamers, engine houses,
ETC., ETC., with the same propriety as to con-
denim or sell any of the horses without the
consent Of the common council. The con-
domination of horses and other fire depart
ment property involves the expenditure Of
Urge sums of money. Hence it becomes
necessary to state the facts. Very respect
fully, JOHN W. ROCHE,
City Comptroller.
EXAMINATION OF ENGINEERS.
The following report from the committee
was presented and referred to the next meet
ing:
To the Board of Fire Commissioners:
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned, from your
committee on examination of engineers for
steamers of this department., respectfully
represent that they have had the matter under
due consideration, and find the force as in
present service as follows: Taking them in
order of service
THE ENGINEERS ARE
E. B. Berge, 16 years; is a regular machin-
list, now on No. 4.
81. Tuberson, 6 years; is a blacksmith;
fired for Berge; now on No. 1.
j. Mitchell, 2years; is carpenter; fred
II years; now on No. 5.
?. Churchill, year; is teamster; fired
6 years; now on No. 3.
j. Wilkey, months; cabinet maker; fired
10 years; now on No. 6 (old No. q.
THE sToKERs ARE:
L. B. Guion, on No. 4 two years, was
steamboat striker, and been in department
about eight years.
D. Sullivan, on No. two years, was boiler
maker, and been in department about ten
years.
NJ. Mattocks, on No. one year, was a
plasterer, and been in department about
three years.
A. Martin, on No. 1 eight months, was
coppersmith, and been in department
about ten years.
VIM. Cuniff, on No. 6 (old No q three
months, vas gas and steam pipe filter, and
stationary engineer, not in department be-
fore.
Your committee have personally examined
the following candidates for steamer engi
neers: Nicholas Spicer, Leo Burggeman,
Thos. I. Connolly; all are regular machinists,
and ali residents of st. Paul, and applicants
for positions. We believe any of themcould
perform the duty required.
We recommend that stokers should serve
as such at least three years (unless they
should be regular machinists or exhibit ex-
traordinary ability in less time) before being
advanced to the position of engineer of
steamer.
The purchase Of the new first-class Ahrens
Piston steamer and creation of an additional
steam fire company, No. 6 requires new
engineer in the service, and perhaps the
change of old ones now in the department.
Believing that Chief Engineer Black fully
appreciates the situation we are in, and
the value and reputation of the steamer
property at stake, we leave the matter Of
changing present engineers and the selec-
ton of any new ones from the names of
Nicholas Spicer, eossBruggeman or Thos. I.
ment may in his opinion dictate. Respect
fully submitted, [signed.l
F. R. Delano, Committee
G. N. Parker, ooiumi''ee'
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Chief Black was granted leave of absence
for one week.