St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-16

part; fire alarm telegraph, 81 street boxes; 10
horses.
In REPUTATION of this msstatement, Mr..
George w. Hall, insurance manager of this
city, was the author of the following, which
appears in the current number of the Spec
tator, an insurance paper:
ST. PAUL's FIRE PROTECTIVE FACILITIES.
The phenomenal growth of most Western
cities is appreciated most by those who
dertake TO compile statistics or gather infor-
nation from the various cities and towns in
the country from year to year. So rapidly do
certain Western places increase in popula-
ton that within one or two years after the
taking the United States census the official
figures become valueless as an accu-
rate record of the population of such places.
For instance, in the Insurance. Year Book
for 1SS5-S6 the population of St Paul. Mimi,
by the United States census, was reported at
4,473, these being the only trustworthy
figures obtainable. A recent close estimate
of st. PauPs population, however, has
brought the figures up to 100000; that is to
say, the city has nearly tripled in pop
ulation in five years, and in all other
respects the place has correspondingly grown.
AS st. Paul has thriven, rapidly increasing
its resources from year to year, its fire extin-
gushing facilities have been improved cor
respondingly, and the city now possesses one
of the best fire departments in the country.
The department is ably managed by board
of fire commissioners, aided by an efficient
fire chief, John Z. Black. The underwriters
at St. Paul have been active in advancing
the fire equipmrnt of the place and
have been successful in enforcing measures
for the city's protection. The total area OF
st. Paul covers %, $50 acres and the fire limit
embraces $50 acres. The city has practicable
ordinance regulating the sale and use of fire
works. The building material used is prin-
cipally brick and stone for mercantile build
ings, which are from two 10 seven stories
high. Single roofs are not permitted
within the fire limit. The dwellings are
mostly of wood and brick, and are from two
TO two and half stories high. The st. Paul
department now has nine steam fire engines,
OF which three are extra, one is first-class and
five are second-class. There are five chemi-
cal engines, two hook and ladder trucks and
twelve hose carriages (eight four-wheel and
four two-wheeD. One of the trucks is
Hayes eighty-fve foot extension ladder
truck with pompiers. The city is sup
piled with water by gravity and direct pres
sure system, being complete; there is one
reservoir for high service, and a full quota of
reservoir pumps is provided. The total water
capacity per diem is 20,O00,O 900 gallons. There
are thirteen cisterns, supplied by water works,
artesian wells and engines. The city has
seventy miles of street mains, vary
ing from thirty-six inches TO four inches
in diameter. There are $40 fire Plugs the
water at hydrants having maximum pres
sure of about sixty pounds. 1t cost SIS, 600
last year TO maintain the water department,
and the expense of the fire department was
$4,000. The Gamewell fire alarm system is
used, there being seventy-eight stations. The
total membership of the department now
numbers l3l men, all paid for full time.
The department has l., 400 feet of rubber
hose in good condition, 1000 feet in Door
condition and 400 feet of good cotton hose.
Siamese couplings are used, there being one
four-way and five three-way, that serve good
purpose at times. There are siXty-two horses
in the service of the department. The total
value Of the fire department apparatus and
supplies is about $4,000. The department
occupies twelve buildings, valued at $l45,0O0
ANOTHER STATEMENT
of interest in this connection also is the fol-
lowing editorial In the Investigator, another
Insurance paper:
Certain ST. Paul politicians who have an
axe TO grind aided and abetted by discharged
members of the fire department. still continue
their covert warfare against Chief Black of
that city, who, by the way, is incomparably the
best chief st. Paul ever had Numerous
petty charges, such as would not be recognized
at a country school meeting, have been
brought against him, resulting in vexatious
investigations and discussions. On these
occasions Chief Black is summoned
to answer as an offender Thus far
nothing has been proved against him. but no
cessation in the undetermined attacks of his
calumniators is noticeable. The rea-
son that this disgraceful warfare
is tolerated by the fire commissioners
is this: Three of the commission
ers are for Chief Black and two probably in
fiuenced by political pressure, are against
him. If the chiefs enemies can influence
one or more commissioners they will succeed
in turning him out. ST. Paul can better af-
ford to lose almost any other official than
Chief Black.